#24/25 UTSA ROADRUNNERS (12-1) VS. #24 SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS (11-2) Tuesday, Dec. 21 | 6:30 p.m.San Diego State Aztecs Notes
SCENE SETTER (as of Sunday, Dec. 12)
Having secured its fifth double-digit win season in the last seven campaigns, San Diego State plays in its 11th bowl game since 2010 when it faces 24th-ranked UTSA in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
The Frisco Bowl features the third-best combined record among all bowl games thisseason, trailing just the two national college football playoff bowls. San Diego State and UTSA are a combined 23-3. See chart to the right
San Diego State is looking for its school-record 12th victory of the season. The Aztecs have tied the school-record for victories with 11. In 99 seasons, SDSU has reached the 11-win plateau four times (1969, 2015, 2016 and 2021).
The Aztecs are looking to finish the campaign in the final top 25 polls. SDSU has finished in the final AP Top 25 Poll only twice (1977 and 2016) and in the final coaches poll twice (1986 and 2016).
San Diego State is playing in its 19th bowl games and 11th in the last 12 seasons. Only 17 schools nationally have advanced to at least 11 bowl games since 2010 (SDSU, Brigham Young and Boise State are the only non-Power 5 members of that list).
The Aztecs are playing in their second Frisco Bowl, having previously participated in the 2018 Frisco Bowl against Ohio.
Junior punter/placekicker Matt Araiza became San Diego State’s first major college football award winner when he earned the Ray Guy Award on Dec. 9. Araiza has earned first-team All-America honors on the first three teams that make up the consensus list (Walter Camp, FWAA and AP) and is looking to joining Marshall Faulk (1992 and 1993) as the only unanimous All-American selections in program history.
Junior defensive end Cameron Thomas has earned second-team All-America honors by Walter Camp, FWAA and AP. In addition
to leading the team in tackles for loss (20.5), sacks (11.5) and quarterback hurries (21), Thomas has the fourth-highest defensive grade (90.3, min. 600 snaps) in the country. Thomas also has the most quarterback pressures (sacks/hits/hurries) (77) and hits (21) in FBS, and the sixth-most hurries (44) (according to PFF).
Junior right guard William Dunkle started all 13 games and has allowed just eight pressures (no sacks) on the season in 388 passing opportunities. Among offensive linemen, Dunkle has the fourth-highest overall grade (93.2, min. 600 snaps) by PFF and the second-highest run block grade (96.0, min. 600 snaps).
n San Diego State is 11-2 despite playing all 13 games outside of its home city and normal home stadium. That’s easily the best record
among the 11 other teams who have had to play outside its home city and normal home stadium since at least 1980 (Idaho was
second best with a 7-4 record in 1999).
n The Aztecs are 6-0 in games decided by one score or less, tied with UTSA for the most second-most wins without a loss in one-score
games, trailing only Lousiana (7-0).
n SDSU is No. 24 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings (Dec. 5). The Aztecs, who had never appeared in the poll prior to this
season, have been ranked in every CFP Poll this year.
n Brady Hoke is the only active college coach to lead three different FBS programs (Ball State, Michigan and SDSU) to an 11-win season
and one of only two coaches overall since 1996 (also Urban Meyer with Utah, Florida and Ohio State).
HOW WE WIN
San Diego State’s special teams are among the best in the nation. ESPN College Football Efficiencies rate the Aztec special teams as the 11th-best nationally. Junior Matt Araiza currently leads the nation in punting (51.4) and is on pace to set an FBS record while senior Jordan Byrd is 14th nationally in kickoff return average (27.9). Meanwhile, the Aztecs have blocked three punts this season to rank seventh in that category.
Junior defensive end Cameron Thomas has totaled 68 tackles, while leading the team in tackles for loss (20.5), sacks (11.5) and quarterback hurries (21). The 11.5 sacks this year by Thomas are the sixth most in SDSU single-season history, while his 20.5 tackles for loss are seventh and tied for the most in league history. Among the national leaders, he is third in tackles for loss (20.5), fourth in tackles for loss per game (1.58), tied for sixth in sacks (11.5) and 12th in sacks per game (0.88).
