UTSA has a chance to announce itself as a top Group of Six contender on a national stage Thursday, hosting South Florida in the Alamodome for a matchup that will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Roadrunners are aiming to continue their best start since 2021, entering the game 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the American Conference. USF, projected as one of the American’s top teams for 2026 thanks to a roster budget approaching the revenue sharing cap of $20 million, comes in 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the league after a 17-13 home loss to Temple on Saturday.
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Though South Florida has struggled on offense to open 2026, the Bulls’ defense has been formidable, ranking atop the American and in the top 20 nationally by allowing just 14.6 points per game. But the Roadrunners have been hard to stop in the Alamodome through coach Jeff Traylor’s tenure, averaging 39.9 points per game at home, including a mark of 45.2 points per game since the start of the 2024 season.
The fanfare started a few hours early Thursday as ESPN hosted “SportsCenter on Campus” from the Alamodome’s H-E-B plaza. Traylor stopped by to hand out barbecue to the assembled students and fans, then visited for a brief interview with ESPN as the crowd roared behind him.
“It’s already been stated, there’s not many of us, but we’re very, very loud,” Traylor said. “No noise pumping. This is all natural.”
USF’s opening drive covered 65 yards over 10 plays, capped when DJ Crowther bounced around the right side for a 15-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead with 10:27 to play.
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The Alamodome turnout appears relatively sparse for the Thursday night kickoff, as San Antonio sports fans have their attention split between a Dallas Cowboys game and the San Antonio Spurs’ preseason opener at home.
