This Thursday night, the UTSA Roadrunners are stepping into the national spotlight, but it’s not just their impressive 4-1 record getting attention. USF coach Brian Hartline actually questioned the authenticity of UTSA’s crowd noise, adding some serious fuel to an already big ESPN showdown happening at 6:30 p.m. in the Alamodome. It’s a huge moment for head coach Jeff Traylor, who, now in his seventh year, still believes the story behind UTSA’s rise isn’t talked about enough.
UTSA’s Wild Ride Under Coach Traylor
Let’s be real, Coach Traylor has a point. UTSA is a program in just its 16th season, and they’ve already hit some serious highs. We’re talking Conference USA championships in both 2021 and 2022, which totally earned them that jump to the American Conference in 2023. This team has stacked up a winning record in every single season under Traylor, turning the Alamodome into what might be the toughest place to play in the Group of Six, rocking a wild 35-5 record at home during his tenure. That kind of dominance, especially at home, makes USF’s coach’s comments even more interesting.
National Spotlight and Player Hype (or Lack Thereof)
This week, the Roadrunners get a massive chance to tell their story to a huge audience. ESPN’s “SportsCenter on Campus” is setting up shop in San Antonio, and then it’s straight to a prime-time ESPN game against USF. Coach Traylor talked to his squad about all the eyes on them and the opportunity to promote the UTSA brand. He mentioned they don’t really need much reminding, but it’s clear the message is out there. Defensive linemen Jeremiah Bailey and Jameian Buxton were playing it cool, calling it “just another week” or “not really that big,” but Buxton did admit Thursday was a chance to “just show the world what we’re really about.” Wide receiver David Amador straight up said this opportunity is only useful if UTSA can perform against USF. “Just having a mindset that going out there and beating a very talented team, and all the eyes are on us,” Amador said. “Just going out there and playing some good ball, I think we’re going to show a lot of the world how good of a team we really are.”
This Thursday night, it’s UTSA (4-1, 1-0 American) against USF (4-1, 1-1). The Roadrunners are coming off a tight 16-13 win against Rice last Saturday, while USF lost 17-13 to Temple. The all-time series is tied 1-1, but the last meeting wasn’t pretty for UTSA, with USF taking a 55-23 win in Tampa in November 2025. You know that’s gotta be on their minds. It’s also UTSA’s annual Lights Out game, with free t-shirts for the first 5,000 students. Alamodome lots A, B, and C open at noon for tailgating, with doors opening at 5 p.m. This is the stage. Can UTSA show the world what they’re about, especially after USF’s coach threw some shade? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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