Junior right guard William Dunkle started all 13 games for the Aztecs at right guard this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Dunkle has allowed just eight pressures (no sacks) on the season in 388 passing opportunities. Among offensive linemen, Dunkle has the fourth-highest overall grade (93.2, min. 600 snaps) by PFF and the second-highest run block grade (96.0, min. 600 snaps). n Senior left tackle Zachary Thomas ranks ninth nationally among tackles in Pro Football Focus blocking grades (min. 500 snaps). In 798 snaps this season, Thomas has allowed three sacks, two QB hits and has committed just two penalties.
Senior cornerback Tayler Hawkins owns the fourth-best coverage rating in the country among defensive backs (and No. 1 in the Mountain West) (450 snaps).
Defensively, San Diego State has been one of the top units nationally for the better part of a decade. In the 21 games in which Kurt Mattix has served as defensive coordinator (since the start of 2020 season), San Diego State ranks tied for first in rushing touchdowns allowed (11), third in rushing yards allowed per game (85.5), fourth in yards allowed per rush (2.8), fifth in total defense (305.9), ninth in pass efficiency defense (116.6), 10th in scoring defense (18.8) and tied for 10th in total touchdowns allowed (47).
TRENDING
Searching for the formula to a San Diego State victory? Look no further.
OFFENSIVE KEYS
San Diego State is 52-2 the last 54 times it has rushed for 200 yards. The Aztecs surpassed 200 yards rushing in the first five games this season.
The Aztecs are 75-15 since 2011 when committing one turnover or less, something SDSU has done in 27 of its last 34 games.
San Diego State’s 34 turnovers since the start of the 2019 are tied for the seventh fewest in the country (California, Kent State leads with 28).
SDSU had an advantage in time of possession in 24 of the last 34 games. Since 2011, the Aztecs are 30-7 when possessing the football for at least 35 minutes.
DEFENSIVE KEYS
The Aztecs are 64-3 since 2011 when holding the opposition to 17 points or less. SDSU has held 18 of its last 27 opponents to 17
points or less.
The Aztecs are 33-7 since 2011 when allowing less than 150 passing yards.
San Diego State is 54-5 the last 59 times it has held the opposition to a 33.3 percent or less mark on third down.
Since 2009, San Diego State’s record broken down by opponent passing efficiency: less than 110: 63-8; between 110-150: 39-24; greater than 150: 7-24.
Since the start of the 2015 campaign, SDSU is 41-2 when holding its opponent to a passing efficiency rating of below 110. SDSU has done that in eight of 13 games this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS / OVERALL TRENDS
The Aztecs have are 42-2 the last 44 times when owning a turnover advantage.
San Diego State is 23-2 the last 25 times it has an advantage in field position.
Since the start of the 2015 season, San Diego State is tied for the most kickoff returns for touchdowns (13) with Kansas State.
Since the start of the 2020 season, San Diego State has nine non-offensive touchdowns, tied for 5th nationally (Alabama, 11).
This season, the Aztecs have five non-offensive touchdowns (two punt return, kickoff return, two interception returns). That is tied for 9th best in the nation.
BULLET NOTES – OFFENSE
San Diego State returns eight starters on offense this season – senior running back Greg Bell, senior tight end Daniel Bellinger, junior right guard William Dunkle, senior left guard Chris Martinez, junior wide receiver Jesse Matthews, senior wide receiver Kobe Smith, senior left tackle Zachary Thomas, and senior center Alama Uluave.
Jeff Hecklinski is in his second season as offensive coordinator at San Diego State. Hecklinski was on Hoke’s original SDSU staff in 2009 and 2010 as the assistant head coach, running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. He was also with Hoke at Michigan (2011-14) and Ball State (2004-08). He replaced Jeff Horton, who now serves as the associate head coach and running backs coach.
Of all FBS schools that have played at least 49 games since 2015, San Diego State is second in fewest turnovers with 91 (LSU is first with 87).
OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
The Aztecs are 43-4 the last 47 times they have scored at least 30 points. SDSU has won its last nine games when scoring at least 30 points.
Since Oct. 3, 2015, San Diego State is 55-9 when scoring at least 20 points.
SDSU is 24-6 since 2011 when getting at least 36 minutes of time of possession.
