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On October 13, 2012 the 5-0 UTSA Roadrunners went east to Houston for a non-conference meeting with the Rice Owls. The Owls, celebrating the centennial of their school that day, sent the Roadrunners back to San Antonio with a 34-14 loss.

So began a series that became a conference game in 2013 when UTSA joined Rice in Conference USA and has been played every year except for 2020. The Roadrunners were scheduled to visit Rice on November 7, 2020 but that game was canceled because of a COVID outbreak among the teams.

This Saturday night, the two schools resume their rivalry in the Alamodome where Rice has not won since their first visit back in October of 2013. That win in 2013 was the second of three wins in a row by the Rice Owls against the Roadrunners as the elder Owls ruled the early days of the rivalry.

UTSA finally got its first win in the series in the Alamodome in 2015. It proved to be the only time Larry Coker beat the Owls as head coach of the Roadrunners, finishing 1-3 against Rice in his tenure at UTSA.

Frank Wilson had better luck against the Owls. The Roadrunners were 4-0 against the Owls during the Wilson era. The Owls certainly had chance to change that record. In 2016, Rice missed a field goal with 1:27 left in the fourth quarter that would have given them a 16-14 win over the Roadrunners. Instead the Roadrunners got their second win in a row with a 14-13 win.

In 2019 UTSA overtook Rice 31-27 on a touchdown pass from Lowell Narcisse to Zakhari Franklin with five minutes left after the Owls had gone in front 27-24 in the fourth quarter.

Jeff Traylor had to wait until 2021 for his first shot at Rice after the 2020 contest was canceled. It was quite the debut for Traylor as the Roadrunners picked up their second shutout victory of the season--and in school history--with a 45-0 win over the Owls in the Alamodome on October 16, 2021.

A year ago the two schools met on the third Saturday in November at Rice Stadium. The Roadrunners came away with a 41-7 win over the Owls that allowed UTSA to claim the Conference USA regular season championship and earn hosting duties for that conference's championship game for a second year in a row.

Now the two football teams meet again as new members of the American Conference in the Alamodome. Rice will be hoping to win in the Alamodome for the first time in 10 years. It's a feeling UTSA knows well as just last week the Roadrunners beat North Texas in Denton for the first time in 10 years.

Rice will definitely give UTSA a good showing this Saturday night in the Alamodome. The Owls have played the other top teams in the American tough in recent weeks. Last week Rice came up short of the upset against SMU in a 36-31 loss. Two weeks ago the Owls nearly pulled the upset of Tulane before the Green Wave escaped with a 30-28 win.

The Owls come to San Antonio on Saturday night with a 4-5 record and 2-3 conference record. UTSA will be putting its 6-3 overall record and 5-0 conference record on the line against Rice.

Through the first nine games this season UTSA has outscored its opponents 281-232 (31.22-25.78 per game). Rice has outscored its opponents 297-258 (33-28.67 per game).

UTSA's offense has 3,696 yards this season (410.7 per game). The Roadrunners have thrown for 2,198 yards (244.2 per game) and run for 1,498 yards (166.4 per game). Rice will try to stop UTSA with a defense that has allowed 3,628 yards to opponents (403.1 per game) this season. Opponents of the Owls have thrown for 2,222 yards (246.89 per game) and run for 1,406 yards (156.2 per game).

Rice's offense has 3,447 yards (383 per game) through the first nine games this season. The Owls have thrown for 2,594 yards (288.22 per game) and run for 853 yards (94.8 per game). The Owls will go up against a UTSA defense that has allowed 3,423 yards (380.3 per game) to opponents this season. Opponents of the Roadrunners have thrown for 2,185 yards (242.8 per game) and run for 1,238 yards (137.6 per game).

UTSA has gotten a turnover in every conference game so far this season. The Roadrunners currently have a minus-one turnover differential. UTSA has thrown nine interceptions and lost four fumbles on offense while forcing seven interceptions and five fumble recoveries on defense.

Rice has a minus-four turnover differential. The Owls have thrown eight interceptions and lost six fumbles on offense while coming away with four interceptions and six fumble recoveries on defense.

NOTABLE PLAYERS

Starting this weekend there will be just two more chances in the regular season to see UTSA quarterback Frank Harris in the Alamodome. Harris has played in seven of the nine games this season for UTSA and has completed 147 of his 228 pass attempts for 1,722 yards and 13 touchdowns. Harris has also run 57 times for 152 yards and a touchdown.

Rice has been led at quarterback by JT Daniels although Daniels is considered doubtful for Saturday's game. Daniels has played in every game for Rice this season, completing 181 of 287 pass attempts for 2,443 yards and 21 touchdowns. If Daniels is unable to go on Saturday night the Owls will call on either Chase Jenkins or AJ Padgett.

UTSA's top receiver this season has been Joshua Cephus. Cephus has caught 62 passes for 750 yards and seven touchdowns. Tykee Ogle-Kellogg has experienced a resurgence this season with 26 catches for 440 yards and six touchdowns. Devin McCuin has 25 catches for 365 yards and two touchdowns. McCuin missed the North Texas game but could be back for this weekend's game against Rice.

Rice's receiving corps is led by Luke McCaffery. McCaffrey has caught 45 passes for 700 yards and nine touchdowns. Dean Connors (35 catches for 371 yards and three touchdowns) and Rawson MacNeill (24 catches for 358 yards and two touchdowns) are other Owl receivers of note.

UTSA will present Rice with the challenge of the trio of running backs led by Kevorian Barnes. Barnes has 127 carries for 606 yards and six touchdowns this season. Robert Henry has 70 carries for 419 yards and seven touchdowns. Rocko Griffin has 56 carries for 314 yards and three touchdowns.

Leading the Owls running game is Dean Connors. Connors has 65 carries for 414 yards and five touchdowns. Juma Otoviano has 63 carries for 225 yards and four touchdowns for the Owls.

Fans coming to the Alamodome expecting UTSA to roll past Rice as they have in the last two games in the series might be in for a surprise. This Owls team is better than those of the last two seasons and will be ready to give the Roadrunners their best shot.

The Alamodome will continue to be an advantage for the Roadrunners and the Roadrunner defense will probably be able to keep its streak of takeaways going in another conference game.

UTSA will need to bring their best against an Owls team that will be hoping third time is the charm in terms of finally knocking off one of the top teams in the American Conference. If the Roadrunners are able to win the turnover battle and make life difficult for whoever is at quarterback for the Owls it will be a good night for UTSA.

Someday Rice will get its fourth win in the series against UTSA. Saturday night might not be that day.

PREDICTION: UTSA 38 Rice 24

FORUMS: UTSA Boulevard | Roadrunner Way