After starting conference play 2-0 with victories over UTEP and Rice, UTSA has now dropped three straight conference games to move their C-USA record to 2-3 and their overall record to a disappointing 3-6.

Last week, UTSA endured quite the beatdown, as they were defeated on the road by UAB 52-3. On Saturday, UTSA will face yet another tough opponent. The Roadrunners will host the FIU Golden Panthers in what will be UTSA’s first home game in almost a month. Despite coming off a loss last week as well, FIU is still 6-3 and is 4-1 in conference play. The Golden Panthers sit in second place in the C-USA East and will have to win against UTSA if they want to keep pace with Middle Tennessee.

Technically, it’s still possible for UTSA to earn bowl eligibility for a third straight year if they win their next three games. However, looking at the toughness of their remaining schedule and their overall performance this season, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where that happens. FIU is a solid team, so here are three things UTSA must do to have a chance.

UTSA vs FIU details

Date: Nov. 10, 2018

Location: Alamodome in San Antonio, Tx

Channel: UTSA vs FIU will be broadcast on ESPN+

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UTSA vs. FIU preview

Create pressure on QB James Morgan

FIU quarterback James Morgan has quietly been one of the better signal callers throughout Conference-USA this season. Morgan has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards this season and will surely surpass that benchmark come Saturday. Morgan has also thrown for 21 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

The defensive line for UTSA hasn’t been bad this year, as they’ve stopped the run game for much of the season and have gotten pressure on quarterbacks from time to time. However, the FIU offensive line is a veteran group that is a force to be reckoned with. If given the time to sit back in the pocket, Morgan can pick apart any defense, especially UTSA’s weaker secondary. The defensive line will have to step up and consistently create pressure.

Rush for over 150 yards

UTSA has not been able to establish the run game all year despite having a very talented backfield. Averaging fewer than 95 rushing yards per game is not a recipe for success. UTSA had two talented backs to start the season in B.J Daniels and Jalen Rhodes. Now, in light of the recent offensive struggles, freshman running back Brendan Brady has thrown his name in the mix too.

In the loss against UAB, Brady led the backfield with 8 carries and 42 yards. Although not eye-popping numbers, he showed flashes of what he could do. The UTSA backfield has the potential to be a three-headed monster, so there’s no explanation as to why Daniels and Rhodes have been getting so few touches. FIU allows an average of 205 rushing yards a game, so the Roadrunners must take advantage of that. 

Go for the big play

UTSA’s offense has been bad all year, but last week against UAB they looked even worse. UTSA had 12 offensive drives throughout the game and eight of them didn’t last longer than five plays. Time after time, Yannis Routsas came out to punt for UTSA and send the defense back out onto the field. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the only 10+ play drive UTSA had all day resulted in B.J Daniels fumbling the ball at the goal-line and turning it back over to the Blazers.

Because of their inability to string together long drives, it is critical that UTSA have big gains to set the offense up with good field position. UTSA averages just 4.4 yards per pass attempt, and that’s a huge reason why they’re last in the FBS in yards per play. UTSA has to take shots down the field in order to find success.

Final score prediction: FIU 28, UTSA 13