RYAN 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
UTSA (11-1, 7-1 C-USA) will host the 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 3, against East Division Champion WKU (8-4, 7-1 C-USA) from the Alamodome in San Antonio. The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network and kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.
RYAN C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
UTSA (11-1, 7-1 C-USA), which spent the past several weeks ranked inside various top 25 polls and climbed as high as No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25, clinched the right to host the 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game on Friday, Dec. 3, when it knocked off UAB in thrilling fashion on Nov. 20 in front of 35,143 in the Alamodome. WKU (8-4, 7-1 C-USA) punched its ticket during the final week of the regular season with a 53-21 win at Marshall in a winner-take-all battle for the C-USA East Division crown. The 2021 Ryan Conference USA Champion- ship Game will be televised live on CBS Sports Net- work, beginning at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.
This marks UTSA’s first trip to the C-USA title game, while WKU makes its third appearance. WKU claimed conference championships in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016. This will be the third all-time meeting between the schools (series tied 1-1) and second meeting this season, as UTSA escaped Bowling Green with a wild, 52-46 win on Oct. 9 to remain unbeaten.
UTSA captured the West Division crown with seven straight wins to open league play. Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor is looking to lead UTSA to its first-ever Conference USA title, and UTSA will be head- ing to a bowl for the second time in as many sea- sons under the former Gilmer High School coaching legend. The Roadrunners are led offensively by the three-headed monster of RB Sincere McCormick, QB Frank Harris and WR Zakhari Franklin. McCormick, a preseason All-America selection, leads C-USA in rushing and ranks eighth nationally in rushing yards (1,275) and has 12 touchdowns in his 12 appearances. Harris has taken a major leap in 2021, having thrown for 2,688 yards with 23 touchdowns to just five interceptions, and adds a dangerous dynamic with his legs, having rushed for 484 yards and five more scores. Franklin is the leader of a talented receiving corps, having hauled in a team-high 67 catches for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Roadrunner defense leads the league in points allowed (22.2) and boasts a star in the secondary in Rashad Wisdom (team-high 79 tackles) and in the linebacking corps in Clarence Hicks (31 tackles, 14.0 TFL and 8.0
sacks). UTSA is also rock solid in the kicking game, as K Hunter Duplessis (third in the FBS in scoring at 10.2 ppg) and P Lucas Dean (45.6 yards per punt) have been difference-makers for Traylor’s squad.
WKU makes its first trip to the championship game in five seasons, and did so by rattling off seven consecutive wins after opening the season with a difficult schedule and 1-4 start. Tyson Helton’s Hilltoppers stayed the course and are one of the hottest teams in the country, thanks largely in part to its highflying aerial attack, and its defensive turnaround. WKU bounced back from a frustrating 2020 season that saw the Hilltoppers finish 5-7. So much of that is due to Helton’s bold strategy to transplant the offense of Houston Baptist. Helton hired offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, and landed HBU transfers QB Bailey Zappe and WRs Jerreth Sterns, Josh Sterns and Ben Ratzlaff. The WKU offense has thrived, and Zappe (406-580 for and FBS-leading 4,968 yards and C-USA single-season record 52 passing touch- downs) as well as Jerreth Sterns (a program-record 127 receptions for 1,539 yards and 12 scores) are keys to that success. WR Mitchell Tinsley (not of HBU ori- gins) has been a revelation as well, as the junior has 71 catches for 1,126 yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively, it all starts with DE DeAngelo Malone, who is the team’s co-leader in tackles (79), but also paces the Toppers with 12.0 TFL, 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. WKU has forced 27 turnovers, which ranks third in all of the FBS, which has been a big component of the team’s success and march to the title game. UTSA isn’t the only team with a kicker who is a difference-maker – WKU’s Brayden Narveson ranks fifth in the FBS in points per game (10.1 ppg) and is 15th in the FBS in field goal percentage (87.0).
CHAMPIONSHIP TRENDS
* WKU (43.3 ppg) and UTSA (36.9 ppg) rank first and second in scoring offense in Conference USA, and rank second and 14th, respectively in the FBS. These high-octane offenses were certainly on dis- play back on Oct. 9 in Bowling Green, when the Roadrunners came out on top 52-46 in a shootout, which ultimately determined the site of Friday’s 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game.
* UTSA leads Conference USA in scoring defense, which pits the top-scoring offense in the league against the top defense in terms of points allowed.
* Since C-USA began holding a conference championship in 2005, the host school is 11-5 all-time. This is the first time in the past eight seasons that the game will be hosted by the West Division champion.
* UTSA becomes the 11th different host in the league’s 17 championship games.
C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Here are the results and MVP’s of the first 16 C-USA
Football Championship Games:
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
POSTSEASON AWARDS TIMELINE
Here is a look at the schedule for announcement of the league’s 2021 postseason awards. Awards are voted on by the league’s head football coaches.