Since the beginning of 2014, SDSU is 59-13 when committing one turnover or less (11 straight wins) and 12-17 when having two or more turnovers in the game. San Diego State has one turnover or less in 24 of its last 31 games.
San Diego State has one turnover or less in 45 of its last 61 games.
SDSU is 49-10 in the last 59 games when owning an edge in time of possession.
C Alama Uluave has played the most offensive snaps (873) on the season.
According to Pro Football Focus, RG William Dunkle has allowed just eight pressures (no sacks) on the season in 388 passing opportunities.
Among offensive linemen, Dunkle has the fourth-highest overall grade (93.2, min. 600 snaps) and the second-highest run block grade (96.0, min. 600 snaps). Both marks lead the Mountain West as well.
Z. Thomas has committed only two penalties over the last two seasons (1,429 snaps).
Z. Thomas is graded as the 11th-ranked offensive lineman in FBS by Pro Football Focus (89.4, min. 600 snaps) (No. 2 in Mountain West) and No. 13 run blocker (90.4, min. 600 snaps).
RUSHING OFFENSE
San Diego State is 52-2 the last 54 times it has rushed for at least 200 yards and is 49-1 in its last 50 regular-season games when rushing for 200-plus yards.
San Diego State has a 100-yard rusher in 46 of the last 88 games since 2015 (58, 100-yard rushers total). Since Jeff Horton arrived as the running back coach in 2011, SDSU has a 100-yard rusher in 80 of the 140 games and 96, 100-yard rushers overall.
San Diego State had two 100-yard rushers at New Mexico State (Jordan Byrd – 118 and Chance Bell – 116) on Sept. 14, 2019 for the 30th time in program history. The Aztecs are 29-1 in those occasions, including a 19-game win streak.
San Diego State ran for at least 200 yards in each of the first five games this season, which was its longest streak since the final five games of the 2017 season.
The Aztecs had back-to-back games with at least four rushing touchdowns (Sept. 25 vs. Towson and Oct. 9 vs. New Mexico) for the first time since the 2015 season (Nov. 21 at UNLV and Nov. 28 vs. Nevada).
RB Greg Bell ranks third in the Mountain West in total rushing attempts (219, 19th in FBS) and rushing yards (990, 49th in FBS), fourth in rushing attempts per game (16.85, 36th in FBS) and rushing yards per game (76.15, 56th in FBS), and tied for sixth in rushing touchdowns (8).
G. Bell became SDSU’s 80th different 100-yard rusher with 111 yards vs. UNLV in the 2020 opener on Oct. 24.
G. Bell ran for 161 yards against New Mexico State on Sept. 4, 2021, the sixth most in an Aztec season opener, trailing only the likes of David Turner (239 in 1976), Marshall Faulk (220 vs. USC in 1992 and 181 vs. CSUN in 1993), Rashaad Penny (197 vs. UC Davis in 2017) and Ronnie Hillman (189 vs. Cal Poly in 2011).
G. Bell’s 161 were the most by an Aztec since Rashaad Penny had 221 vs. Army West Point in the 2017 Armed Forces Bowl (Dec.
23).
G. Bell became the first Aztec in program history to start his Aztec career with three straight 100-yard rushing games to begin the 2020 season (ended up with four straight).
G. Bell is one of 10 Aztecs in program history with at least four consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
G. Bell is one of 15 Aztecs in program history with at least eight 100-yard rushing games.
G. Bell has nine 100-yard rushing games in 24 career Division I games, including eight times at San Diego State in 20 games.
G. Bell already ranks 20th in SDSU program history with 1,627 rushing yards in just 20 games.
Byrd had a 73-yard touchdown at Utah State on Oct. 31, 2020, the longest by an Aztec since Rashaad Penny’s 81-yard touchdown run against Army West Point in the 2017 Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 23).
If you take away the 12 times QB Lucas Johnson has been sacked (for 93 yards), he has rushed 36 times for 251 yards (7.0 avg.).
Johnson ran for 87 yards against Utah, the most by an Aztec quarterback since Ryan Katz had 89 at Fresno State on Sept. 29, 2021 and the fourth most in a game since at least 1996. Including in the 87 rushing yards was a career-long 54-yard rush, which was the longest by an Aztec quarterback since Katz had a 67-yarder at Fresno State on Sept. 29, 2012 and third longest since at least 1996.
