TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO ROADRUNNERS NOTES:
« OPENING DRIVE »
- UTSA will make its third consecutive and fourth overall bowl game appearance on Friday.
- The Roadrunners are seeking their first bowl win and victory versus a ranked opponent.
- UTSA and Troy will meet for the first time on Friday.
- The Roadrunners are ranked in all three major polls, coming in at No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25, No. 23 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA
Coaches Poll and 25th in the College Football Playoff rankings. - UTSA’s current 10-game winning streak is tied with this week’s opponent, Troy, for the third-longest active FBS streak and it is the second-longest run in program history behind the 11-0 start to the 2021 season.
- The Roadrunners captured their second straight Conference USA crown on Dec. 2 after defeating North Texas 48-27.
- UTSA is 30-9 under third-year head coach Jeff Traylor, giving him the most wins and best record for a head coach through 39 games in program
history. - The Roadrunners have won 26 of their last 31 contests dating back to November 2020.
- UTSA is 6-1 all-time on Friday
SETTING THE SCENE
No. 22/22/25 UTSA will face No. 23/24/24 Troy in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl on Friday, Dec. 16, in Orlando, Florida. The first meeting between the two teams will feature a pair of conference champions on 10-game winning streaks and boasting 11-2 records this season. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Central time at Exploria Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN. Coming off their second straight league crown following a 48-27 victory over North Texas in the Conference USA Championship Game on Dec. 2, the Roadrunners are making their third consecutive and fourth overall bowl game appearance.
TUNING IN
Friday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN and will be available on Watch ESPN and the ESPN app. Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (reporter) have the call. The contest will air live on Ticket 760 AM in the San Antonio area. Andy Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Pat Evans (reporter) will call the action. The pregame show will begin at 12 p.m. CT and there will be a 45-minute postgame show. Bowl Season Radio will provide live national radio coverage of the game on terrestrial radio stations throughout the country, as well as SiriusXM. In addition, the game will stream live on Tune-In, Audacy and The Varsity Network apps. Jamie Seh (play-by-play), Landry Burdine (analyst) and Despina Barton (reporter) will handle the call.
GOING BOWLING
The No. 22-ranked Roadrunners will make their third straight and fourth overall bowl appearance when they face No. 23 Troy on Friday. Dec. 16, in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl. UTSA equaled an NCAA modern startup program record by playing in a bowl game in just its sixth season, dropping a 23-20 decision to New Mexico in the 2016 New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque. Last December, UTSA dropped a 38-24 decision at the hands of No. 24 San Diego State in the Frisco Bowl, one year after nearly rallying before falling to No. 16 Louisiana by a 31-24 count in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas. UTSA originally was selected to play SMU in the Frisco Bowl in 2020, but COVID-19 protocols within the Mustangs’ program forced the game to be canceled and the Roadrunners slid into the First Responder Bowl. This will mark the second time UTSA will face a team from the Sun Belt Conference in a bowl game.
UTSA’s Bowl History
Date Bowl Opponent Result
12/17/16 New Mexico Bowl New Mexico L, 20-23
12/26/20 First Responder Bowl Louisiana L, 24-31
12/21/21 Frisco Bowl #24 San Diego State L, 24-38
ON A STREAK
UTSA won its 10th straight game with the 48-27 victory over North Texas in the Conference USA Championship Game on Dec. 2. UTSA’s current 10-game run is tied with this week’s opponent — Troy — for the third-longest active streak in the FBS, trailing only Georgia (15) and Michigan (13). It also stands as the second-longest winning streak in program history behind the 11-0 start to the 2021 campaign.
