UTSA became renowned for its home success in the past few years, but road environments regularly proved to be the kryptonite of Jeff Traylor and the Roadrunners.
From 2024 to 2025, UTSA posted a 2-10 record away from home, and its only wins came over 1-11 Charlotte and 2-10 Colorado State in 2025. However, the 2026 team has finally been able to put the ‘road’ in Roadrunners.
Tulane entered Week 8 riding a 10-game home winning streak, but UTSA overcame its road woes in emphatic fashion rolling to a 42-19
victory over the Green Wave in an environment that had not been kind to visitors. In the process, the Roadrunners made a statement as the team to beat in the American Conference.
UTSA emerged in a myriad of close games this year, but Saturday featured a different style of triumph. The 23-point margin of victory was the Roadrunners’ largest against an FBS opponent this season and their largest on the road since Oct. 21, 2023.
Despite the lopsided final score, UTSA endured about as rough a start as possible. Exactly five seconds into the game, at the 14:55 mark of the first quarter, Tulane manufactured a 7-0 lead on a quick Anthony Rogers pick-six.
UTSA had overcome several slow starts this year, and that early misfire didn’t faze Traylor’s team. The Roadrunners responded with two first quarter touchdown runs from A’Marion Peterson, before Owen McCown scrambled into the end zone in the second quarter. McCown’s rushing touchdown was his first in 11 games and provided the Roadrunner a 21-7 advantage.
The separation only continued after halftime, as three other Roadrunners managed rushing touchdowns in the second half. Running backs Will Henderson III and Brandon High Jr. scored in the third quarter to extend the lead to 35-13, while freshman backup quarterback Mark Wiepert added in his first career touchdown with two minutes remaining in the fourth. Five different players accounted for UTSA’s six rushing touchdowns, as the Roadrunners showcased the depth of their run game.
Henderson led this high-powered rushing attack with 102 yards, while Peterson and High added 51 and 50, respectively. UTSA outgained Tulane 223-67 on the ground and consistently stayed ahead of the chains, converting a hyperefficient 12-of-16 third down opportunities.
UTSA’s defense was able to match the offensive intensity, holding Tulane out of the end zone until the 7:37 mark of the fourth quarter. The Roadrunners forced six takeaways and came up with two fourth down stops, repeatedly derailing the Green Wave offensive’s possessions.
Zach Morris and Willie Nelson III both intercepted Tulane true freshman quarterback Trace Johnson, who made his second collegiate start, while four different Roadrunners recovered fumbles. The Green Wave fumbled on three consecutive first half possessions and later muffed a punt in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, UTSA committed three turnovers, but the defense’s ability to constantly regain possession made those mistakes rather trivial.
Interestingly enough, the Roadrunners’ most disruptive defender Saturday did not record an interception, force a fumble, or recover a fumble. Yet, outside linebacker Owen Pewee was an omnipresent force, registering three sacks and providing three additional quarterback pressures in a disruptive performance. Pewee finished the game with five tackles and a pass breakup as UTSA held its second conference opponent below 20 points this season.
Tulane (3-4, 1-2 American) is now in serious danger of missing its first American Conference Championship Game in five seasons. The Green Wave have suffered multiple conference losses and four overall defeats for the first time since 2021. Head coach Will Hall will look to get his team back on track Friday when when Tulane visits Charlotte in a nationally televised affair.
UTSA (7-1, 4-0 American) continues to boast the best overall and conference record in the American, keeping its College Football Playoff aspirations alive. The Roadrunners’ lone defeat came in Week 3 at Texas, which currently sits at No. 11 in the AP Poll. After winning five consecutive games, UTSA enters its bye week with momentum and a clear path for its first-ever American Conference Championship Game berth — the remaining schedule features Florida Atlantic, North Texas, UAB, and Tulsa.
