The 2022 UTSA Roadrunners football team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio as a member of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by head coach Jeff Traylor, who was coaching his third season with the team. The Roadrunners played their home games at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
During the previous season, on October 21, 2021, UTSA accepted an invitation to join the American Athletic Conference (The American) and will become a full member on July 1, 2023. The 2022 season is thus the program's last as a member of C-USA. Prior to the 2022 season, Conference USA shrank to 11 schools, as previous members Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss all departed to join (and in Old Dominion's case, rejoin) the Sun Belt Conference as full members. Thus the conference disbanded the divisions and played in a single league table.
The Roadrunners began their season with a thrilling triple-overtime contest against No. 24 Houston, ultimately coming up two points short. Another overtime game followed, with UTSA defeating Army to earn their first win. The Roadrunners split their following two games, with a loss at No. 21 Texas and a victory over FCS Texas Southern at home. Their nonconference schedule complete, the Roadrunners began their C–USA slate with a road clash against Middle Tennessee, a fifteen-point win. A three-point win against Western Kentucky and a twenty-point win at FIU followed, leading UTSA into their homecoming contest against the North Texas Mean Green. The Roadrunners were victorious by a margin of four points, earning them their sixth win and bowl eligibility as a result. Following a bye week, the Roadrunners began November with another overtime game—their third of the season—as they took down UAB in double overtime. Dominant wins over Louisiana Tech and C-USA regular-season title vs Rice followed, and UTSA closed out their regular season at home with a three-point victory over the UTEP Miners, after overcoming a 24-point deficit they faced in the game's second quarter. The Roadrunners finished the regular season on a nine-game win streak, dating to September 24, and won the Conference USA regular season championship and a bid to the conference title game the following week. There, they defeated North Texas in a rematch by three touchdowns, earning the program's second overall and consecutive conference championship. UTSA finished the season with a record of 11–2 and a perfect 8–0 mark in conference play, and were ranked No. 22 in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. They finished No. 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings. They lost to Troy in the 2022 Cure Bowl, 18–12.
Preseason conference player awards Preseason player awards were announced on July 26.
Offensive Player of the Year: Frank Harris ( Senior, quarterback) Defensive Player of the Year: Rashad Wisdom (Senior, safety)
C-USA media day The Conference USA media day was held on July 27 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Roadrunners were predicted to finish first in the conference's preseason poll.
Schedule UTSA and Conference USA announced the 2022 football schedule on March 30, 2022.
Game summaries
No. 24 Houston
Statistics HoustonUTSA First downs 20 24 Plays–yards 76–346 73–441 Rushes–yards 44–140 28–104 Passing yards 206 337 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–32–0 28–43–1 Time of possession 35:27 24:33 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Clayton Tune 22/32, 206 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Clayton Tune 15 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tank Dell 5 receptions, 50 yards, 2 TDsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 28/43, 337 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Frank Harris 8 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD Receiving Joshua Cephus 7 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD
At Army
Statistics UTSA ARMY First downs 30 22 3rd down efficiency 11–15 7–16 4th down efficiency 0–1 3–4 Plays–yards 81–512 72–483 Rushes–yards 36–153 54–179 Passing yards 359 304 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 32–45–0 13–18–0 Penalties–yards 10–70 7–68 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 27:53 32:07
At No. 20 Texas
Sources:Stats
Statistics UTSATexas First downs 29 21 Total yards 408 459 Rushing yards 139 298 Passing yards 269 161 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 36:21 23:39 Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 24–35, 222 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT Rushing Brenden Brady 21 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD Receiving Zakhari Franklin 6 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TDTexas Passing Hudson Card 15–23, 161 yards, 1 TD Rushing Bijan Robinson 20 carries, 183 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jordan Whittington 4 receptions, 56 yards, 0 TD
Texas Southern
At Middle Tennessee
Western Kentucky
At FIU
Statistics UTSAFIU First downs 23 19 Total yards 433 323 Rushing yards 130 137 Passing yards 303 186 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:54 32:06
Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 24/35, 303 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kevorian Barnes 20 rushes, 128 yards, 2 TD Receiving Zakhari Franklin 6 receptions, 68 yards, TDFIU Passing Grayson James 18/36, 174 yards, INT Rushing Lexington Joseph 6 rushes, 56 yards Receiving Kris Mitchell 2 receptions, 70 yards
North Texas
Statistics UNTUTSA First downs 13 32 Total yards 347 495 Rushing yards 22 257 Passing yards 325 238 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 21:40 38:20
Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Texas Passing Austin Aune 15/31, 325 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Oscar Adaway III 10 rushes, 20 yards Receiving Roderic Burns 6 receptions, 139 yardsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 27/39, 238 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Brenden Brady 19 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TD Receiving Joshua Cephus 11 receptions, 88 yards, TD
At UAB
Statistics UTSAUAB First downs 26 26 Total yards 494 553 Rushing yards 209 221 Passing yards 285 332 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 28:33 31:27
Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 22/31, 285 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kevorian Barnes 16 rushes, 114 yards, TD Receiving Zakhari Franklin 7 receptions, 93 yards, 2 TDUAB Passing Jacob Zeno 27/38, 332 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing DeWayne McBride 19 rushes, 141 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tejhaun Palmer 8 receptions, 110 yards, TD
Louisiana Tech
Statistics LTUTSA First downs 17 29 Total yards 259 484 Rushing yards 112 258 Passing yards 147 226 Turnovers 5 1 Time of possession 27:46 32:14
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Landry Lyddy 14/26, 138 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Charvis Thornton 8 rushes, 48 yards Receiving Smoke Harris 4 receptions, 49 yards, TDUTSA Passing Frank Harris 18/26, 216 yards, TD Rushing Kevorian Barnes 11 rushes, 103 yards, 2 TD Receiving Joshua Cephus 7 receptions, 81 yards, TD
At Rice
UTEP
North Texas (C-USA Championship Game)
Statistics UNTUTSA First downs 19 32 Total yards 366 571 Rushing yards 172 227 Passing yards 194 344 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 22:17 37:43
Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Texas Passing Austin Aune 14/29, 194 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Ikaika Ragsdale 17 rushes, 108 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kaylon Horton 3 receptions, 58 yardsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 32/37, 341 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kevorian Barnes 28 rushes, 175 yards, 1 TD Receiving Zakhari Franklin 10 receptions, 144 yards, 3 TD
Troy (Cure Bowl)
Coaching staff NamePositionConsecutive season atUTSA in current positionAlma Mater Jeff Traylor Head coach 3Stephen F. Austin (1990)Justin Burke Associate head coachSpecial teams coordinatorTight ends1Louisville (2011)Jess Loepp Defensive coordinatorSafeties2University of Central Oklahoma (2000)Matt MattoxCo-offensive coordinatorOffensive Line1Houston (2005)Will SteinCo-offensive coordinatorQuarterbacks1Louisville (2011)Nick GrahamCornerbacks3Tulsa (2013)Julian Griffin Running backs 3Louisiana–Monroe (2012)Siddiq Haynes Defensive line 1Delaware (2011)Joe Price Wide receivers 1Stephen F. Austin (2017)Brad SherrodLinebackers2Duke (1993)Kurt TraylorAssistant offensive line1Texas A&M–Commerce (1995)
Rankings
References