NATIONALLY RANKED ROADRUNNERS
For the first time since last November, UTSA is ranked in all three major polls, appearing at No. 22 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 and USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, as well as 25th in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Roadrunners moved up one spot from last week in the AP Top 25 and two places in the coaches poll and they made their first appearance in the CFP rankings since last fall. In 2021, UTSA rose to as high as 15th for three weeks in a row in the AP Top 25 last November and No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll on Nov. 7. UTSA was ranked in both polls for six consecutive weeks and also made an appearance in the CFP rankings for three weeks in a row, debuting at No. 23 on Nov. 9 before moving up to 22nd for two straight weeks last fall. On Sept. 20, 2020, UTSA received two votes in the AP poll, a first for the program.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
UTSA’s Duluth Trading Cure Bowl matchup against Troy will mark the fourth Friday broadcast of the season for the Roadrunners, who beat Middle Tennessee 45-30 on Sept. 30 in Murfreesboro, scored a 30-10 road victory over FIU on Oct. 14 and ran past North Texas 48-27 in the C-USA Championship Game on Dec. 2 to improve to 6-1 all-time on Fridays. In 2014, the Roadrunners opened the year with a 27-7 victory over Houston in a Friday night broadcast on ESPNU. UTSA also played a pair of Thursday night contests that fall, including a 26-23 setback to Arizona and a 12-10 win against Southern Miss. UTSA played its 2015 season lid-lifter on a Thursday at Arizona, and then dropped a 32-28 decision to Arizona State the following season in a Friday night showdown on ESPN2 at the Alamodome, the only Friday setback in program annals. The Roadrunners beat Middle Tennessee 37-35 on Sept. 25, 2020, and outlasted Western Kentucky 49-41 on Dec. 3, 2021, to capture the program’s first-ever Conference USA title. The Roadrunners played their first-ever Tuesday game in a 38-24 setback to No. 24 San Diego State in the 2021 Frisco Bowl. In 2012, UTSA was scheduled to open the year on a Thursday versus South Alabama, but that game was postponed to Saturday, Sept. 1, due to Hurricane Isaac. UTSA is 7-4 in games played on weekdays.
UTSA’s Non-Saturday Games (7-4)
Day Date Opponent Result
Friday 8/29/14 at Houston W, 27-7
Thursday 9/4/14 Arizona L, 23-26
Thursday 11/13/14 Southern Miss W, 12-10
Thursday 9/3/15 at Arizona L, 32-42
Friday 9/16/16 Arizona State L, 28-32
Friday 9/25/20 Middle Tennessee W, 37-35
Friday 12/3/21 Western Kentucky W, 49-41
Tuesday 12/21/21 vs. #24 San Diego State L, 24-38
Friday 9/30/22 at Middle Tennessee W, 45-30
Friday 10/14/22 at FIU W, 30-10
Friday 12/2/22 North Texas W, 48-27
ON EASTERN TIME
The Roadrunners will play a game in the Eastern time zone for the 12th time in program history when they face Troy on Friday in Orlando. UTSA is 2-0 this season and 5-6 all-time in games played in the Eastern time zone with wins against Georgia State in 2012 in Atlanta, at Charlotte in 2015 and Old Dominion in 2019 in Norfolk, Virginia, as well as road triumphs over Army West Point on Sept. 10 and FIU on Oct. 14 this year.
UTSA in the Eastern Time Zone (5-6)
Date Result Location
9/15/12 UTSA 38, Georgia State 14 Atlanta, Ga.
10/5/13 Marshall 34, UTSA 10 Huntington, W.Va.
9/27/14 Florida Atlantic 41, UTSA 37 Boca Raton, Fla.
11/14/15 UTSA 30, Charlotte 27 (OT) Charlotte, N.C.
9/24/16 Old Dominion 33, UTSA 19 Norfolk, Va.
11/4/17 FIU 14, UTSA 7 Miami, Fla.
11/17/18 Marshall 23, UTSA 0 Huntington, W.Va.
11/9/19 UTSA 24, Old Dominion 23 Norfolk, Va.
10/31/20 Florida Atlantic 24, UTSA 3 Boca Raton, Fla.
9/10/22 UTSA 41, Army 38 West Point, N.Y.
10/14/22 UTSA 30, FIU 10 Miami, Fla.
