The 2021 UTSA Roadrunners football team represented the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Roadrunners played their home games at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C-USA). The team was coached by second-year head coach Jeff Traylor.
2021 UTSA Roadrunners football | |
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C-USA champion C-USA West Division champion | |
C-USA Championship Game, W 49–41 vs. Western Kentucky | |
Frisco Bowl, L 24–38 vs. San Diego State | |
Conference | Conference USA |
West Division | |
Record | 12–2 (7–1 C-USA) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Barry Lunney Jr. (2nd season) |
Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
Defensive coordinator | Rod Wright (1st season) |
Co-defensive coordinator | Jess Loepp (1st season) |
Base defense | 3–4 |
Home stadium | Alamodome |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Kentucky xy | 7 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marshall | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Old Dominion | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Middle Tennessee | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida Atlantic | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charlotte | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIU | 0 | – | 8 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTSA xy$ | 7 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UAB | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Texas | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTEP | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southern Miss | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisiana Tech | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: UTSA 49, Western Kentucky 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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After a win against Memphis on September 25, UTSA became 4–0 for the first time since the 2012 season.[1] Two weeks later, on October 9, the program became 6–0 for the first time in its history after defeating Western Kentucky.[2] A week later, on the weekend of October 16, the program entered the national polls for the first time, reaching No. 24 in the AP poll and No. 25 in the Coaches poll.[3] The Roadrunners remained undefeated for the first time in its history until their 23–45 loss in the final game of the regular season against North Texas Mean Green football team. A 34–31 victory over UAB clinched the Conference USA Western Division title, their first in program history. The win also confirmed that the Roadrunners would play in their first conference championship game in program history, which they won 49–41 over WKU on December 3.
Preseason
editC-USA media days
editThe Roadrunners were predicted to finish in second place in the West Division in the Conference USA preseason poll.[4]
Media poll (West Division) | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
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1 | UAB | (15) |
2 | UTSA | (9) |
3 | Louisiana Tech | |
4 | Southern Miss | |
5 | Rice | |
6 | North Texas | |
7 | UTEP |
Schedule and results
editUTSA announced its 2021 football schedule on January 27, 2021.[5][6] The 2021 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season.
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 4 | 6:30 p.m. | at Illinois* | BTN | W 37–30 | 33,906 | ||
September 11 | 5:00 p.m. | Lamar* | ESPN3 | W 54–0 | 16,229 | ||
September 18 | 5:00 p.m. | Middle Tennessee |
| ESPN | W 27–13 | 16,202 | |
September 25 | 2:30 p.m. | at Memphis* | ESPNU | W 31–28 | 29,264 | ||
October 2 | 5:00 p.m. | UNLV* |
| ESPN | W 24–17 | 20,154 | |
October 9 | 6:00 p.m. | at Western Kentucky | Stadium | W 52–46 | 15,243 | ||
October 16 | 5:00 p.m. | Rice |
| ESPN | W 45–0 | 27,515 | |
October 23 | 6:00 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | No. 24 | Stadium | W 45–16 | 18,314 | |
November 6 | 9:15 p.m. | at UTEP | ESPN2 | W 44–23 | 31,658 | ||
November 13 | 2:30 p.m. | Southern Miss | No. 23 |
| ESPN | W 27–17 | 30,105 |
November 20 | 2:30 p.m. | UAB | No. 22 |
| ESPN | W 34–31 | 35,167 |
November 27 | 1:00 p.m. | at North Texas | No. 22 | ESPN | L 23–45 | 16,933 | |
December 3 | 6:00 p.m. | Western Kentucky |
| CBSSN | W 49–41 | 41,148 | |
December 21 | 6:30 p.m. | vs. No. 24 San Diego State* | ESPN | L 24–38 | 15,801 | ||
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Personnel
editCoaching staff
editName | Position | Consecutive season at UTSA in current position |
Alma Mater |
---|---|---|---|
Jeff Traylor | Head coach | 2 | Stephen F. Austin (1990) |
Barry Lunney Jr. | Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks | 2 | Arkansas (1996) |
Jess Loepp | Co-defensive coordinator/safeties | 2 | University of Central Oklahoma (2000) |
Rod Wright | Co-defensive coordinator/defensive line | 3 | Texas (2011) |
Tommy Perry | Special teams coordinator | 2 | Texas A&M (2003) |
Matt Mattox | Offensive line/Run Game Coordinator | 2 | Houston (2005) |
Will Stein | Wide receivers/Passing Game Coordinator | 2 | Louisville (2011) |
Nick Graham | Cornerbacks | 2 | Tulsa (2013) |
Julian Griffin | Running backs | 2 | Louisiana–Monroe (2012) |
Brad Sherrod | Linebackers | 1 | Duke (1993) |
Kurt Traylor | Tight ends | 2 | Texas A&M–Commerce (1995) |
Reference:[8] |
Roster
edit2021 UTSA Roadrunners Football | ||||||||||
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Placekicker
Punter
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Tight end
Offensive lineman
Defensive lineman
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Outside Linebacker
Inside Linebacker
Safety
Cornerback
Long snappers
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Source and player details, 2021 UTSA Football Roster (09/16/2021):[9] |
Game summaries
editAt Illinois
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roadrunners | 7 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 37 |
Fighting Illini | 0 | 14 | 3 | 13 | 30 |
at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
- Date: September 4
- Game time: 6:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: W 3 MPH
- Game attendance: 33,906
- Referee: Greg Blum
- TV announcers (BTN): Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst) and Coley Harvey (sideline)
- Box score, Recap
Game information | ||
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Lamar
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Roadrunners | 13 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 54 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Game information | ||
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Middle Tennessee
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 |
Roadrunners | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Game information | ||
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At Memphis
