UTSA-USF football: How to watch Roadrunners’ showdown in national spotlight
UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor after the game against the Rice Owls in Houston, Texas, Saturday, Oct., 3, 2026. (Zach Del Bello/San Antonio Express-News)
Now in his seventh year leading UTSA, coach Jeff Traylor still doesn’t believe the story behind the rise of Roadrunners football is talked about as much as it should be.
A program in just its 16th season has already reached the heights of Conference USA championships in 2021 and 2022, earning a jump to the American Conference in 2023. UTSA has finished with a winning record in every season of Traylor’s tenure, establishing the Alamodome as perhaps the toughest environment in the Group of Six by going 35-5 at home through his tenure.
UTSA will have the rare opportunity to share its story with a broader audience this week, hosting SportsCenter in San Antonio before playing in an ESPN spotlight against South Florida at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Alamodome.
"It’s on national TV, so it’s got all the stuff that makes it a big game," Traylor said. "I think both of these teams will be in the hunt all the way to the end."
READ MORE:USF coach Brian Hartline questions authenticity of UTSA’s crowd noise
Traylor spoke to the Roadrunners this week about the eyes on the program and the chance to promote UTSA’s brand, but he noted that they don’t need much reminding.
The Roadrunners will be playing on ESPN for the 12th time, holding a 4-7 record on the network, but defensive lineman Jeremiah Bailey stuck to the cliche of calling the matchup "just another week."
Defensive lineman Jameian Buxton also said the matchup is "not really that big," but he did allow that Thursday was a chance to "just show the world what we’re really about."
Wide receiver David Amador said the opportunity is useful only if UTSA can perform against USF.
"Just having a mindset that going out there and beating a very talented team, and all the eyes are on us," Amador said. "Just going out there and playing some good ball, I think we’re going to show a lot of the world how good of a team we really are."
UTSA Roadrunners defensive lineman Tai Leonard (99) reacts after making a tackle during the fourth quarter against the Rice Owls in Houston, Texas, Saturday, Oct., 3, 2026. (Zach Del Bello/San Antonio Express-News)
How to watch UTSA at USF
Matchup: UTSA (4-1, 1-0 American) vs. USF (4-1, 1-1)
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
TV: ESPN
Radio: 760 AM
All-time series: Tied 1-1
Last meeting: USF 55, UTSA 23 on Nov. 6, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.
Last game:UTSA won 16-13 against Rice on Saturday in Houston; USF lost 17-13 against Temple on Saturday in Tampa
UTSA vs. USF: 5 key players to watch in Thursday night showdown
Fan information
-UTSA will be hosting ESPN’s "SportsCenter on Campus" live at 4 p.m. in Rowdy Town Live, which is located in the H-E-B Plaza on the north side of the Alamodome. Fans are permitted to begin gathering in the area at 3 p.m.
-UTSA’s Spirit Walk will be relocated to Rowdy Town Live with an approximate start time of 3:45 p.m.
-Thursday is UTSA’s annual Lights Out game, and the first 5,000 students in attendance will receive a free Lights Out t-shirt.
-Alamodome lots A, B and C open at noon for tailgating. Alamodome doors open at 5 p.m.
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This article originally published at UTSA-USF football: How to watch Roadrunners’ showdown in national spotlight.
Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.