Johnson’s 10.0 YPC average led the country among quarterbacks (min. 8 att.) in 2020.
If you take away the 10 times QB Jordon Brookshire has been sacked (for 62 yards), he has rushed 38 times for 220 yards (5.8 avg.) and five touchdowns.
The five rushing touchdowns by Brookshire are the most by an Aztec quarterback since Kevin O’Connell had a school-record 11 in 2007.
Brookshire’s five rushing touchdowns rank in a tie for 31st in the country among quarterbacks (second in MW).
Brookshire rushed 23 times for 38 yards in his first career start against Colorado State on Dec. 5, 2020, which matched Kevin O’Connell (vs. San José State on Sept. 24, 2005) for the most by an Aztec quarterback since at least 1996.
If you take away the one time QB Jalen Mayden has been sacked (for eight years), he has rushed three times for 44 yards (14.7 avg.).
PASSING OFFENSE
Since the start of the 2015 season, San Diego State has thrown 36 interceptions. That only trails Navy for the fewest picks in the nation over that span (min. 50 GP). In contrast, Texas State has thrown 97 interceptions over that span, which is the most since 2015.
QB Lucas Johnson is 7-1 as the starting quarterback this season and 7-2 for his career.
QB Lucas Johnson ranks sixth in the Mountain West in completion percentage (60.96, 72nd in FBS), seventh in pass efficiency rating (121.57), tied for seventh in passing touchdowns (9), ninth in passing yards per game (90.92), yards per completion (9.57) and yards per attempt (5.83), and 10th in passing yards (1,091).
Johnson was 2-for-3 with two touchdown passes at San Jose State on Oct. 15, 2021. He became just the 13th FBS quarterback since 1996 to only throw touchdown passes for his completions (min. 2 completions).
QB Jordon Brookshire earned his first career start against Colorado State on Dec. 5, 2020, completing 14 of 24 pass attempts for 130 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. Brookshire became the fifth quarterback to win his starting debut over the last six chances (SDSU quarterbacks were 1-13 in the previous 14 debuts prior to this stretch).
Brookshire is 5-2 as the SDSU’s starting quarterback for his career (4-1 this season).
WR Jesse Matthews ranks in a tie for eighth in the Mountain West in receiving touchdowns (7, T-52nd in FBS).
Matthews had a career-high nine receptions for 75 yards and three touchdowns at UNLV on Nov. 19. The three touchdown catches for the most by an Aztec since Colin Lockett had three in the 2011 New Orleans Bowl, while the nine catches were the most at SDSU since Mikah Holder had nine at UNLV on Oct. 7, 2017.
Matthews followed that up with another 9-catch game for 133 yards and a touchdown against Boise State on Nov. 26.
Matthews is now one of 34 Aztecs with at least four, 100-yard receiving games.
Over the last three games for Matthews, he has totaled 26 catches for 290 yards and five touchdowns.
Among freshmen in SDSU single-season history in 2019, Matthews ranked second in receptions (48) and third in receiving yards (633).
Matthews had the fifth-most catches (48) in the country without a dropped pass in 2019 (according to Pro Football Focus).
WR Kobe Smith had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games in 2019, the first Aztec to do so since Ezell Ruffin had three straight in 2013.
Smith is one of 41 players in program history with at least three 100-yard receiving games.
Among the tight ends in the Mountain West, Bellinger ranks fourth in receptions (29) and receiving yards (344), and tied for fifth in touchdowns (2).
Against Arizona on Sept. 11, Bellinger became the first Aztec tight end to break 100 receiving yards since Gavin Escobar had 108 vs. UNLV on Oct. 27, 2012. His 113 yards were the most by an Aztec tight end since Escobar had 117 against North Dakota on Sept. 15, 2012.
Bellinger became the 87th different Aztec to record a 100-yard receiving game
Bellinger’s 73-yard catch from Brookshire against Arizona was the longest by an Aztec tight end since at least the 1996 season, the ninth longest in the country this year by a tight end and the longest by an Aztec since Ryan Agnew connected on a 74-yarder to Jesse Matthews in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl.
WR Elijah Kothe caught four passes for 105 yards (all in the first half) against Fresno State on Oct. 31, making him the 88th different Aztec with a 100-yard receiving game.
