2022 record:  11-3 (-1 win from 2021) 

Texas Power Poll ranking: 2 of 12  

THE GOOD

UTSA was 45-61 overall as a football program in its nine-year history prior to the arrival of head coach Jeff Traylor. Through three seasons in San Antonio, Traylor’s Roadrunners are 30-10. That includes a 20-3 record in C-USA and two conference titles. The Roadrunners are 18-2 at home and 14-5 in one-possession games under the former Gilmer head man. He took a young, fledgling program and turned it into one of the best G5 teams in the nation. Not bad for a high school head coach. 

The story of the 2022 Roadrunner season begins, and maybe ends, with Frank Harris and his talented trio of receivers. Harris, who holds nearly every quarterback record at the school, was the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 4,063 yards and 32 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes and was third on the team in rushing. His main targets were the all-conference trio of Zakhari Franklin, Joshua Cephus, and JT Clark. All three recorded at least 50 catches, 700 yards, and six receiving touchdowns despite Clark missing five games due to injury. 

The Roadrunners went on a 10-game winning streak following a 1-2 start that included a triple-overtime loss at home to Houston and a competitive road defeat to the Texas Longhorns in Austin. That streak included a road win over Army and eight wins in conference play, including two against rival North Texas. UTSA was 14th in the nation in scoring offense with 36.8 points per game. They were 13th through the air with 300.7 passing yards a game and 10th in third down conversion percentage at 48.39. 

THE BAD 

The defense was statically average throughout the 2022 campaign. The Roadrunners allowed 25.9 points per game, which was 59th out of 131 FBS programs. They allowed the 58th most rushing yards and the 92nd most passing yards in the country. UTSA only managed 1.79 sacks per game, which checked in at 97th nationally. Opponents converted 37.32 percent of their third down conversions and scored touchdowns on 55.1 percent of trips into the red zone. The defense allowed 24.3 points per game in the 11 wins. That number ballooned to 32 points per game in the three defeats. 

THE UGLY 

Let’s get nitpicky: The only true negative of the 2022 season for the Roadrunners was another loss in a bowl game. Those are champagne problems considering the 30-10 record and two C-USA titles in three years under Traylor. The Roadrunners are 0-3 in the postseason during his tenure after a sloppy loss to Troy in the Cure Bowl. The program is 0-4 all-time in bowl games. 

TEAM GRADES

Quarterback: A+ 
Running back: B 
Wide receiver/tight end: A+
Offensive line:  C+ 
Defensive line: B- 
Linebacker: B- 
Cornerback: B-
Safety: B-

BIGGEST OFFSEASON QUESTION

Is UTSA a day one contender in the AAC? 

UTSA, North Texas, and Rice are headed to the new-look American Athletic Conference to start the 2023 season and the Roadrunners are the ones most likely to compete for a conference title in year one. Frank Harris is back, as are his top receivers. The offensive line can’t face as many injuries as it did in 2022 and running back Kevorian Barnes averaged 6.3 yards a carry as a freshman. If the defense improves and the stars on offense stay healthy, UTSA should be right there with the likes of Tulane and SMU as preseason favorites. 

WAY TOO EARLY 2023 OUTLOOK 

The non-conference schedule is as hard, or harder, than it was when the Roadrunners started last year 1-2. They start the season on the road against a Houston squad that is also transitioning into a new conference. The Cougars beat UTSA in San Antonio in a three-overtime thriller to start the 2022 campaign. UTSA hosts Texas State in Week 2 and Army in Week 3. The team then travels to Tennessee to take on the high-powered Volunteers in Week 4. 

UTSA’s will host Rice, UAB, USF, and East Carolina in its first year in the AAC. The road conference games are against FAU, North Texas, Temple, and Tulane. Eight wins feels like the floor with another 10-win season possible.