ROADRUNNERS FROM THE SUNSHINE STATE
Three Roadrunners hail from the state of Florida. Tye Edwards is a native of Palatka and a product of Menendez High School. Lamonte McDougle is from Pompano Beach and attended Deerfield Beach High School, while Travon Sylvester is out of St. Johns and Bartram Trail High School in the Jacksonville area.
SCOUTING TROY
The Trojans are riding a 10-game winning streak and are coming off a 45-26 victory over Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game on Dec. 3 to improve to 11-2. Troy is ranked No. 23 in the AP Top 25 and 24th in both the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll and the College Football Playoff rankings. The Trojans are averaging 26.2 points and 375.2 yards per game while allowing 17.5 points (8th/FBS) and 325.3 yards per contest. Gunnar Watson has completed 193 of 312 passes for 2,705 yards and 13 touchdowns. Kimani Vidal leads the ground attack with 1,059 yards and nine TDs on 209 carries, while Tez Johnson is the top receiver with 52 catches for 823 yards and four scores. Carlton Martial paces the defense with 121 tackles, while T.J. Jackson has 14.5 tackles for loss including eight sacks and Richard Jibunor owns 10.5 TFLs and seven sacks. Reddy Steward has a team-high three interceptions. Head coach Jon Sumrall is in his first season at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday will mark the first meeting between UTSA and Troy. This will mark the second time in the last three bowl games that the Roadrunners have faced a team from the Sun Belt Conference, as they dropped a 31-24 decision to No. 16 Louisiana in the 2020 First Responder Bowl. UTSA is 4-1 all-time in games played against Sun Belt teams, defeating South Alabama 33-31 in 2012 and Texas State in 2017 (44-14), 2018 (25-21) and
2020 (51-48/2OT). The Roadrunners also beat current Sun Belt member Georgia State in 2011 and 2012 before the Panthers joined that league, and they scored a 38-31 triumph over Texas State in 2012 when both teams were in the Western Athletic Conference. UTSA also is 1-2 against Marshall and Old Dominion and 4-4 versus Southern Miss, three teams that joined the Sun Belt this season.
WHO’S COUNTING?
Now in their 12th season of play, the Roadrunners will play the 146th game in program history on Friday when they face Troy in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl. UTSA is 75-70 all-time and 0-2 in neutral-site games. By comparison, Troy has been playing football since 1909 and owns an all-time record of 564-427-28.
ROADRUNNERS VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
UTSA has faced nine nationally ranked FBS opponents in its 12-year history entering Friday’s Duluth Trading Cure Bowl clash with No. 23 Troy. The Roadrunners have faced a pair of top-25 foes this season, dropping a 37-35 heartbreaker to No. 24 Houston in triple overtime in the season opener and falling 40-21 at No. 20 Texas on Sept. 17. Friday’s matchup will mark UTSA’s third consecutive bowl game versus a ranked opponent, as they faced No. 24 San Diego State in the 2021 Frisco Bowl and No. 16 Louisiana in the 2020 First Responder Bowl. The highest-ranked foe UTSA has played was No. 13 Oklahoma State in 2013.
