UTSA stuns college football world with 9-0 mark

Every year, there seems to be a virtual unknown that pops up seemingly out of nowhere to find a spot in the FBS top 25. This season is no different.

The UTSA Roadrunners are a squad that most college football fans know little to nothing about except they are not expected to land among the elite to compete for a national championship. This season, the eventual American Athletic Conference member has opened eyes around the country in just a short period of time.

The football program took flight just 11 seasons ago in 2011, but UTSA currently sits undefeated at 9-0 in Conference-USA, with victims including Illinois (37-30) and Memphis (31-28). The Roadrunners were ranked 15th last week but continue to move up the national rankings.

UTSA will not make the College Football Playoff but an undefeated season is within reach.

Current head coach Jeff Traylor is only the third in school history, succeeding ex-Miami coach Larry Coker and current McNeese coach Frank Wilson. The former walk on at Stephen F. Austin crafted a highly successful high school coaching gig at Gilmer High School in Texas. The four-time Class 4A Coach of the Year over 15 seasons posted a 175-26 record. He had stopovers at Texas, SMU and Arkansas as an assistant before landing the UTSA job.

The school had never won more than seven games in any one season, so they have entered unchartered waters. The Roadrunners are second in CUSA in total offense, averaging 40 points per game. The defense is also highly regarded, surrendering 19.2 points and 338 yards per game with just 85.4 yards on the ground.

Can they finish off a perfect regular season? UTSA has Southern Miss (Nov. 13), UAB (Nov. 20) and North Texas (Nov. 27) remaining. The middle game is likely the toughest hurdle to clear.

Marquee players at UTSA have emerged:

-RB Sincere McCormick (5-9, 205, Jr.)

He tops the league with 1,060 yards rushing (5.0 yard average) and 10 touchdowns. To show this year is no fluke, he tallied 1,467 yards (5.9 average) with 11 scores last season. This year, McCormick rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns against Memphis.

– WR Zakhari Franklin (6-1, 185, Jr.)

Part of a solid tandem, he has 55 grabs for 686 yards and eight touchdowns.

– Joshua Cephus (6-3, 190, Jr.)

The other key wideout for the ‘Runners has 51 grabs for 630 yards.

-QB Frank Harris (6-0, 200, Sr.)

The lefty has thrown for 2,079 yards, 18 touchdowns and three interceptions, completing 67.8% of his tosses. He is a steady three-year starter.

On the defensive side of the ball…

-OLB Clarence Hicks (6-2, 225, Sr.)

10 TFL, 6.0 sacks

-DE Charles Wiley (6-3, 255, Sr.)

The Ole Miss transfer played in 33 games for the Rebels. He was highly recruited in 2016, rated as the 17th best defense end in the nation. Wiley recorded 55 stops, 12 TFL and 5.5 sacks during his tenure in Oxford, Mississippi.

-OLB Trumaine Bell II (6-2, 255, Jr.)

His dad was a tight end at Nebraska under Tom Osborne from 1992-’93 but the younger Bell makes hay on the other side of the ball with 5.0 sacks.