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roadrunners | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 31 |
Tigers | 21 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 2:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: W 6 MPH
- Game attendance: 29,624
- Referee: Joe Lehring
- TV announcers (ESPNU): John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
- Box score, Recap
Game information | ||
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The Tigers scored 21 unanswered points in the 1st quarter, the first time all season that the Roadrunners trailed in a game. UTSA scored 17 unanswered points in the 4th quarter for the win. Hunter Duplessis nailed a 42-yard field goal as time expired to give the Roadrunners the win.
UNLV
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rebels | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Roadrunners | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
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At Western Kentucky
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roadrunners | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 52 |
Hilltoppers | 10 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 46 |
at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Date: October 9
- Game time: 6:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Sunny and clear • Wind 5-10 MPH
- Game attendance: 15,243
- Referee: Kevin Randall
- TV announcers (Stadium): Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Sed Bonner (analyst)
- Box score, Recap
Game information | ||
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Quarterback Frank Harris threw for six touchdowns, a school record, and caught a 23-yard pass for a touchdown.[10]
Rice
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Owls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Roadrunners | 17 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
At Louisiana Tech
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 24 Roadrunners | 7 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 45 |
Bulldogs | 10 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
Game information | ||
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At UTEP
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roadrunners | 16 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 44 |
Miners | 6 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 9:15 p.m. CDT / 8:15 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 31,658
- Referee: Scott Hardin
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline)
- Box score, Recap
Game information | ||
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Southern Miss
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Golden Eagles | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
No. 23 Roadrunners | 0 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Game information | ||
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UAB
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blazers | 14 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
No. 22 Roadrunners | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 34 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Game information | ||
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At North Texas
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 22 Roadrunners | 3 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 23 |
Mean Green | 17 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
Game information | ||
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Western Kentucky (C-USA Championship game)
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hilltoppers | 10 | 3 | 13 | 15 | 41 |
Roadrunners | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: December 3
- Game time: 6:00 p.m.
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 41,148
- Referee: Kevin Randall
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) and Jenny Dell (sideline)
- Box score, Recap
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
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Vs. No. 24 San Diego State (Frisco Bowl)
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roadrunners | 14 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
No. 24 Aztecs | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
at Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
- Date: December 21
- Game time: 6:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Temperature: 56 °F (13 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 6 MPH
- Game attendance: 15,801
- Referee: Ron Hudson
- TV announcers (ESPN): Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline)
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
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Rankings
editThe Roadrunners received votes from both national polls after a win against Memphis. It marked the second time in program history, being recognized in the AP Poll.[11]
Week | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
AP | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | 24 | 23 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | RV | 24 | RV |
Coaches | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 20 | RV | 25 | RV |
CFP | Not released | — | 23 | 22 | 22 | — | — | Not released |
References
edit- ^ "UTSA rallies past Memphis, completes largest comeback in school history". University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Athletics. KENS. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ^ Mendoza, Madalyn (October 11, 2021). "San Antonio is celebrating UTSA football's historic season after another win". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ "UTSA ranked No. 24 in AP Top 25, No. 25 in AFCA Coaches Poll". KSAT. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ "C-USA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish For 2021". Conference USA. July 19, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- ^ a b Luca, Greg (January 27, 2021). "UTSA football adds 2023 game at Tennessee, finalizes 2021 Conference USA slate". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ "Roadrunners announce full 2021 schedule..." University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Athletics. January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ "2021 UTSA Roadrunners Football Schedule". FBSchedule. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ "Football Coaches". UTSA Athletics. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ^ "2021 UTSA football roster". goutsa.com.
- ^ "UTSA quarterback Frank Harris named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week". KENS. October 11, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^ "UTSA receiving votes in both national polls". University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Athletics. September 26, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.