QUICK HITTERS
RYAN 2022 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 23 UTSA (10-2, 8-0 C-USA) will host the 2022
Ryan Conference USA Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 2, against North Texas (7-5, 6-2 C-USA) from the Alamodome in San Antonio. The game will
be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network and kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
North Texas at UTSA
Friday, Dec. 2 San Antonio, Texas
6:30 p.m. CT Alamodome
All-Time Series Tied 5-5
Last Meeting: at UTSA 31, North Texas 27
(Oct. 22, 2022)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Announcers: Rich Waltz (PxP), Aaron Taylor
(AN), Sherree Burruss (SL)
North Texas (7-5, 6-2 C-USA)
Website: www.meangreensports.com
Head Coach: Seth Littrell (7th year, 7th at UNT)
Leading Passer: Austin Aune (201-350, 3,115 yards, 31 TDs, 11 INTs)
Leading Rusher: Ayo Adeyi (86 att., 690 yards, 4 TDs)
Leading Receiver: Roderic Burns (36 rec., 644 yards, 1 TD)
Leading Tackler: KD Davis (118 tackles, 63 solo)
Total Offense: 472.0 ypg (3rd in C-USA)
Rushing Offense: 204.2 ypg (2nd in C-USA)
Passing Offense: 267.8 ypg (4th in C-USA)
Scoring Offense: 34.5 ppg (3rd in C-USA)
Total Defense: 450.8 ypg (8th in C-USA)
Rushing Defense: 185.2 ypg (8th in C-USA)
Passing Defense: 265.7 ypg (9th in C-USA)
Scoring Defense: 30.1 ppg (7th in C-USA)
UTSA (10-2, 8-0 C-USA)
Website: www.goutsa.com
Head Coach: Jeff Traylor (3rd year, 3rd at UTSA)
Leading Passer: Frank Harris (273-392, 3,524 yards, 27 TDs, 7 INTs)
Leading Rusher: Brenden Brady (156 att., 699 yards, 9 TDs)
Leading Receiver: Zakhari Franklin (76 rec., 956 yards, 11 TDs)
Leading Tackler: Jamal Ligon (79 tackles, 36 solo)
Total Offense: 479.0 ypg (2nd in C-USA)
Rushing Offense: 173.3 ypg (4th in C-USA)
Passing Offense: 305.7 ypg (2nd in C-USA)
Scoring Offense: 37.9 ppg (1st in C-USA)
Total Defense: 407.9 ypg (5th in C-USA)
Rushing Defense: 149.5 ypg (3rd in C-USA)
Passing Defense: 258.4 ypg (7th in C-USA)
Scoring Defense: 26.5 ppg (1st in C-USA)
RYAN C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
UTSA (10-2, 8-0 C-USA), which enters its second week ranked in various polls, this week at No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 24 in the USA Today AFCA Coaches Poll, clinched the right to host the 2022 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 2, when it knocked off Rice 41-7 on Nov. 19 in Houston. North Texas (7-5, 6-2 C-USA) punched its ticket during the final week of the regular season with a 21-17 win at home against Rice. The 2022 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT.
This marks UTSA’s second straight trip to the C-USA title game, while North Texas makes its second appearance, and first since 2017. UTSA is looking to defend its 2021 championship, while UNT is seeking its first. This will be the 11th all-time meeting between the schools (series tied 5-5) and second meeting this season, as UTSA came from behind in the final moments of a wild, 31-27 win on Oct. 22 in San Antonio to remain unbeaten in league play.
UTSA captured the regular season C-USA crown by winning all eight league contests. Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor has weathered countless injuries throughout the season and is looking to lead UTSA to its second straight Conference USA title, and UTSA will be heading to a bowl for the third time in as many seasons under the former Gilmer High School coaching legend. The Roadrunners are led offensively by the three-headed monster of QB Frank Harris, WR Zakhari Franklin and WR Joshua Cephus. Harris has completed nearly 70% of his passes for 3,524 yards with 27 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He’s also a major threat on the ground for the Roadrunners, having carried 104 times for 539 yards
and eight more scores. Franklin (76 catches for 956 yards and 11 touchdowns) and Cephus (76 catches for 901 yards and six touchdowns) are Harris’ primary targets and a huge component of the offense that leads the league in scoring (37.9 ppg). Defensively, LB Jamal Ligon leads the team in tackles with 79 (36 solo) and also has 4.5 TFL, four quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and a pair of forced fumbles. DBs Clifford Chattman and Corey Mayfield, Jr. lead the team with three interceptions apiece, while LB Trey Moore leads the team in both TFL (12.5) and sacks (6.0). K Jared Sackett (19-24 on field goals) and P Lucas Dean (45.28 yards per attempt, with 15 inside the 20 and 13 of 50+ yards) are difference makers in the kicking game as well for the ‘Runners.
