After a tough start in non-conference play, the Roadrunners now find themselves on a four-game win streak. UTSA (5-3, 4-0 AAC) will travel to Denton for the first time since 2021 to take on North Texas, which was the last time UTSA lost a conference matchup.
Coming into this match the Mean Green (3-5, 1-3) has struggled on the defensive side of the ball, giving up 480 total yards per game and 36.6 points per game. The offense on the other hand has been the strength of the team with junior quarterback Chandler Rogers’ play improving every week.
A member of The Paisano’s sports staff spoke with the sports editor at the North Texas Daily, Chris Moss, to discuss Saturday’s matchup.
Given the history between UTSA and UNT, what do you expect to see in this game?
“Both teams were in Conference USA last year and ended up meeting in the championship. It was a heartbreaking loss for North Texas, I know a lot of fans took that one really hard. I am expecting this to be a scrappy game, especially considering how much North Texas needs this win.”
Which player on either side of the ball will have the biggest impact on the game for UNT?
“I have one or two players I feel will make an impact on the game. The first being linebacker Jordan Brown, he has over 10 tackles in every game for the last four games. Before that he was not really doing much, but he is starting to really shine for that defense. Another player I think is going to be key is Chandler Rogers. I regard him personally as one of the best quarterbacks in the state. You look at his performance over the last few games, last game he put up over 400 yards and five touchdowns. He is tied for 10th in the country in touchdowns and he did not even start until week three. So I think he is going to be really key in this game.”
After two emotional losses against Tulane and Memphis, will UNT be motivated to play even harder against UTSA or will the losses have the opposite effect?
“I think it will absolutely fire this team up. I think that these past two weeks have been a wake up call that ‘hey, we are going against tough competition, this is not going to be easy.’ I am expecting us to lose to SMU, but if we lose any other games outside of that then we are not bowl eligible. Seth Littrel, our former head coach, made it seven years in a row, so if we come in the first season into the AAC and we are not bowl-eligible then that is going to look really bad. I think that fires the team up 100 percent.”
Who do you think will win on Saturday?
“In my heart of hearts, as a North Texas student, I do not like to admit it but I think UTSA pulls this one out, mainly because of how bad UNT’s defense has been over these past few weeks. One thing that me and the rest of the sports staff here has noticed is our defense tends to do really bad in the first half and then they start picking it up in the second half. We are not going to be able to stop Frank Harris if we are not able to do it for both halves. I think it will be a close one but UTSA pulls it out.”
The Roadrunners will take on UNT at 2 p.m. Saturday at DATCU stadium.
