Game #8
Lights Out
UTSA Roadrunners (3-4, 1-2)
vs.
Tulane Green Wave (6-1, 3-0)
6:30 p.m. | Thursday, Oct. 30
Alamodome | San Antonio, Texas
Series History: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Tulane 29, UTSA 16 (11/24/23 • New Orleans, La.)
OPENING DRIVE
- UTSA and Tulane will meet for the third time on Thursday night at the Alamodome.
- The series is tied at 1-1 with each team winning at home in the two previous matchups.
- The Green Wave outlasted the Roadrunners, 29-16, in the last meeting on Nov. 24, 2023, in New Orleans.
- In the Jeff Traylor era (since 2020), UTSA is a perfect 21-0 at home in regular season conference games and 23-0 when including the 2021 and 2022 Conference USA Championship Games hosted at the Alamodome.
- The Roadrunners boast a 31-4 (.888) home record under Jeff Traylor, tied with Notre Dame for the ninth-most home wins since 2020.
- UTSA is 32-10 (.762) in conference games with Jeff Traylor at the helm.
- The Roadrunners are 49-24 (.671) under Jeff Traylor, tied for the 12th-most wins in the FBS since 2020 and deadlocked with Memphis for the most among current American Conference teams during that span.
- UTSA has won its last four non-Saturday games and is 12-7 all-time in games played on a weekday, including 1-2 on Thursdays.
- The Roadrunners boast a 100-yard rusher in six of the seven games this season including five by senior RB Robert Henry Jr.
- UTSA has recorded a sack in 29 of the past 30 games.
SETTING THE SCENE
UTSA will host Tulane in a prime-time Thursday matchup with kickoff for the ESPN broadcast set for 6:30 p.m. at the Alamodome. The Roadrunners (3-4, 1-2) will meet the Green Wave (6-1, 3-0) for the third time, including the second time in the past three seasons as members of the American Conference. UTSA boasts a perfect 21-0 record in regular season home conference games under sixth-year head coach Jeff Traylor and a 23-0 mark when including the 2021 and 2022 Conference USA Championship Games hosted at the Alamodome. Thursday night’s contest is UTSA’s Lights Out game with the Roadrunners donning black uniforms for the sixth time in their history, putting a 5-0 record in black jerseys on the line.
TUNING IN
Thursday night’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN and available on the ESPN app. Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst) and Harry Lyles Jr. (reporter) will call the action. UTSA Sports Media Network will air the game live in the San Antonio area on Sports Radio AM 760 The Ticket, online at ticket760.com and via the free iHeartRadio app. Andy Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Ed Suarez (reporter) have the call. There will be a two-hour pregame show hosted by Pat Evans and a 45-minute postgame show.
ESPN SPORTSCENTER ON CAMPUS
With UTSA hosting this week’s Thursday night ESPN broadcast, SportsCenter will air live from UTSA’s Main Campus at 1-2 p.m. Central time. Students and fans are invited to gather at Rowdy Lawn in front of the Student Union beginning at 12:30 p.m. to be part of the national broadcast of the network’s flagship sports news program, which will highlight the university’s traditions and San Antonio’s culture and history and feature a live interview with head coach Jeff Traylor. Additionally, SportsCenter will go live from the inside the Alamodome during the 4 p.m. hour prior to the 6:30 p.m. American Conference matchup between UTSA and Tulane.
HOME SWEET DOME
UTSA has been tough to beat at the Alamodome during the Jeff Traylor era, boasting a 31-4 (.888) record — including a 21-0 mark in conference regular season games and a 23-0 record counting the 2021 and 2022 Conference USA Championship Games — at the facility dating back to the 2020 season. The 31 wins are currently the second most behind Memphis (32) among current American Conference members and tied with Notre Dame for the ninth-most in the FBS since 2020. The Roadrunners saw their school record-tying 10-game home winning streak snapped in a heartbreaking loss to Texas State in the home opener on Sept. 6, but they have won in convincing fashion against UIW and Rice in their last two Alamodome appearances, giving them 19 wins over their last 21 home contests. UTSA also reeled off a 10-game home win streak that started with a 27-26 victory over Louisiana Tech on Oct. 24, 2020, and ran through the 49-41 win against WKU in the 2021 Conference USA Championship Game before it was snapped in triple overtime against No. 24 Houston in the 2022 season opener. The Roadrunners have been victorious in 29 of their last 32 home contests and are 57-31 (.648) all-time in the Alamodome.