Thu., Dec. 2 All-Academic Team Announced
Tues., Dec. 7 All-Conference, All-Freshman Teams Announced
Wed., Dec. 8 Individual Awards Announced
ZAPPE, TOPS’ DEFENSE LEADS WKU TO C-USA EAST TITLE, CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
WKU QB Bailey Zappe, was excellent again on Saturday in WKU’s 53-21 win at Marshall, which clinched the C-USA East Division title and a spot in the 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game in San Antonio on Friday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. CT. Zappe completed 25-48 passes for 328 yards and four touch- downs with no interceptions in the victory, WKU’s seventh straight. Zappe is now the record-holder in C-USA (and WKU) history for single-season passing touchdowNs, with 52 (in 12 games). He also moved into sixth in C-USA history in single-season passing yardage, with 4,968 thus far. Zappe is now tied for fourth in FBS history, just eight touchdown passes shy of Joe Burrow’s record, set in 2019, with two games to go (championship game and bowl game).
1. Joe Burrow, LSU, 2019 60
2. Colt Brennan, Hawai’i, 2006 58
3. David Klingler, Houston, 1990 54
4. Bailey Zappe, WKU, 2021 52
B.J. Symons, Texas Tech, 2003 52
5. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State, 2018 50
Derek Carr, Fresno State, 2013 50
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, 2006 50
WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS NOTES
NOTING THE GAME
After losing to UTSA by a score of 52-46 on October 9, WKU has won seven consecutive games to earn a rematch – and a shot at redemption – against the Roadrunners in the league title game. Since the Hilltoppers joined the league prior to the 2014 season, WKU is 12-6 against the C-USA West division in the regular season and 2-0 against such teams in the championship game. The Hilltoppers won back-to-back C-USA titles against Southern Miss in 2015 (45-28) and LA Tech in 2016 (58-44)
ZERO TO 10,004
WKU returned zero passing yards from the 2020 season. Enter graduate transfer quarterback Bailey Zappe, whose 10,004 yards at Houston Baptist from 2017-20 led all active CFB passers to begin the season. Now at 14,972 yards after 4,968 through his first 12 games as a Hilltopper,
CHASING GREATNESS
Through 12 games, Zappe’s numbers are comparable to Brandon Doughty’s 2015 season in which he set WKU’s all-time passing record (5,055 yards) in 14 games. Texas Tech’s B.J. Symons set the FBS record with 5,833 passing yards in 13 games in 2003, and LSU’s Joe Burrow’s 60 passing touchdowns in 15 games in 2019 is the all-time FBS mark: Bailey Zappe: 406-of-580 (70%) for 4,968 yards, with 52 TD and 9 INT Brandon Doughty: 322-of-444 (72.5%) for 4,184 yards, with 42 TD and 6 INT Joe Burrow: 314-of-401 (78%) for 4,366 yards, with 44 TD and 6 INT B.J. Symons: 429-of-666 (64%) for 5,336 yards, with 48 TD and 21 INT With 52 touchdown passes already this season, Zappe is tied for 4th all-time in FBS with 2003 B.J. Symons, trailing 1990 David Klingler (54), 2006 Colt Brennan (58) and Burrow (60). Meanwhile, his 4,968 yards are 18th all-time in FBS, ahead of the likes of 2017 Mason Rudolph (4,904) and 2018 Dwayne Haskins (4,831).
STERNS: ALSO A STUD
Wide receiver Jerreth Sterns is also nipping at the heels of the all-time greats. Through 12 games, Sterns’ numbers are comparable to Taywan Taylor’s 2016 season in which he set all-time records (98 catches for 1,730 yards, with 17 touchdowns) in 14 games. East Carolina’s Zay Jones set the FBS record with 158 receptions in 12 games in 2016, and Nevada’s Trevor Insley’s 2,060 yards in 11 games in 1999 is the all-time FBS mark: Jerreth Sterns: 123 receptions for 1,511 yards, with 12 touchdowns Taywan Taylor: 82 receptions for 1,392 yards, with 14 touchdowns Trevor Insley (11): 134 receptions for 2,060 yards, with 13 touchdowns Zay Jones: 158 receptions for 1,746 yards, with 8 touchdowns In his collegiate career, Sterns has 347 receptions for 3,510 yards and 30 touchdowns in 39 games played at Houston Baptist (27) and WKU (12). He has 16 100-yard receiving games and 17 double-digit reception performances.
TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO ROADRUNNERS NOTES
« OPENING DRIVE »
+ UTSA will make its first conference championship game appearance on Friday night.
+ The Roadrunners won the C-USA West Division title and will face East Division champion WKU for the second time this season and third time overall, marking the first time they have played the same opponent twice in one year.
+ UTSA is 2-1 all-time in games played on a Friday and 3-3 in non-Saturday contests.
+ The Roadrunners have won a school-record nine straight home games.
+ UTSA is receiving votes this week in both the AP Top 25 and USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
+ Jeff Traylor is 18-6 at the helm of the Roadrunners, the best 24-game start for a UTSA coach.
+ UTSA has won 14 of its last 16 contests dating back to last season.
