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On December 17, 2016, the UTSA Roadrunners took the field for their first bowl game at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Roadrunners took on the New Mexico Lobos but the crowd was almost equally clad in blue and orange as it was red and grey. UTSA fell behind early against New Mexico but was able to rally before running out of time on the short end of a 23-20 score line.

UTSA had to wait four years for their next bowl appearance. The Roadrunners were scheduled to face SMU in the Frisco Bowl in 2020 but SMU backed out because of a COVID outbreak among the Mustangs. UTSA instead took on the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns in the First Responder Bowl, played at SMU's home stadium. UTSA fell behind early to Louisiana but rallied back to tie the score before losing 31-24.

A year later, in 2021, UTSA concluded its best season in program history with a trip to the Frisco Bowl to face San Diego State in a battle of two teams with double digit wins. UTSA was looking to finish the year 13-1. San Diego State was looking for its first 12-win season in a program history that went back to 1921. The Roadrunners had a 7-0 lead and a 14-7 lead on San Diego but the Aztecs went on a 17-0 run to take a 24-14 lead on their way to a 38-24 win.

Last year UTSA departed the state of Texas for its fourth bowl game overall and third bowl game in a row. For the third straight season the Roadrunners opponent in the bowl game was ranked. The Roadrunners faced the Troy Trojans in the Cure Bowl in Orlando last season. UTSA opened the game with a 12-0 lead but five turnovers by the Roadrunners helped Troy to 18 unanswered points on their way to an 18-12 win over UTSA.

Now the Roadrunners are back in Frisco for the second time in three seasons and in their fourth bowl game in a row. UTSA is hoping to avoid becoming the second Texas FBS team to lose its first five bowl appearances. Only Texas Tech started 0-5 in its first five bowl games between 1938-1949.

For the first time since 2016 UTSA will face an unranked team in the bowl game and for the first time ever UTSA's bowl opponent does not have a winning record. Opposing UTSA in the 2023 Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl is the 6-6 Marshall Thundering Herd. Marshall brings a 13-6 bowl record to Frisco going back to 1948. The Herd have made seven straight bowl appearances and 10 bowls in the last 11 seasons.

UTSA and Marshall have met three times before when both were members of Conference USA. Marshall leads the all-time series 2-1 but UTSA won the only previous meeting between the two in Texas. That was in November 2017 when Jared Sackett lifted UTSA to a 9-7 win over Marshall with three field goals in the Alamodome.

Now the two former conference foes will square off at Toyota Stadium in Frisco looking to close out 2023 on a high note.

The 1-3 start to the season might have kept UTSA from reaching 10 wins for the third straight season but if the Roadrunners are able to beat Marshall in the Frisco Bowl it would be the third year in a row that UTSA won nine games after not winning more than eight in any of the first 10 seasons.

Through 12 games this season UTSA has scored 380 points (31.67 per game) which is the third most in program history behind 2021 and 2022. UTSA's defense has allowed 296 points (24.67 per game) this season which is the third fewest in program history behind 2017 and 2011.

Marshall has scored 279 points this season (23.3 per game) and allowed 338 (28.2 per game).

UTSA's offense has racked up 5,095 yards this season (424.6 per game) and will be going up against a Marshall defense that has allowed its 12 opponents to combine for 4,509 yards (375.8 per game). The Roadrunners have thrown for 2,997 yards (249.8 per game) and run for 2,098 yards (174.8 per game). The Thundering Herd defense has allowed 2,622 yards passing (218.6 per game) and 1,887 yards rushing (157.3 per game).

Marshall's offense has 4,293 yards this season (357.8 per game). The Thundering Herd have thrown for 2,682 yards (223.5 per game) and run for 1,611 yards (134.3 per game). UTSA's defense has allowed 4,431 yards to opposing offenses this season (369.3 per game). Opponents of the Roadrunners have thrown for 2,779 yards (231.6 per game) and run for 1,652 yards (137.7 per game).

In terms of turnovers, UTSA has a minus-three difference this season. The Roadrunners have thrown 12 interceptions and lost seven fumbles on offense while coming away with nine interceptions and seven fumble recoveries on defense. Marshall has a minus-13 turnover differential. The Thundering Herd have thrown 17 interceptions this season and lost 11 fumbles offense while only getting 11 interceptions and four fumble recoveries on defense.

NOTABLE PLAYERS

For UTSA this will be the final game for a group of seniors including quarterback Frank Harris and wide receiver Joshua Cephus. Harris enters his final game as a Roadrunner having completed 218 of 336 pass attempts for 2,506 yards and 18 touchdowns. Cephus has been Harris's top target this season with 82 catches for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns.

Harris's other top targets this season have been Tykee Ogle-Kellogg and Devin McCuin. Ogle-Kellogg has 30 catches for 521 yards and seven touchdowns. McCuin has 39 catches for 518 yards and three touchdowns. McCuin needs just 61 yards in the bowl to set a new school record for receiving yards in a season by a freshman. The current record of 578 was set by Kam Jones in 2011.

UTSA's leading runner this season has been Kevorian Barnes. Barnes has 139 carries for 698 yards and six touchdowns. Robert Henry leads the Roadrunners with nine touchdowns on 113 carries and 551 yards. Rocko Griffin has run for 440 yards and five touchdowns on 80 carries. Harris has run 86 times for 323 yards and four touchdowns.

For Marshall it is the dawning of a new era after their starting quarterback Cam Fancher entered the transfer portal. This season Fancher completed 202 of his 309 pass attempts for 2,162 yards and 11 touchdowns. Taking Fancher's job for the Thundering Herd is Cole Pennington, son of former Marshall and New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington. The younger Pennington has completed 49 of 79 passes for 437 yards and no touchdowns.

Marshall's leading receiver in terms of catches made is Caleb Coombs with 39 to go with 310 yards and two touchdowns. DeMarcus Harris leads the Herd with 396 yards and Charles Montgomery leads Marshall receivers with three touchdowns.

Ali Rasheen leads Marshall's running attack. Rasheen has 1,043 yards and 14 touchdowns on 203 carries.

The 18 seniors on this year's Roadrunner team have checked nearly all of the boxes on their college to do list. The only thing they lack is winning a bowl game. This seems like a good time to get that first bowl win.

UTSA will have all players available, with the exception of linebacker Trey Moore who entered the transfer portal. They will be taking on a Marshall team that has to turn to their backup quarterback after their starter departed in the transfer portal.

Marshall also gives the ball away like Santa Claus tossing gifts from his flying sleigh. UTSA will look to use that to their advantage. Getting turnovers on defense and letting Frank Harris and the offense cook could help lead the Roadrunners to their first bowl win.

Four times in the past UTSA has made a bowl game and every time they have come up short. The fifth time will be the charm for the Roadrunners

PREDICTION: UTSA 34 Marshall 21

FORUMS: UTSA Boulevard | Roadrunner Way