UTSA’s Home Record Since 2020
|
Year |
W-L |
|
2020 |
5-1 |
|
2021 |
7-0 |
|
2022 |
6-1 |
|
2023 |
5-1 |
|
2024 |
6-0 |
|
2025 |
2-1 |
|
Totals |
31-4 |
PACKING THE DOME
UTSA fans have packed the Alamodome over the past four-plus seasons, as six of the program’s 10-largest home crowds have been recorded during that span. The Roadrunners drew 45,778 fans for the home opener against Texas State on Sept. 6, marking the third-largest attendance for a UTSA game at the Alamodome. The last time those two teams met in San Antonio, 49,342 fans watched UTSA beat Texas State in the 2023 home opener to mark the second-largest crowd in program history. Since the return from COVID-19 protocols for the 2021 season, 776,790 fans have filed into the Alamodome to watch the Roadrunners, an average of 26,786 per contest. In the 2024 season opener against Kennesaw State, the program eclipsed the two-million fan mark, and now 2,203,043 spectators have watched the Roadrunners at the Alamodome, an average of 25,035 over 88 home contests. UTSA set NCAA modern startup program records in its first season by drawing 56,743 fans to the inaugural game against Northeastern State on Sept. 3, 2011, and by averaging 35,521 fans for six home contests.
UTSA’s Top 10 Home Crowds
|
Attendance |
Date |
Opponent |
|
56,743 |
9/3/11 |
Northeastern State |
|
49,342 |
9/9/23 |
Texas State |
|
45,778 |
9/6/25 |
Texas State |
|
42,071 |
9/8/18 |
Baylor |
|
41,412 |
12/2/22 |
North Texas |
|
41,148 |
12/3/21 |
Western Kentucky |
|
40,977 |
9/7/13 |
Oklahoma State |
|
39,032 |
11/24/12 |
Texas State |
|
37,526 |
9/3/22 |
Houston |
|
35,147 |
11/20/21 |
UAB |
UTSA IN WEEKDAY GAMES
With the first of back-to-back Thursday night contests on the schedule this week, UTSA will play on a weekday for the 20th time overall and 14th time under sixth-year head coach Jeff Traylor. This will mark the program’s first Thursday game since a 42-32 road loss to No. 22 Arizona on Sept. 3, 2015. The Roadrunners have won their last four non-Saturday games and are 10-4 on weekdays in the Traylor era and 12-7 all-time.
UTSA’s Non-Saturday Games (12-7)
|
Day |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
|
Friday |
8/29/14 |
at Houston |
W, 27-7 |
|
Thursday |
9/4/14 |
Arizona |
L, 23-26 |
|
Thursday |
11/13/14 |
Southern Miss |
W, 12-10 |
|
Thursday |
9/3/15 |
at #22 Arizona |
L, 32-42 |
|
Friday |
9/16/16 |
Arizona State |
L, 28-32 |
|
Friday |
9/25/20 |
Middle Tennessee |
W, 37-35 |
|
Friday |
12/3/21 |
Western Kentucky |
W, 49-41 |
|
Tuesday* |
12/21/21 |
vs. #24 San Diego State |
L, 24-38 |
|
Friday |
9/30/22 |
at Middle Tennessee |
W, 45-30 |
|
Friday |
10/14/22 |
at FIU |
W, 30-10 |
|
Friday |
12/2/22 |
North Texas |
W, 48-27 |
|
Friday* |
12/16/22 |
vs. #23 Troy |
L, 12-18 |
|
Friday |
9/15/23 |
Army West Point |
L, 29-37 |
|
Friday |
11/17/23 |
South Florida |
W, 49-21 |
|
Friday |
11/24/23 |
at #18 Tulane |
L, 16-29 |
|
Tuesday* |
12/19/23 |
vs. Marshall |
W, 35-17 |
|
Friday |
11/15/24 |
North Texas |
W, 48-27 |
|
Friday |
11/22/24 |
Temple |
W, 51-27 |
|
Monday* |
12/23/24 |
at Coastal Carolina |
W, 44-15 |
* bowl game
BACK IN BLACK
Thursday night’s American Conference matchup against Tulane will serve as UTSA’s Lights Out game with the Roadrunners wearing black uniforms. UTSA will don black jerseys and black pants with a white helmet for the nationally televised home contest against the Green Wave. The Roadrunners are 5-0 when wearing black jerseys, including a 4-0 mark last season. UTSA wore black for home victories over No. 25 Memphis, North Texas and Temple and as the designated home team in the win over Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. The Roadrunners first used black uniforms on Oct. 29, 2016, in a 31-17 home triumph over North Texas.
