Roadrunners and Cardinals face off in Hometown Showdown for first time ever.
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The Roadrunners will return to the Alamodome field this Saturday for what is likely their most hyped opener since the inaugural game in 2011.
The reason it is so hyped is because for the first time in the history of the Alamo City two division I teams who call the city home will play against each other.
UTSA vs. UIW. The Roadrunners vs. the Cardinals. Blue and Orange vs. Red and Black. There is a lot on the line for both teams.
UIW is coming off their best season in school history with a 6-5 record. The Cardinals surprised many when they won the Southland Conference. They lost in the first round of FCS playoffs to Montana State but they return their entire offensive line and offensive weapons in quarterback Jon Copeland, running back Ameer King and wide receiver Kam Williams.
On defense the Cardinals lost half of their starters from last season. They do return a number of key players from last year in the form of linebacker Mar'kel Cooks, defensive end Lukas Termin and defensive tackle Brian Lee.
UTSA will also have many new faces take the field for the first time on Saturday, notably running back Sincere McCormick. The Roadrunner offense will be led by Frank Harris, playing his first game in several years after an ACL injury in the 2018 spring game.
When UTSA and UIW face off on Saturday they will join a rare group of colleges who play against another division I college in a large metro area.
San Antonio will join Houston and Los Angeles as cities with 1 million people or more with two division I schools that play each other.
UTSA and UIW will have to play more than once for the crosstown showdown to become a rivalry game and it will take decades of almost annual matchups as well as UIW moving up to FBS for the Alamo throwdown to join the Bayou Bucket and the Victory Bell series as a major city rivalry series.
UTSA will be home favorites against UIW on Saturday. The Roadrunners are 3-0 against FCS opponents under Frank Wilson. The Cardinals are 0-5 all-time against FBS opponents. The Alamodome will be rocking. This could be the highest attendance of any home game for the Roadrunners. It will be a hard fought game but UTSA will be wanting to show that the 3-9 season of last year didn't carry over to this year.
The Alamodome is a tough place to play and that may help the Roadrunners against their cross-town foes.
Prediction: UTSA 31 UIW 14
FORUMS: UTSA Boulevard | Roadrunner Way