UTSA vs. Ranked Opponents
Date Opponent Result
10/1/11 at #16* Sam Houston State L, 7-22
11/3/12 at #22 Louisiana Tech L, 27-51
9/7/13 #13 Oklahoma State L, 35-56
9/3/15 at #22 Arizona L, 32-42
9/19/15 at #25 Oklahoma State L, 14-69
11/19/16 at #22 Texas A&M L, 10-23
10/10/20 at #15 BYU L, 20-27
12/26/20 vs. #16 Louisiana L, 24-31
9/3/22 #24 Houston L, 35-37 (3OT)
9/17/22 at #20 Texas L, 21-40
*FCS poll
ROADRUNNERS SECURE SECOND STRAIGHT C-USA CROWN
Frank Harris passed for 341 yards and four touchdowns and Clifford Chattman had an interception for a school-record fourth consecutive game, as UTSA repeated as conference champions with a 48- 27 victory in the C-USA Championship Game on Dec. 2 in front of 41,421 fans at the Alamodome. With their 10th straight win, the Roadrunners ran their record to 11-2 on the season and successfully defended the program’s first-ever conference title won last year. Harris completed 32 of 37 passes, good for a C-USA Championship Game-record .865 completion percentage, nearly breaking his own program record in the process. The senior tossed three of his touchdowns to Zakhari Franklin, who had 10 receptions for 144 yards while matching the school record for TD receptions in a game. Harris also rushed for 49 yards and a score to give him 390 yards of offense and five total scores. Meanwhile, Kevorian Barnes exploded for a career-high 175 rushing yards and a TD on 28 carries to pace a ground game that piled up 227 yards. The redshirt freshman from San Augustine averaged 6.2 yards per tote in logging his fourth 100-yard game of the year. Chattman shared the team lead in tackles with nine and added a pass breakup to go along with his fourth interception of the season, all coming in the last four games. Trevor Harmanson matched Chattman with nine stops, and Corey Mayfield Jr. registered six tackles and a PBU to tie the program record for passes defended in a season with 17, while also setting the program record for career games played with his 60th.
TRAYLOR SUCCESSFUL IN LEAGUE PLAY
UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has experienced immediate success in league games during his time in San Antonio. The two-time reigning Conference USA Coach of the Year has guided the Roadrunners to 21 wins in 24 regular season conference games during his tenure. The Roadrunners rallied for a 34-31 victory against UTEP on Nov. 26 to wrap up the first undefeated conference record in school history at 8-0 and then ran past North Texas 48-27 in the C-USA Championship Game to capture their second straight league crown. Last season, Traylor led UTSA to a 7-1 league mark and the program’s first-ever conference title with a 49-41 victory over Western Kentucky in the C-USA Championship Game. The Roadrunners registered a 5-2 record in league play in Traylor’s first season at the helm in 2020.
OVERCOMING DEFICITS
The Roadrunners pulled off the largest comeback victory in program history when they rallied from a 24-point deficit for a 34-31 win over UTEP on Nov. 26 at the Alamodome. UTSA trailed 24-0 after the Miners scored a touchdown with 7:03 left in second quarter, and they were behind by a 31-14 count with 11:56 left in the third before rallying for the three-point win on Jared Sackett’s field goal with three seconds remaining. Prior to that, UTSA’s largest come-from-behind win came on Sept. 25, 2021, when the Roadrunners rallied from a 21-0 deficit for a 31-28 road triumph on Hunter Duplessis’ 42-yard field goal as time expired. Earlier this season, UTSA found itself down to Army 28-14 with 6:49 left in the third quarter before rallying for a 41-38 overtime win on Sept. 10.
Largest Deficits Overcome in Win
Deficit Final Opponent Date
24 (0-24) 34-31 vs. UTEP 11/26/22
21 (0-21) 31-28 at Memphis 9/25/21
14 (14-28) 41-38 (OT) at Army 9/10/22
14 (0-14) 17-14 (OT) vs. Georgia State 10/29/11
13 (6-19) 27-26 vs. Louisiana Tech 10/24/20
13 (10-23) 24-23 at Old Dominion 11/9/19
13 (0-13) 21-13 at New Mexico 8/31/13
10 (0-10) 34-24 vs. Rice 11/21/15
10 (0-10) 16-13 vs. FIU 10/11/14
WORKING OVERTIME
The Roadrunners have been working overtime in 2022, with a program-record three contests needing extra periods to determine the outcome. UTSA played the first back-to-back overtime games in program history to open the campaign. The Roadrunners dropped a 37-35 decision to No. 24 Houston in triple overtime in the opener. One week later, UTSA rallied from a 14-point, second-half deficit to score a 41- 38 road triumph over Army West Point in one extra period. On Nov. 5 in Birmingham, the Roadrunners outlasted UAB 44-38 in double overtime to improve to 2-1 this season and 5-3 overall in overtime games. UTSA has played overtime, double-overtime and triple-overtime games this season and joins Houston and Texas Tech as the only FBS teams to have played three overtime contests this year.
