A shocking loss to Navy is the only blemish on what has otherwise been a perfect resume for the Memphis Tigers in 2024. Two well-fought victories over North Texas and Charlotte have extended their win streak to 4 games. Still, there can be no let-up, with Memphis needing to win out for the remainder of the season to be in with a shot for the AAC title and a potential College Football Playoff spot.
Army currently sits at the top of the conference with an unbeaten 7-0 record, with Navy one behind them at 6-1, including a crucial win over Memphis. The Tigers can, therefore, afford no more losses, and a matchup this weekend against a 3-5 UTSA team gives them a good chance to keep the winning streak rolling.
Whilst the Roadrunners are sitting near the bottom of the table with just three wins, it is worth noting that they have a perfect 3-0 record in home fixtures, with their 5 losses all coming away from the Alamodome. It’s crucial, therefore, that Memphis do not overlook their opponents this week and continue firing on all cylinders to keep the season alive.
Scouting report: UTSA Roadrunners
Head Coach: Jeff Traylor
Quarterback: Owen McCown
Record: 3-5 (1-3 AAC)
The UTSA Roadrunners have gradually declined over the last few seasons, dropping from double-digit winning seasons in 2021 and 2022 to 9 wins in 2023, and now a disappointing 3-5 record in 2024. Head Coach Jeff Traylor has overseen all the highs and lows during this stretch, but it is worth noting that he was hit by some difficult player departures heading into this season.
Last year’s leading receiver, Josh Cephus, declared for the NFL, and Roadrunners’ leading sack producer, Trey Moore, transferred to Texas. His incredibly impressive 14 sacks were 9 more than Brandon Matterson in second place, and to make matters worse, Matterson also left the team. He is now with the Denver Broncos in the NFL.
The Roadrunners also lost their dependable quarterback, Frank Harris, who played a remarkable 7 years of college football. Replacing him is sophomore quarterback Owen McCown, who has passed for 2,084 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Despite McCown offering a safe pair of hands under center, the Roadrunners have declined on both sides of the ball, ranking 76th in points scored per game with 25 and 120th in points conceded, with 35.7.
Unlike the Memphis Tigers, who already have Mario Anderson with 780 yards and 13 touchdowns and Roc Taylor with over 500 receiving yards, UTSA desperately hopes that one of their playmakers can step up and become a game-changer for them. Willie McCoy is their leading receiver with 418 yards and 3 touchdowns, but their leading rusher, Robert Henry, only averages 4 yards per carry for his 346 yards.
The one thing going for the Roadrunners is their flawless home form, but Memphis should feel confident that they have the playmakers at their disposal to get the win here.
Key Matchups to Watch
1. Mario Anderson vs the USTA Rush Defense
The UTSA Roadrunners’ best aspect is their run-stuffing ability, holding opponents to just 98.9 yards per game (12th best in the nation). This is all thanks to them holding their opponents to 2.9 yards per attempt, the 7th best in the nation. Linebackers Martavius French and Brevin Randle lead the team with 43 and 32 total tackles, respectively, with defensive linemen Jimmori Robinson and Brandon Brown handling things at the line of scrimmage.
They have dominated this year, but Mario Anderson is not your normal back. He is averaging 5.7 yards per carry for his 780- yards and 13 touchdowns, which makes this a real strength-on-strength clash.
2. Seth Henigan vs UTSA Pass Defense
As good as the Roadrunners are at stopping the run, they are equally bad at stopping the pass, giving up 293.1 passing yards per game, the 129th worst in the nation. Only 5 teams are giving up more yards through the air, which suggests a big day could be in store for Seth Henigan. With Mario Anderson facing a tough matchup on the ground, don’t be surprised to see the Tigers rely on their trusty quarterback and his exciting receivers.
3. Owen McCown vs Memphis Pass Defense
The weak point in the Memphis defense has been their passing defense, ranking 88th in the nation with 244 yards conceded per game. They are significantly better against the run, ranking 33rd, which means Owen McCown should be able to move the ball this weekend. He has been productive this year, tossing 16 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions to go along with his 2,084 yards, and he will benefit from being in his home stadium. The Tigers’ defense has definitely improved year on year, but they are still susceptible through the air.
Score Prediction
Memphis should extend their winning streak against this 3-5 UTSA Roadrunners side, and, frankly, they need to if they want to have any hope of earning that elusive final College Football Playoff spot. UTSA are averaging a points differential of -15 per game, which suggests this should be a walk in the park for a Memphis side that are firing on all cylinders. However, with this game being at the Alamodome, it is inevitably going to be another tough AAC clash, just like last week’s outing against Charlotte. Nevertheless, the Tigers should prevail, and the official score prediction is Memphis by 38 points to 31.
Memphis Tigers 38, UTSA Roadrunners 31
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