Oct 243 min read

Roadrunners Aim to Keep Momentum Rolling at Tulsa

Kamdyn Benjamin | Tulsa WR #18 | Roadrunners

The UTSA Roadrunners (3-4, 1-2 American Athletic Conference) face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2-5, 0-3) at 3:30 p.m. EST on Oct. 26 at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla. UTSA aims to build on a 38-24 win over Florida Atlantic (2-5, 0-3), while Tulsa is coming off a 20-10 loss to Temple (2-5, 1-2), their third straight defeat. Can UTSA secure its first road win, or will Tulsa's offense finally come alive to lead the team to victory?

The Stakes

UTSA is 0-4 on the road this season and needs to capitalize on a weaker opponent in Tulsa. The Roadrunners face a tough November schedule, with home games against Memphis (6-1, 2-1) and North Texas (5-2, 2-1), as well as a road game at No. 23 Army (7-0, 6-0). A win against Tulsa will improve UTSA's record to 4-4 and keep their bowl game hopes alive.

The Golden Hurricane offense has struggled this season, averaging only 22.3 points per game, ranking 12th in the AAC. Tulsa has managed merely 37 points over its last three games, all losses. To pull off an upset, Tulsa will likely need to score 30+ points for the first time since their season-opening 62-28 win over FCS opponent Northwestern State (0-8, 0-3 Southland).

Key Players: UTSA Roadrunners

Tight End Oscar Cardenas

At his weekly press conference, coach Jeff Traylor praised Cardenas' diverse talents, referring to him as the team's "best" offensive lineman, tight end and wide receiver. Despite playing a key role in an offense that features tight ends, Cardenas has recorded just 12 catches for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns, falling short of expectations. Expect the Roadrunners to target Cardenas more in this game after his coach’s high praise.

Linebacker Martavius French

UTSA’s defense has been nasty against the run this season, allowing just 96 yards per game, ranking second in the AAC. French has been crucial to the run defense, leading the team with 25 solo tackles and 35 total tackles. He has been a reliable tackler, missing only 12.2 percent of his attempts. With Tulsa’s running game more dependable than its passing attack, French will play a key role in forcing the Golden Hurricane to throw the ball more.

Key Players: Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Wide Receiver Kamdyn Benjamin

Benjamin has been one of the few bright spots on offense, with 42 catches for 500 yards and 2 touchdowns. Since the Roadrunners have struggled against the pass, allowing 258.4 yards per game, ranking 11th in the AAC, and particularly vulnerable to explosive plays, Tulsa will likely feature Benjamin in the intermediate passing game (10-19 yards), where Pro Football Focus has given him an elite grade of 94. In addition to his receiving skills, Benjamin brings explosiveness and field-flipping potential as a punt returner.

Defensive Lineman Amieh Williams

Quarterbacks generally prefer pressure from the outside rather than up the middle. Williams leads the team with 13 pressures (10 hurries, two hits, and one sack) and will aim to frequently disrupt Roadrunners QB Josh McCown's vision. According to PFF, McCown is completing just 47.7 percent of his passes under pressure, so Williams’ impact can help protect a secondary that’s allowing 272.9 passing yards per game, ranking 12th in the AAC.

Trends to Watch

UTSA will play its fifth road game in the first eight contests of its season. The Roadrunners have won 16 of their last 19 regular-season conference games. Tulsa holds an all-time record of 54-41-3 in homecoming games.

Game Prediction

UTSA enters as an 8-point favorite, according to Action Network, largely due to a significant talent advantage. Expect a close game at halftime, with the Roadrunners pulling away in the second half behind their strong passing game, securing their first two-game winning streak of the season.

Prediction: UTSA 34, Tulsa 17.