Rivalry Renewed in Denton

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The state of Texas is full of great college football rivalries. Every school seems to have three or four rivals at least. Few rivalries have squeezed as much into its first 10 years as that of UTSA v North Texas.

UTSA and North Texas have met 11 times since first facing off on November 23, 2013 in Denton. The Roadrunners lead the all-time series 6-5. Last year the two met twice, once in the regular season and again in the Conference USA Championship Game. Both of those games were played in the Alamodome and were won by the Roadrunners.

Home field advantage has certainly been important in the series between UTSA and North Texas. The Roadrunners are 5-1 in the Alamodome against North Texas while the Mean Green are 4-1 against the Roadrunners in Denton.

UTSA is trying to be the first team in the series to win three straight games since the Mean Green accomplished that feat from 2017-2019. The Roadrunners nearly started the series off 3-0. UTSA won the first ever meeting in Denton in 2013 and the first game between the two in the Alamodome in 2014. In 2015 both teams were struggling. UTSA had one win going up to Denton and North Texas was winless. The Mean Green beat the Roadrunners in what became their only win of the season.

The Roadrunners exacted some revenge the next year in 2016 with a win in the Alamodome but didn't beat North Texas again until 2020.

In 2017 the Mean Green beat the Roadrunners with a 98-yard scoring drive in the final minute with no timeouts. A year later North Texas got its first--and to date only--win in the Alamodome. In 2019 North Texas welcomed UTSA to Denton in late September and bludgeoned the Roadrunners 45-3.

UTSA returned the favor in 2020 with a 49-17 win over the Mean Green in the Alamodome. A year later the house of horrors that has been Apogee Stadium (now known as DATCU Stadium) reared its ugly head at the Roadrunners. UTSA went into Denton 11-0 and left 11-1 after North Texas rolled to a 45-23 win.

The Roadrunners would win their first conference championship a week after that most recent visit to Denton. Last year the Roadrunners had their own miracle finish in the regular season game against the Mean Green. The Roadrunners won 31-27 over the Mean Green to even the all-time series at 5-5 before taking their first lead in the series record since 2017 with a 48-27 win in the conference championship game last December.

UTSA heads to DATCU Stadium this weekend hoping to get their first win in Denton since Eric Soza led the Roadrunners to a 21-13 win over the Mean Green in November 2013.

This year's contest comes a little earlier in the month of November and it is probably not going to be as cold as it was for that game back in 2013. Unlike that 2013 contest however it is the Roadrunners who come in trying to keep pace in the conference race at 4-0 while North Texas tries to play spoiler with a 1-3 record in conference.

Overall on the season UTSA is 5-3 and has a four-game winning streak. North Texas is 3-5 overall and has lost two games in a row to Tulane and Memphis.

In eight games this season the Roadrunners have outscored opponents 244-203 (30.5-25.38 per game). North Texas has been outscored 293-284 (36.63-35.5 per game).

The Roadrunners offense has 3,275 yards this season (409.4 per game). UTSA has thrown for 2,064 yards (258 per game) and run for 1,211 yards (151.4 per game). North Texas's defense has allowed 3,804 yards to opponents this season. Opponents of the Mean Green have thrown for 1,751 yards (218.88 per game) and run for 2,053 yards (256.6 per game).

North Texas's offense has 3,882 yards this season. The Mean Green have accumulated 2,447 yards passing (305.88 per game) and 1,435 yards rushing (179.4 per game). UTSA's defense has allowed 2,964 yards to opponents. The Roadrunners have allowed 1,913 yards passing (239.1 per game) and 1,051 yards rushing (131.4 per game).

As far as turnovers go, UTSA has a minus-four differential. The Roadrunner defense has five interceptions and four fumble recoveries. On offense UTSA has thrown nine interceptions and lost four fumbles. North Texas has a plus-one differential. The Mean Green defense has eight interceptions and four fumble recoveries. The Mean Green offense has thrown five interceptions and lost six fumbles.

NOTABLE PLAYERS

UTSA continues to be led by Frank Harris at quarterback while North Texas has found their quarterback in Chandler Rogers. Harris has completed 134 of 203 pass attempts for 1,588 yards and 13 touchdowns. Rogers has completed 175 of 269 pass attempts for 2,173 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Harris's top target this season has been Joshua Cephus. Cephus leads the Roadrunners with 56 catches for 681 yards and seven touchdowns. Tykee Ogle-Kellogg has 24 catches for 434 yards and six touchdowns. Devin McCuin has 25 catches for 365 yards and two touchdowns.

Rogers top target this season has been Ja'Mori Maclin. Maclin leads the Mean Green with 39 catches for 703 yards and 11 touchdowns. Other notable Mean Green receivers are Roderic Burns (36 catches, 431 yards and four touchdowns) and Damon Ward (27 catches, 370 yards and four touchdowns.

The Roadrunners rushing attack has developed into a triumvirate of Kevorian Barnes, Robert Henry and Rocko Griffin. Barnes has 111 carries for 477 yards and four touchdowns. Henry leads the Roadrunners with six rushing touchdowns to go with 376 yards on 57 carries. Griffin has 46 carries for 249 yards and two touchdowns.

North Texas is led by a duo at running back that have been running against the Roadrunners the last couple of seasons. Ayo Adeyi leads the Mean Green with 81 carries for 611 yards and four touchdowns. Oscar Adaway III has 66 carries for 347 yards and three touchdowns.

UTSA's defense is led by Trey Moore who now holds the school record for sacks in a season with 12. Moore's total is second most among all defenders in the country. North Texas's defense hasn't been able to sack the quarterback as often as UTSA but they are still able to get pressure on the quarterback with 28 quarterback hurries.

UTSA has only lost once in the month of November under head coach Jeff Traylor. That was in their last trip to Denton in 2021. If the Roadrunners want to get their first win in Denton since the Obama Administration they will have to get the running game going early and continue to get pressure on the quarterback.

If the Roadrunners can get the triumvirate of the ground game going it will help get the passing game going as well as keep the Mean Green defense on the field longer than their offense.

When the Mean Green have the ball the Roadrunners will need to make sure they get pressure on Rogers but at the same time don't let him connect on too many big plays. A bend but don't break defense will be key.

It would also behoove the Roadrunners to win the turnover battle against North Texas. Many of the bad days in Denton before were made worse by the Roadrunners coughing up the ball too many times.

I like the Roadrunners chances of getting their first win in Denton since 2013 and keeping the conference win streak alive but the streak of double-digit wins will not carry over into November.

PREDICTION: UTSA 38 North Texas 31

FORUMS: UTSA Boulevard | Roadrunner Way