BULLET NOTES – DEFENSE
Kurt Mattix is in his second season as defensive coordinator at San Diego State. He previously served as defensive coordinator at Eastern Kentucky and worked with Hoke at Michigan. Mattix has been named a nominee for the Broyles Award for the top assistant coach in both 2020 and 2021.
San Diego State’s returns eight starters off a team that finished third in the nation in total defense (283.50) and 11th in scoring defense (17.75) a year ago. Starters that are back for the Aztecs are senior defensive tackle Jonah Tavai, senior defensive end Keshawn Banks, junior defensive end Cameron Thomas, senior linebackers Andrew Aleki and Caden McDonald.
SERIES NOTES
San Diego State and UTSA are meeting for the first time.
San Diego and San Antonio are two of the largest markets in the nation. According to Nielsen, San Diego is the 27th-largest market, while San Antonio is the 31st-largest market.
This marks just the second time in school history that the Aztecs have faced a team that has been a member of Conference USA at the time of the game. SDSU suffered a 34-27 loss to UTEP on Aug. 31, 2006.
San Diego State is 26-6-0 all-time against the current configuration of Conference USA.
Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners Notes
« OPENING DRIVE »
UTSA will make its second straight and third overall bowl appearance when it meets San Diego State in the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl on Dec. 21.
The Roadrunners are 0-2 in bowl games, dropping a 31-24 decision to Louisiana in the 2020 First Responder Bowl and a 23-20 contest to New Mexico in the 2016 New Mexico Bowl.
UTSA is 4-3 all-time in non-Saturday contests and this will mark the first time the Roadrunners have played on a Tuesday.
The Roadrunners are ranked No. 24 in the AP Top 25 and 25th in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
Conference USA Coach of the Year Jeff Traylor is 19-6 at the helm of the Roadrunners, the best 25-game start for a UTSA coach.
UTSA has won 15 of its last 17 contests dating back to last season.
This will mark the first meeting between UTSA and San Diego State and the Roadrunners’ first matchup against a ranked team since facing No. 16 Louisiana on Dec. 26, 2020, in the First Responder Bowl.
SETTING THE SCENE
The Conference USA champion and No. 24/25 UTSA Roadrunners (12-1) will make their second straight and third overall bowl appearance when they face No. 24 San Diego State (11-2) in the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Toyota Stadium and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN. UTSA has won 15 of its last 17 games dating back to last season but is seeking its first bowl victory.
TUNING IN
Saturday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN and can be viewed via WatchESPN and ESPN Deportes or the ESPN app. Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (reporter) have the call. The contest will air live on Ticket 760 AM in the San Antonio area, on XM channel 381 and SiriusXM app channel 971. Andy Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Pat Evans (reporter) will call the action. The pregame show will begin at 4:30 p.m. and there will be a 45-minute postgame show. The radio broadcast will not be available via streaming. Bowl Season Radio will provide live national radio coverage of the game on terrestrial radio stations throughout the country, as well as SiriusXM channel 84. In addition, the game will stream live on Tune-In, Audacy and
The Varsity Network apps. Toby Rowland (play-by-play), Gabe Ikard (analyst) and Chris Mycoskie (reporter) will handle the call.
GOING BOWLING
The Roadrunners will make their second straight and third overall bowl appearance when they face San Diego State on Dec. 21 in the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco 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. A year ago, Roadrunners rallied from a 24-7 third-quarter deficit to No. 16 Louisiana to tie the game at 24-all before a late touchdown sent the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 31-24 victory in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas. UTSA originally was selected to play SMU in the Frisco Bowl last year but COVID-19 protocols within the Mustangs’ program forced the game to be canceled nd the Roadrunners slid into the First Responder Bowl. This will mark the second time UTSA will face a team from the Mountain West Conference in a bowl game.
WEEKNIGHT FOOTBALL
While college football typically is played on Saturdays, UTSA is no stranger to having a game on a weeknight to accommodate a television broadcast. In 2014, the Roadrunners opened the year with a 27-7 victory over Houston on 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 hosted Arizona State a year later in a Friday night showdown on ESPN2. The Roadrunners beat Middle Tennessee 37-35 on a Friday last season and made their most recent non-Saturday appearance earlier this month when they beat WKU 49-41 to capture the Conference USA Championship on Dec. 3 at the Alamodome. 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 4-3 all-time in games played on a weeknight.
