On Sept. 14, the UTSA Roadrunners and the Texas Longhorns will face off against each other for the second time in two years. At the inaugural game, the Longhorns took the victory 41-20.
There were 102,520 fans in attendance for the 2022 game at Austin’s Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. In the first and second quarters, the Longhorns trailed the Runners 17-7; by halftime the score was tied. Late in the game, Texas extended their 10-point lead with a 41-yard touchdown in the last nine minutes of the game bringing the score to 38-20. After, the Longhorns brought their score to 41 with a field goal.
Despite UTSA opening in 1973, it was not until 2011 that the school’s football team had its first official season. At the time of their first game, the average attendance for a new football program was 35,521. This record was shattered Sept. 3, 2011 after 56,743 people showed up.
As of this year, the Roadrunners have over 50 All-Americans and many more awards. For the first time in seven years, the Runners have a new quarterback under center — Owen McCown, stepping in for retiring quarterback Frank Harris.
The Longhorns established their first permanent football program in 1893 after numerous failed attempts. Their first official game was on December 4, 1883 against Texas’ Bickler School—a German-English academy. As of 2024, the Longhorns are the fourth winningest football team in NCAA history, tied with Notre Dame. The Longhorns have eight players and coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame.
In this season, UTSA has won one of two games. Texas however, has won both games; the most recent being against the 2023 college football champions Michigan, which Texas dominated 31-12.
The Longhorns have a school that is known for football, and UTSA is a school known for its students’ success. However, UTSA wants to be known for their success and football. UTSA is seen as a stepping stone to get to the University of Texas system, but each year, they continue to stray away from that stereotype. With growing enrollment numbers, UTSA is making their way to becoming one of the best universities in the country with a competitive football team, one that can take on the likes of Texas.
