A much needed Bye Week
UTSA Football has an off week this weekend and a chance to reset before conference play begins
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The UTSA Roadrunners have reached the one-third mark of the season. Four games played, eight games to play. Those first four games, all non-conference game, came and went with UTSA on the short end of the score three times.
In week one the Roadrunners dropped a winnable game at Houston, 17-14. Frank Harris had an uncharacteristic run of three straight pass attempts intercepted by the Cougars in the third quarter. UTSA was fortunate the Cougars only got seven points off those turnovers but those seven points proved to be the difference, especially when the Cougars were kicking a field goal on the drive coming off one of those turnovers before UTSA was called for lining up over the deep snapper. Houston took the first down and cashed in for a touchdown.
Week Two was the bright spot for UTSA on the season but it came at a cost. The Roadrunners continued their dominance of the Bobcats from Texas State with a 20-13 win in front of the second largest crowd in program history but lost key offensive lineman Makai Hart and Frank Harris to injury. Harris was able to complete the game but has been out of the lineup healing his turf toe injury from the Texas State game.
Less than six days after beating Texas State, UTSA was back in the Alamodome for the second home game of the season. It was a Friday night game against Army. The Roadrunners fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter after Army scored on its first drive and then forced and recovered a Roadrunner fumble that gave the Black Knights offense a short field to score their second touchdown. UTSA eventually clawed back to within two points of Army but the Black Knights were able to make it three wins in as many trips to play UTSA in the Alamodome.
Last week UTSA played an SEC team other than Texas A&M for the first time when they traveled to Knoxville to play the Tennessee Volunteers. The Roadrunners fell behind 31-0 in the first half but then scored 14 points in the third quarter before the Volunteers scored 14 in the fourth quarter. The 45-14 scoreline was also the scoreline in UTSA's most recent game against an SEC opponent at A&M back in 2019.
The Roadrunners have had some bright spots through the first four games. UTSA has gotten a look at both Eddie Lee Marburger and Owen McCown at quarterback. The Roadrunners have also seen a new triumvirate at running back rise with Kevorian Barnes, Rocko Griffin and Robert Henry.
On defense Trey Moore has gotten off to a strong start, tied for the team lead with 19 tackles and leading the Roadrunners with five tackles for loss and four sacks. UTSA kicker Chase Allen has made both of his field goal attempts and punter Lucas Dean is averaging 41.4 per punt.
Now the Roadrunners get a much needed week off before facing Temple to open conference play.
An earlier bye week is welcome by Roadrunners
UTSA's bye week this year falls on week five. It is the fourth time in program history that the Roadrunners have had a bye week in week five. Week five is the most common week for a bye week in the history of UTSA football.
The last time UTSA was off during week five was in 2019 when the Roadrunners started 1-3 and were coming off a blowout loss at North Texas. That was also the last time UTSA lost in the week leading up to a bye week before Saturday's visit to Tennessee.
On average UTSA's bye week has come in week seven. The Roadrunners have had two bye weeks in 2014 and 2012 and had three bye weeks in the inaugural season in 2011.
Since Jeff Traylor took over as head coach at UTSA the Roadrunners have had bye weeks in week one in 2020 and week nine in both 2021 and 2022. UTSA also had an unscheduled bye week in week 10 of 2020 when their visit to Rice was canceled in the days leading up to the game. As far as Traylor is concerned, the bye week's welcomeness depends on how the season is going.
"It just depends on your year. If you're really hot and your healthy you never want a bye week to show up," Traylor said. "If you're beat up and not doing so well, there's not a better time in the world for the bye week to show up."
This year's bye week is probably coming at a good time for UTSA. It gives Frank Harris and other injured Roadrunners another week to heal up before conference play begins. It's also an opportunity for the Roadrunners to work on improving in the many areas they need work in.
"This one being so early and us struggling still in so many areas, I think its a perfect time for us to continue to practice," Traylor said. "Whereas the last three years I've pretty much given them off a week cause we've been going all fall camp plus eight straight games. It's different. This year is the first time we've caught a scheduling break."
UTSA will hope the week five bye week helps springboard the rest of the season. They will also hope to continue a streak of wins in the games immediately following a bye week. UTSA last lost after a bye week in 2018. By winning after the bye week this year the Roadrunners would be able to start their conference race on the right foot.
The Roadrunners goal of a conference championship remains out there to be accomplished. A good bye week this week can help get the Roadrunners back on the road to a successful season.
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