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A week after getting clobbered by I-35 rivals Texas State for the first time, UTSA heads a little farther up I-35 to Austin on Saturday to face the number two-ranked Texas Longhorns.

The Longhorns will be the highest ranked team UTSA has ever played in football. That record has been held by the number 13 Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2013 but on Saturday that part of the UTSA record book will be changed. The Roadrunners are hoping to change another part of their record book: the mark against ranked opponents.

UTSA is 0-14 all-time against ranked opponents, including a loss to FCS-ranked Sam Houston in 2011. The closest UTSA has come to getting a win over a ranked opponent was in September 2022 when the Roadrunners lost 37-35 in triple overtime to number 24 Houston.

Two years ago, UTSA and Texas met for the first time at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Roadrunners took a 17-7 lead on the Longhorns in the second quarter before the Longhorns tied the score at 17 going into halftime and then outscored the Roadrunners 24-3 in the second half.

Texas has a long and storied football history. Last week the Longhorns picked up the 950th win in program history, becoming just the fourth team in college football history to reach that milestone. The Longhorns 950th win came against the only college with 1,000 wins all-time, the Michigan Wolverines who have won 1,005 games in their long history.

UTSA by comparison just reached program win number 85 in week one this season. Though UTSA doesn't have the long history of Texas, the recent history of both schools has been pretty good. UTSA is 40-15 since the start of the 2020 season, the best record in Texas. The Longhorns have been the second-best team record-wise in that period, going 34-17 this decade.

Texas will probably continue to chip away at UTSA's lead atop the state standings this weekend as the Longhorns look to notch program win number 951.

Playing at number two-ranked Texas this weekend will keep a streak going for the Roadrunners. UTSA has played at least one ranked team in every season since 2020. Taking the entire history of the program UTSA has played a ranked opponent in 10 of 14 seasons.

This will be the toughest team UTSA has faced yet in program history and they do so after getting walloped by a rival last week. Texas has climbed to the number-two ranking with a 2-0 record and by outscoring its first two opponents, Colorado State and Michigan, 83-12.

Giving up 49 points in a game is never good for a team's scoring margin. For UTSA the 49-10 loss at Texas State dropped the Roadrunners to 1-1 and the scoring margin for UTSA to 38 points for and 65 points against.

Texas offense will be the best UTSA faces all season. The Longhorns have gained 934 yards of total offense (467 per game). Texas has thrown for 601 yards (300.5 per game) and run for 333 yards (166.5 per game).

UTSA's defense has allowed its two opponents to combine for 757 yards of offense (378.5 per game). Most of those yards against UTSA were attained last week by Texas State. Opponents of the Roadrunners have thrown for 511 yards (255.5 per game) and run for 246 yards (123 per game).

The Roadrunner offense has put up 734 yards in its first two games (367 per game). UTSA has thrown for 592 yards (296 per game) and run for 142 yards (71 per game). The Longhorns defense has given up 476 yards to its two opponents so far this season (238 per game). Colorado State and Michigan combined to throw for 278 yards (139 per game) and run for 198 yards (99 per game) against the Longhorn defense.

NOTABLE PLAYERS

UTSA will roll with Owen McCown as the starter against Texas, his fourth consecutive start going back to last year's bowl game. McCown has completed 38 of his 61 pass attempts for 445 yards and three touchdowns. McCown is also responsible for the only rushing touchdown by the Roadrunners so far this season. Eddie Lee Marburger saw his first action of the season in the loss at Texas State last week. Marburger completed 14 of 27 pass attempts for 147 yards and a touchdown.

McCown's top target so far this season has been Devin McCuin with 17 catches and two touchdowns but Willie McCoy leads the Roadrunners with 118 receiving yards. McCuin is close behind with 108 yards. The Roadrunners top running back has been Robert Henry. Henry has 56 yards on 15 carries through the first two games of the season.

Texas is led by Quinn Ewers who is putting his name into the Heisman race early this season. Ewers has completed 44 of 63 pass attempts for 506 yards and six touchdowns. His backup Arch Manning, grandson of Archie and nephew of Peyton and Eli, has completed five of six pass attempts for 95 yards and a touchdown.

The Longhorns top receiver this season has been Gunner Helm. Helm has caught nine passes for 140 yards and has caught a touchdown. The Longhorns top touchdown threat so far this season has been Matthew Golden with three to go with 91 yards on nine catches.

Jerrick Gibson and Jaydon Blue share the Longhorns team lead for carries. Gibson has gained 103 yards and scored two touchdowns. Blue has gained 79 yards and is looking for his first touchdown this season.

Saturday's game will have added excitement as it will be the reunion of Trey Moore and the Roadrunners. Moore transferred from UTSA to Texas in the offseason. So far with the Longhorns this season Moore has played in both games and has four tackles.

Someday UTSA will get a win over a top-three opponent. This Saturday will not be that day. Sure, the Roadrunners played the Longhorns close for a half two years ago in the last trip to Austin but both of those were different teams from the ones that will meet in Austin this Saturday.

This time UTSA is the team full of youth learning by the week while Texas is the team of veterans who are off to a fast start after last season's trip to the College Football Playoff. This year's Longhorn team may go all the way to win the National Championship.

Of course, UTSA will want to pull the upset and get the first win over a ranked opponent, but the Longhorns might be too good for the Roadrunners to tame this year. This one could be decided early.

Texas 52 UTSA 13

FORUMS: UTSA Boulevard | Roadrunner Way