North Texas makes its first trip to the championship game since 2017, and did so by winning six of eight league games, including the win over Rice last week to clinch a berth in the title game. Seth Littrell’s Mean Green have rebounded from a difficult non-conference schedule to vie for the league title and have done so with a very productive offense led by its QB Austin Aune and a very talented running game. Aune has thrown for 3,115 yards and 31 touchdowns (just one shy of the program’s single-season record, set by Mason Fine in 2017). North Texas boasts the second-ranked rushing attack in the conference, and 22nd in the country at 204.2 yards per game. WR Jyaire Shorter has caught 20 passes for 550 yards and nine touchdowns, while Roderic Burns leads all pass-catchers with 36 receptions for 644 yards and a score. A pair of talented TEs are a major component of the Mean Green offense as well – Var’Keyes Gumms has 31 catches for 438 yards and five touchdowns, while Jake Roberts has hauled in 23 passes for 342 yards and two more scores. Five running backs have 100 yards or more, and RB Ikaika Ragsdale and Isaiah Johnson have combined for nearly 800 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively it all starts with senior LB KD Davis, who leads the conference with 118 tackles (63 solo) to go along with 3.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, an interception, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. DB Ridge Texada leads the team with three interceptions and 15 pass break-ups for an improved secondary. K Ethan Mooney is a weapon in special teams, having made 15-18 field goals on his way to the Lou Groza Award semifinalist list.
CHAMPIONSHIP TRENDS
- UTSA (37.9 ppg) and North Texas (34.5 ppg) rank first and third in scoring offense in Conference USA, and rank 13th and 25th, respectively in the FBS. These teams showcased their quick-score ability on Oct. 22 in the Alamodome as the teams combined for 35 points in the fourth quarter, when the Roadrunners came out on top 31-27.
- Friday’s game pits two of the league’s top quarterbacks against one another – UTSA’s Frank Harris (ranks fifth in the country in total offense – 338.6 yards per game) and North Texas’ Austin Aune (leads the nation in passing yards per completion – 15.50).
- Since C-USA began holding a conference championship in 2005, the host school is 12-5 all-time.
- UTSA is only the second team in C-USA history to host the title game in back-to-back seasons (WKU in 2015 and 2016).
- 2022 marked the first season since the league adopted a championship game that the league operated without divisions.
C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Here are the results and MVP’s of the first 17 C-USA
Football Championship Games:
2021 at UTSA 49, WKU 41
MVP: Sincere McCormick, RB, UTSA
2020 UAB 22, at Marshall 13
MVP: Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
2019 at Florida Atlantic 41, UAB 6
MVP: Chris Robison, QB, Florida Atlantic
2018 UAB 27, at Middle Tennessee 25
MVP: Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
2017 at Florida Atlantic 41, North Texas 17
MVP: Kalib Woods, WR, Florida Atlantic
2016 at WKU 58, Louisiana Tech 44
MVP: Anthony Wales, RB, WKU
2015 at WKU 45, Southern Miss 28
MVP: Brandon Doughty, QB, WKU
2014 at Marshall 26, Louisiana Tech 23
MVP: Justin Haig, K, Marshall
2013 at Rice 41, Marshall 24
MVP: Luke Turner, RB, Rice
2012 at Tulsa 33, UCF 27 (OT)
MVP: Trey Watts, RB, Tulsa
2011 Southern Miss 49, at Houston 28
MVP: Tracy Lampley, RB, Southern Miss
2010 at UCF 17, SMU 7
MVP: Latavius Murray, RB, UCF
2009 at East Carolina 38, Houston 32
MVP: Dwayne Harris, WR, East Carolina
2008 East Carolina 27, at Tulsa 24
MVP: Travis Simmons, DB, East Carolina
2007 at UCF 44, Tulsa 25
MVP: Kevin Smith, RB, UCF
2006 at Houston 34, Southern Miss 20
MVP: Kevin Kolb, QB, Houston
2005 Tulsa 44, at UCF 27
MVP: Garrett Mills, TE, Tulsa