CELEBRATING CAMPAIGN NO. 15
The Roadrunners are celebrating their 15th season of football in 2025. One of the newer FBS programs and now in its third year as a member of the American Conference, UTSA started its program from scratch and, following a practice year in 2010, played its first season as an FCS Independent in 2011 before joining the Western Athletic Conference for the 2012 campaign. UTSA moved into Conference USA in 2013 and became a full-fledged FBS member starting with the 2014 season. The Roadrunners set NCAA modern startup program records in 2011 by drawing 56,743 fans to their inaugural game against Northeastern State and by averaging 35,521 fans for their six home contests that season. UTSA made its first postseason appearance at the 2016 New Mexico Bowl in its sixth season of play and registered its first win against a team from the Big 12 Conference the following season with a 17-10 victory over Baylor. The Roadrunners made history in 2021, opening the fall with a road win against Illinois of the Big Ten Conference, capturing their first conference championship with a 49-42 decision against WKU and capping a 12-2 ledger with their third bowl game. They repeated as league champions with a 48-27 win over North Texas in 2022 and made their third straight bowl appearance, ending the year with an 11-3 mark. The Roadrunners notched their first bowl victory with a 35-17 decision over Marshall in the 2023 Frisco Bowl to cap a 9-4 ledger that include a 7-1 mark in their debut in the American. UTSA collected its second straight bowl win with a 44-15 triumph over Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl to close out a seven-win campaign in 2024. UTSA has posted at least six wins in nine of its 14 previous seasons, and it has reached the seven-win plateau seven times, including in each of the first five years of the Jeff Traylor era.
TRAYLOR TAKING ROADRUNNERS TO NEW HEIGHTS
Sixth-year head coach Jeff Traylor has taken UTSA to new heights during his time in San Antonio. The Roadrunners are 49-24 (.671) under his direction, tied for the 12th-most wins in the FBS, knotted with Memphis for the most among current American Conference teams and deadlocked with SMU for the second-most among teams from the state of Texas since 2020. UTSA boasts a 31-4 (.888) home record in the Traylor era, tied with Notre Dame for the ninth-most home victories since 2020 and currently one behind Memphis for the most among current American Conference during that span. Additionally, with the 61-13 Homecoming win over Rice on Oct. 11, the Roadrunners ran their record under Traylor to a perfect 21-0 in regular season conference home games and 23-0 against league foes when including the 2021 and 2022 Conference USA Championship Games at the Alamodome. Since Traylor — the winningest coach in program history — arrived in San Antonio, UTSA has captured a pair of conference championships, earned five straight bowl berths with back-to-back bowl wins and made a combined 23 appearances in the three major national polls. He has coached nine All-Americans, three national award finalists, 91 all-conference selections and a trio of NFL Draft picks at UTSA.
SCOUTING TULANE
Winners of three straight games, the Green Wave will enter Thursday’s matchup at 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the American Conference. Tulane, which is receiving votes in both national polls, is average 25.9 points and 404.6 yards per game while allowing 22.3 and 384.7 yards per contest. Transfer quarterback Jake Retzlaff has completed 116 of 190 passes for 1,428 yards and six touchdowns against one interception, and he also leads the team in rushing yards with 450 and eight TDs on 70 attempts. Bryce Bohanon has a team-high 23 receptions for 256 yards and a score, while Shazz Preston paces the squad with 314 yards on 20 catches. Jack Tchienchou is the top tackler with 48 stops, while Harvey Dyson III has 6.5 tackles for loss, including 4.5 sacks. Javion White has three of Tulane’s six interceptions. Place-kicker Patrick Durkin is a perfect 14 for 14 on field-goal attempts this fall. Head coach Jon Sumrall is 15-6 in his second season at the helm and 38-10 including a two-year stint at Troy, which includes an 18-12 win over UTSA in the 2022 Cure Bowl. Former UTSA offensive lineman Payne He’Bert is a member of Tulane’s Athletics Development staff.
SERIES HISTORY
This will mark the third meeting between UTSA and Tulane. The Roadrunners pulled out a 10-7 home win in the first meeting on Nov. 9, 2013, when both teams were members of Conference USA. The Green Wave scored a 29-16 home victory in the last meeting on Nov. 24, 2023, a Black Friday matchup during UTSA’s debut campaign in the American Conference.
UTSA/Tulane Series History
|
Date |
Location |
Score |
|
11/9/13 |
San Antonio |
W, 10-7 |
|
11/24/23 |
New Orleans |
L, 16-29 |
WHO’S COUNTING?
Now in their 15th season of play, the Roadrunners will play the 180th game in program history on Thursday when they host Tulane at the Alamodome. UTSA is 94-85 (.525) all-time and 57-31 (.648) at home. By comparison, Tulane started playing football in 1893 and owns an all-time record of 578-682-38.
LAST MEETING
Frank Harris accounted for 226 yards of offense, but No. 18 Tulane took advantage of five UTSA turnovers in a 29-16 victory in American Conference action on Nov. 24, 2023, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, snapping the Roadrunners’ winning streak in conference play at 17 games. UTSA outgained the Green Wave with 375 yards compared to 352, but the defending league champions scored 17 points off UTSA turnovers to even the all-time series at 1-1. Harris passed for 198 yards and a touchdown, while Joshua Cephus caught six balls for 83 yards. Kevorian Barnes paced the ground game with 92 yards on 12 attempts. Defensively, Jamal Ligon registered seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble, while Rashad Wisdom posted seven stops, including six unassisted.
UP NEXT
The Roadrunners will travel to Tampa to face South Florida on Thursday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at Raymond James Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
-UTSA-