The UTSA Roadrunners will play their final regular season road game Saturday when they travel to Houston to take on the Rice University Owls. With a victory, UTSA would clinch hosting rights for the Conference USA championship game. Rice needs one win to become eligible for a bowl game for the first time since 2015. UTSA has won the last six of nine total games against Rice; both teams are headed to the American Athletic Conference next season.
UTSA Roadrunners (8-2, 6-0 C-USA) vs. Rice University Owls (5-5, 3-3 C-USA):
Location: Rice Stadium
Kickoff: Saturday, noon
How to watch: ESPN+
Last week:
UTSA dominated from start to finish in a 51-7 win over Louisiana Tech last Saturday. The Roadrunners scored on their first four possessions and caused five turnovers by the Bulldogs to pick up their seventh straight win.
Rice lost to Western Kentucky 45-10 in Bowling Green. The Owls offense committed six turnovers in the loss to WKU. Rice has gone 3-4 after starting the season 2-1.
What they’re saying:
UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor on overcoming injuries: “With the injuries we’ve had this year, it’s truly a heck of a story of resiliency, courage, next man up, culture, great players. There are a lot of angles you can look at it. It’s testimony that we’re going into game 11 and the Roadrunners control their own destiny.”
Rice Head Coach Mike Bloomgren on UTSA: “Certainly last year they elevated their team — they beat a Big Ten team. They scare everybody they play, and they haven’t lost a conference game this year. This is a really, really good football team and I think we all can acknowledge that.”
Key stats:
UTSA has scored at least 30 points in every conference game this season. The Roadrunners have never gone a full season scoring 30 points or more in each conference game. Opposing teams have averaged 34.4 points against the Rice Owls this season.
Rice has a minus-12 turnover differential this season. The Owls have lost eight fumbles and thrown 17 interceptions while recovering six fumbles and grabbing seven interceptions.
Players to watch:
UTSA running back Kevorian Barnes has run for at least 100 yards and scored a touchdown in two straight games and three of the last four games.
Rice kicker Christian Van Sickle has not missed a field goal all season. Van Sickle is 10-for-10 on field goals this year. His longest attempt has been 43 yards.