RECORD-SETTING SEASON
Under the direction of second-year head coach Jeff Traylor, UTSA has set several program benchmarks in 2021. UTSA won its first 11 games — a school record for single-season victories and the longest winning streak in program annals — and now has pushed the school standard to 12 wins entering the bowl game. The Roadrunners also came out on top in each of their first seven Conference USA contests, a program record for most league victories in a season and a stretch that pushed their conference winning streak to 10 dating back to the 2020 campaign before the loss to North Texas on Nov. 27. UTSA also enjoyed a six-week stretch of being ranked in both the AP Top 25 and USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll, appearing as high as No. 15, and it has been ranked in both polls once again as of Dec. 5. The Roadrunners, who have won 15 of their last 17 contests dating back to last season, made more history by apturing their first C-USA Championship with the 49-41 victory over WKU on Dec. 3 at the Alamodome. The previous best overall start to a season before the first loss came when the 2012 team started 5-0, while the best start to a conference schedule was 2-0 in 2018.
NATIONALLY RANKED ROADRUNNERS
After a one-week hiatus, UTSA again is ranked nationally in both major polls, appearing at No. 24 in the AP Top 25 and 25th in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll as of Dec. 5. Earlier this season, the Roadrunners were ranked in both polls for six consecutive weeks, appearing as high as No. 15 in the AP Top 25. UTSA first cracked the AP Top 25 at No. 24 on Oct. 17 before moving up one position after the 45-16 win at Louisiana Tech and then to 16th on Oct. 31 before being ranked 15th for three straight weeks until the loss to North Texas. This marks the 11th consecutive week and 12th time overall UTSA has received votes in the poll. On Sept. 20, 2020, UTSA collected two votes in the AP Top 25, a first for the program. The Roadrunners made their first appearance in the coaches poll at No. 25 on Oct. 17 and were ranked as high as 16th on Nov. 7. This marks the 13th straight week the Roadrunners have collected votes in that poll. UTSA also made appearances in the College Football Playoff rankings for three weeks in a row, debuting at No. 23 on Nov. 9 and moving up to 22nd for two straight weeks before falling out of the top 25.
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE
The Aztecs fell to 11-2 on the season after a 46-13 loss to Utah State in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game on Dec. 4. San Diego State, which is 24th in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, owns a pair of wins over Pac-12 Conference teams including a 33-31 triple-overtime victory over league champion Utah. The Aztecs are averaging 26.5 points and 330.9 yards per game while allowing 19.5 points and 319.5 yards per contest. Lucas Johnson has seen the most action at quarterback and has completed 114 of 187 passes for 1,091 yards and nine touchdowns.
Greg Bell paces the ground game with 990 yards and eight TDs, while Jesse Matthews is the top receiver with 46 catches for 467 yards and seven scores. Patrick Morris leads the defense with 83 tackles and Cameron Thomas has 68 stops, including 16 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. Ray Guy Award winner Matt Araiza leads the nation with 51.4 yards per punt and also has made 17 field goals and all 40 extra-point attempts this season. Head coach Brady Hoke is 28-18 in his second stint and fourth overall season at the helm of the Aztecs.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday will mark the first meeting between UTSA and San Diego State, a member of the Mountain West Conference. The Roadrunners have faced five current members of the Mountain West in their history including defeating UNLV 24-17 on Oct. 2 in San Antonio. UTSA is 0-2 versus Colorado State, 1-2 against New Mexico, 0-1 versus San Jose State and 0-1 against Utah State.
WHO’S COUNTING?
Now in their 11th season of play, the Roadrunners will play the 132nd game in program history on Tuesday when they face San Diego State in the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl. UTSA is 64-67 all time and 0-1 in neutral-site games. By comparison, the Aztecs have been playing football since 1921 and are 580-433-32 all-time.
ROADRUNNERS VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
UTSA has faced seven nationally ranked FBS opponents in its 11-year history prior to the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl clash with No. 24 San Diego State. The last time the Roadrunners played a top-25 team was against No. 16 Louisiana in the 2020 First Responder Bowl on