UTSA’s All-Time Overtime Games (5-3)
Date Opponent Result
10/8/11 South Alabama L, 27-30 (2OT)
10/29/11 Georgia State W, 17-14 (OT)
11/14/15 at Charlotte W, 30-27 (OT)
10/22/16 UTEP L, 49-52 (5OT)
9/12/20 at Texas State W, 51-48 (2OT)
9/3/22 Houston L, 35-37 (3OT)
9/10/22 at Army West Point W, 41-38 (OT)
11/5/22 at UAB W, 44-38 (2OT)
DOWN TO THE WIRE
UTSA is no stranger to close contests in the Jeff Traylor era, as 24 of the 39 have been one-score ballgames in the fourth quarter. The Roadrunners own an 18-6 record in those games including a 6-1 mark this year following the 34-31 comeback victory against UTEP on Nov. 26. Dating back to last season, UTSA has seen 11 of the last 18 contests decided in the fourth quarter or later. Further, the Roadrunners are 11-1 in games decided by eight points or less since 2021, good for the most wins and second-best winning percentage (.917) among FBS teams who have played at least eight one-score contests. The first two games this season went to overtime, with the Roadrunners dropping a 37-35 decision to No. 24 Houston in three overtimes on Sept. 3 before rallying to beat Army 41-38 in overtime one week later. UTSA saw Middle Tennessee draw to within 38-30 in the fourth quarter on Sept. 30 before a late touchdown run by Brenden Brady provided the final 15-point margin. The Roadrunners pulled out a 31-28 win against WKU on Oct. 8, a 31-27 victory over North Texas two weeks later and a 44-38 double-overtime decision at UAB on Nov. 5. Last November, the Roadrunners broke a 17-17 fourth-quarter deadlock against Southern Miss with two late scores in a 10-point victory before upending UAB 34-31 one week later on a TD pass with three seconds left to play. UTSA used an interception on the final play of the game to secure a 49-41 C-USA Championship Game win over WKU on Dec. 3 and then pulled to within seven points of No. 24 San Diego State in the fourth quarter of the Frisco Bowl before dropping a 38-24 decision in the 2021 finale. The Roadrunners also saw games against Illinois (37-30), Memphis (31-28), UNLV (24-17) and WKU (52-46) come down to the final minutes last fall. In 2020, UTSA’s matchups against Texas State (51-48/2OT), Stephen F. Austin (24-10), Middle Tennessee (37-35), UAB (13-21), No. 15 BYU (20-27), Army (16-28), Louisiana Tech (27-26), Southern Miss (23-20) and No. 16 Louisiana (24-31) all were one-score games in the final stanza.
TROY TROJANS NOTES:
Did You Know?
• The Cure Bowl is the ONLY bowl game to feature a pair of conference champions … it is Troy’s fourth all-time bowl appearance against a C-USA team (2-1)
• Troy is ranked in all three major polls for the first time in school history … the Trojans’ No. 23 AP ranking it is highest in school history after spending a week at No. 25 in 2016. Troy’s appearance in the Coaches Poll (No. 24) and CFP Poll (No. 24) are both firsts
• Troy is 5-0 in close games at the half (score differential is four points or less) … The five wins are the second most in the country
• Carlton Martial was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation’s top player who began their career as a walk-on, for the second straight season
• Troy scored on 50 percent or more of its possessions in the final three games of the season and 62.5 percent of its possessions in two of its final three games — in the previous four games, Troy didn’t top 27.3 percent
• Six of Troy’s last 10 touchdown drives have consumed fewer than two minutes off the clock
• Troy ranks 12th nationally with a +6.69 scoring advantage in the second half; Troy’s +5.92 margin in the fourth quarter ranks second behind just Michigan
• From 2005-21, Troy was 11-73 when trailing at the half and 5-52 when scoring less than 21 points … this season, Troy is 4-1 when trailing at the half and 4-1 when scoring less than 21 points
• Carlton Martial is the ONLY player at the FBS level since at least 2000 to have at least 405 tackles, six interceptions and 41 tackles for loss in their career
• Troy has allowed the fourth-fewest plays of 20- plus yards this season (34), the fourth-fewest 20- plus yards runs (6) and the 12th-fewest 20-plus yard passes (28). Troy has allowed plays of 20-plus yards on just 3.77 percent of its defensive snaps, the second fewest in the country (Iowa).