SETTING THE SCENE
UTSA will make its first conference championship game appearance when it hosts WKU for the 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game in a nationally televised matchup on Friday, Dec. 3. Kickoff for the second meeting this season between the Roadrunners (11-1, 7-1) and Hilltoppers (8-4, 7-1) is set for 6 p.m. at the Alamodome. UTSA will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season, while WKU enters the contest having won its last seven games since dropping the 52-46 shootout to UTSA on Oct. 9 in Bowling Green, Ky
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Friday nights in the state of Texas are known for high school football. While college football typically is played on Saturdays, UTSA is no stranger to having a game moved to a weeknight for television. 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 in a CBS Sports Network telecast. UTSA played its 2015 season lid-lifter on a Thursday at Arizona, and then hosted Arizona State in a Friday night showdown on ESPN2 at the Alamodome in 2016.
The Roadrunners beat Middle Tennessee 37-35 in another CBSSN broadcast on Friday, Sept, 25, 2020, which is the last time the Roadrunners played a non-Saturday game. 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 3-3 in regular season games that were not held on a
Saturday including 2-1 on Fridays.
HOME SWEET DOME
UTSA has won a school-record nine straight home games beginning with last season’s 27-26 comeback win over Louisiana Tech on Oct. 24. In fact, the Roadrunners reeled off three straight victories at the Alamodome last year to close out Jeff Traylor’s debut campaign and they have come out on top in all six home contests this fall. UTSA is 37-28 all-time in home games, including 11-1 under Traylor.
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. 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. 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. The Roadrunners, who have won 14 of their last 16 contests dating back to last season, will make more history with their first C-USA Championship Game appearance on Friday night 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.
SCOUTING WKU
The Hilltoppers have won seven straight games since UTSA scored a 52-46 victory on Oct. 9 in Bowling Green, Ky., and will enter Friday’s matchup at 8-4 on the season. WKU is averaging 43.2 points and 524.7 yards per game — both league bests — while allowing 27.0 points and 411.3 yards per contest. Bailey Zappe has completed 406 of 581 passes for 4,968 yards and 52 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Jerreth Sterns is the top receiver with 127 catches for 1,539 yards and 12 TDs, while Mitchell Tinsley has 1,126 yards and 10 scores on 71 receptions. Noah Whittington paces the ground game with 452 yards on 90 rushes. Antwon Kincade and DeAngelo Malone lead the defense with 79 tackles apiece, while Malone has a team-best 12 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Head coach Tyson Helton is 22-15 in his third season at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday will mark the second meeting between UTSA and WKU this season and the third overall. The series is tied at 1-1 after the Roadrunners’ 52-46 win on Oct. 9 in Bowling Green, Ky. The Hilltoppers scored a 45-7 home victory in the inaugural meeting on Nov. 22, 2014, in Bowling Green, Ky.
UTSA/WKU Series History
Date Location Score
11/22/14 Bowling Green L, 7-45
10/9/21 Bowling Green W, 52-46
LAST MEETING
Frank Harris threw for a school-record six touchdowns and Clarence Hicks intercepted a pass at the 3-yard line in the final minute, as UTSA held on for a 52-46 win over WKU in Conference USA action last Saturday night at HouchensSmith Stadium. Harris completed 28 of 38 passes for 347 yards on the night and also caught one TD pass, giving him seven total scores on the night. He found De’Corian Clark seven times for a career-best 160 yards and a program-record three touchdown receptions. UTSA built a 52-43 lead late in the contest but the Hilltoppers cut the deficit to six after Brayden Narveson drilled a 27-yard field goal with 4:22 left to play. WKU then got the ball back with 3:21 left and drove deep inside UTSA territory in the final minute. On third down and goal from the 15, Hicks dropped back into coverage and dove in front of Bailey Zappe’s 60th pass attempt of the night, securing the game-sealing interception. Sincere McCormick logged his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season and school-record 14th of his career with 120 yards on 23 carries, while Joshua Cephus had eight catches for 83 yards and a TD and Zakhari Franklin hauled in eight passes for 50 yards to help UTSA pile up 564 yards of offense. Meanwhile, Rashad Wisdom led all players with 13 tackles, including 11 solo stops. Dadrian Taylor added eight tackles and Antonio Parks made six to lead the defense.
WHO’S COUNTING?
Now in their 11th season of play, the Roadrunners will play the 131st game in program history on Friday when they face WKU in the 2021 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game at the Alamodome. UTSA is 63-67 all time and 37-28 at home. By comparison, WKU has been playing football since 1913 and owns an all-time record of 595-416-31.
LAST TIME OUT
North Texas converted three first-half fumble recoveries into 21 points and rushed for 340 yards in a 45-23 victory over UTSA on a cool and rainy Saturday afternoon at Apogee Stadium. Frank Harris rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown and threw for 59 yards, while Brenden Brady and Sincere McCormick added 71 and 60 yards on the ground, respectively. UNT, which saw Ikaika Ragsdale rush for 142 yards and two touchdowns and DeAndre Torrey go for 108 and three scores, used the three first-half takeaways to build a 31-13 halftime lead. Hunter Duplessis made three field goals for the second straight game and fourth time overall this season.
