Behind Enemy Lines: What Opponents are Saying About the Roadrunners

A game-by-game prediction of the UTSA Roadrunners' 2026 season, including the biggest game, trap game and upset watch, as well as a best-case and worst-case scenario for Jeff Traylor's program.

Mike Craven

Note: This story is featured in the 2026 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Summer Magazine, which you can order here.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

“Life hasn’t been as easy without Frank Harris as they thought it would be at UTSA but a lot of it is the jump from Conference USA to the American. That’s swimming in entirely different waters and Jeff (Traylor) isn’t working with the same budget as the top of the league.”

“The road stuff is weird. People consider Jeff Traylor one of the top coaches in the G6 and they should, but you can’t lose some of those games they’ve lost and then turn around and throttle Tulane. That shows the talent is there. They’re just not consistent like they were when he had it rolling.”

“I think they’ll score points because that new OC knows what he’s doing and the QB is back. I have no idea if the defense will be any good, though.”

https://www.texasfootball.com/articles/article/default.aspx?url=2026/08/04/utsa-main

SCHEDULE AND PREDICTIONS

Sept. 5 UTRGV W

Sept. 12 at Texas State L

Sept. 19 at Texas L

Sept. 26 Colorado State W

Oct. 3 at Rice L

Oct. 8 South Florida W

Oct. 17 Navy L

Oct. 24 at Tulane L

Oct. 31 IDLE

Nov. 5 at FAU W

Nov. 14 North Texas W

Nov. 21 at UAB W

Nov. 28 Tulsa W

Record: 7-5 (5-3)

https://www.texasfootball.com/articles/article/default.aspx?url=2026/08/04/utsa-offense-defense-preview

BIGGEST GAME – Sept. 12 at Texas State

UTSA is on a two-game losing streak to Texas State and the Bobcats can make it three in a row if they hold serve at home. Jeff Traylor was 6-1 against rivals Texas State and North Texas from 2020-23. The Roadrunners are 1-3 against those two since the start of 2024.

TRAP GAME – Oct. 3 at Rice

UTSA is 3-10 on the road since the start of 2024 and one of those losses was a crushing defeat to the Owls in 2024. The 2026 trip to Historic Rice Stadium kicks off American Conference play for both teams. Rice should be improved in Year 2 under Scott Abell.

UPSET ALERT – Oct. 24 at Tulane

The Roadrunners have beaten some of the AC’s best teams, including Tulane last season, over the past two years despite .500 finishes in the regular season. Most of those signature wins were at home, however. This is a chance for UTSA to steal a big one away from the Alamodome.

BEST CASE/WORST CASE

Best Case: 10-2

The Roadrunners figure out their road woes and hit their ceiling behind a third-year starter at quarterback and a new offensive coordinator. The portal additions on defense hit and UTSA takes advantage of a conference schedule that doesn’t include Memphis or Army. Trips to Texas and Tulane are the setbacks.

Worst Case: 5-7

UTSA is 1-3 after a tough non-conference slate that includes trips to Texas State and Texas while second half issues and road losses continue to plague the Roadrunners for the third straight season. Jeff Traylor suffers his first losing season as a head coach in high school or college.

https://www.texasfootball.com/articles/article/default.aspx?url=2026/04/02/inside-utsa-football-how-jeff-traylor-is-rebuilding-road-toughness-and-resetting-the-roadrunners

2025 RESULTS

Aug. 30 at Texas A&M L 42-24

Sept. 6 Texas State L 43-36
Sept. 13 UIW W 48-20

Sept. 20 at Colorado State W 17-16

Oct. 4 at Temple L 27-21

Oct. 11 Rice W 61-13

Oct. 18 at North Texas L 55-17

Oct. 30 Tulane W 48-26

Nov. 6 at USF L 55-23

Nov. 15 at Charlotte W 28-7

Nov. 22 East Carolina W 58-24

Nov. 29 Army L 27-24

Dec. 26 FIU (First Responder Bowl) W 57-20

Record: 7-6 (4-4)