• Troy posted nine passing plays of 15-plus yards and six passing plays of 20-plus yards in the Sun Belt Championship Game
Troy By The Numbers
4 Games won by Troy when scoring 17 or fewer points this season; the Trojans are one of six teams since at least 2000 to do so
6 Troy’s national ranking allowing 3.92 points in the fourth quarter this season; Troy has held 7-of-13 opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter
7 Sun Belt Conference titles during Troy’s run in the league (2004), the most in league history. Troy’s seven conference titles are the sixth most in the country since 2006 (Oklahoma, Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, Boise St.)
8 Finalists for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award, including Troy’s Jon Sumrall
8 Opponents held under 100 yards rushing this season by the Trojans; the total is tied for the third most nationally and for the most in Troy’s FBS history
8 Times in the last 10 games Troy has rushed for 100-plus yards after not doing so the opening three games
10 Straight wins is Troy’s longest winning streak since 1995 … Troy’s winning streak is tied for the longest among Group of Five Teams (UTSA) & the third longest nationally
57 Wins since the start of the 2016 season rank as the 21st most nationally & seventh most in the Group of Five (this despite winning just 15 games from 2019-21)
242 Rushing yards by Kimani Vidal in Troy’s win over ULM; he finished just two yards shy of tying Troy’s single-game record 563 Career tackles for Carlton Martial, the most ever by a player at the NCAA FBS level
The Series
• This marks the first meeting between Troy and UTSA.
• The matchup is the second of the season for the Trojans against a C-USA school after Troy won at Western Kentucky, 34-27, on Oct. 1.
• Troy is 52-26-1 all-time against the current members of Conference USA.
• Troy is 2-1 against C-USA teams in bowl games — Troy defeated North Texas and Rice and lost to Southern Miss, all in the New Orleans Bowl.
Uniform Combos
• For the seventh straight year, the Trojans have updated their wardrobe. The Trojans have added a new white jersey to their rotation this year plus a black helmet and a silver helmet. Last year, it was the addition of a new black helmet.
Record When (2022):
Helmet – Cardinal (3-1), Black (3-0), Silver (5-1)
Jersey – Cardinal (5-0), White (3-2), Black (2-0), Smoke (1-0)
Pants – Black (4-0), White (4-1), Cardinal (3-1), Smoke (0-0)
Combined Wins Last Seven Seasons
• Troy has won a combined 57 games since 2016, which is the 21st most nationally and seventh most among the G5. Troy’s 42 wins in 2016-18 and 2022 are the fifth most in the country those four years.
Points on the Board
• Troy has been shutout just six times since moving to FBS in 2001 with three of those coming during the 2003 season.
• Troy has only been shutout once (North Texas, 2003) by a non-Power Five school — the Trojans have played 202 straight games against non-
Power Five schools without being shutout.
• Troy was shutout by Georgia, 66-0, on Sept. 20, 2014, which snapped a streak of 99 straight games without being shutout (Nebraska, 56-0, on Sept. 23, 2006).
• Troy’s current overall streak stands at 107 games.
Sun Belt Champ
• Troy’s seven Sun Belt championships are the most in conference history; the Red Wolves joined the Sun Belt three seasons before Troy.
Sun Belt Conference Titles by School
- Troy (2006, 07, 08, 09, 10, 17, 22) 7
- Arkansas State 6
- Appalachian State 4
North Texas 4
Louisiana 4
Middle Tennessee 4 - ULM 1
Georgia Southern 1
Florida Atlantic 1
FIU 1
Coastal Carolina 1
O P5, Where Art Thou
• The 2020 season marked the first for Troy since 2000 that the Trojans did NOT play a team from a Power 5 conference. The Trojans were scheduled for a home game against NC State and road game at Tennessee before the ACC & SEC altered their schedule models.
• Troy’s match up with Ole Miss in the season opener is Troy’s 27th (3-23) against the current members of the SEC. The Trojans have played an SEC school in 16 of 21 seasons since moving to the FBS ranks in 2001.
• Troy is 6-48 all-time against the current members of Power 5 conferences … the only conference that Troy has not played a current or former member from is the Pac 12.
• Troy has at least one win over each of the four Power 5 conferences in which it has played a game against.
• Troy’s last P5 win came in 2018 at Nebraska, while it’s last SEC win came in 2017 at LSU.
Plays Per Game
• Troy’s plays per game have taken a steady decrease each of the last three seasons and that trend will be interesting to follow in 2022 as the Trojans move to a Pro Style offense under OC Joe Craddock.
• Troy ranked 15th nationally in 2019 averaging 73.58 plays per game and had two games in which it ran 92- plus plays.
• Troy slipped to 44th nationally in 2020 averaging 71.27 plays per game. The Trojans ran 93 plays in the season opener and hit the 81 play mark three times.
• The 2021 season saw a dramatic drop as Troy ranked 100th nationally averaging just 65.42 plays per game. The Trojans ran just 40 plays against App State and 49 against Liberty with a season-high 76 coming in the season finale.
• Troy went off script in the opener running 81 plays, which ranked as the 11th most in the country.
• Troy ran 70 plays against Alabama A&M and it dropped to 65 plays against App State. Troy had just nine offensive possessions in the game at App State, which included the final drive where the Trojans tried to run out the clock.
• Troy ran a season-low 56 plays against Marshall, but racked up 421 yards for a 7.5 yards-per-play average, it’s highest output of the season.
• Troy is 108th at 64.00 plays per game.
• On the flip side, Troy’s defense has been on the field for the 53rd most plays in the country per game; Troy opponents are averaging 69.38 plays per game.
• Troy’s plays per game — Ole Miss (81), Alabama A&M (70), App State (65), Marshall (56), Western Kentucky (76), Southern Miss (59), Texas State (62), South Alabama (60), Louisiana (71), Army (53), ULM (60), Arkansas State (66), Coastal Carolina (53).
10 Wins in Three Straight Seasons
• Troy joined a small list of teams that have won 10 games in back-to-back-to-back seasons as a member of the Group of Five since 2002.
• Troy is one of just 11 programs from a Group of Five Conference since 2002 to win 10 or more games in three straight seasons.
• Head coach Jon Sumrall was an assistant coach on two of those three teams (2016-17) before departing for Ole Miss for the 2018 season.
Battle for the Belt
• “The Battle for the Belt” was created by both school’s SGAs prior to the 2015 season.
• Troy leads the all-time series 8-3 and the Trojans lead the series 6-2 since the introduction of The Belt.
• Troy’s 37-13 win in 2019 marked the first time that the home team had won the game since the The Belt was introduced. In fact, it was the first time that The Belt didn’t change hands after the game.
• When the Sun Belt split into divisions for the 2018-21 seasons, Troy (East) and South Alabama (West) were split apart; however, a league-wide agreement allowed the game to continue each year as a permanent cross-divisional opponent.
• Troy has won five straight meetings against its rival with the victories coming by a combined 145-60 margin.
• The Trojans have limited the Jags to just 295.8 yards per game during the five-game winning streak.
• Troy and South Alabama have played two games at Hancock Whitney Stadium; Troy has limited South Alabama to no touchdowns, two field goals, 3.0 points per game, 44.0 rushing yards per game and 242.5 yards per game.
