Back to Business: UTSA Opens American Conference Play Against Temple After Road Scare in Fort Collins

📌 Disclaimer: The following post is a work of fiction created for entertainment purposes within the video game universe of College Football 26. All characters, events, and storylines — including Coach Clay “Stonewall” Merritt, Frankie “The Horn” Calderón, and the UTSA Roadrunners — are entirely fictional and not affiliated with the NCAA, UTSA, or any real institutions.

Surviving the Altitude

The Roadrunners sit at 4–0, but if last Saturday in Fort Collins taught us anything, it’s that even the best programs can be tested. UTSA nearly let one slip away after an untimely pick-six, yet found a way to grind out a 28–21 victory against Colorado State.

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t dominant. But it was necessary.

Watch the game here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2jqUQKXTj0

Coach Clay Merritt’s squad showed something that doesn’t show up on box scores — resilience. The ability to walk into a hostile stadium, cough up momentum late, and still respond with poise says just as much about this team as the Week 1 thrashing of Texas A&M. If you want to rise, you’ve got to prove you can survive.

Setting the Stage for Conference Play

Now comes the next chapter: the beginning of American Conference play. Temple (0–4) is coming off a bye week, but let’s not sugarcoat their September — it’s been brutal. Losses to UMass (31–23), FCS East (52–50), #7 Oklahoma (38–17), and Georgia Tech (52–7) have exposed a team searching for an identity.

Quarterback Evan Simon, a redshirt senior, has yet to settle in. His last outing in Atlanta was a rough one: 115 passing yards, two interceptions, and a completion rate south of 40%. For a program already desperate for a spark, that’s not the stat line to inspire confidence heading into a matchup with one of the country’s stingiest defenses.

The Defense Holds the Line

Speaking of defense, let’s put perspective back on the table. Three games in a row now, UTSA hasn’t been perfect. Busted coverages here, a few late scores there — but don’t let imperfections cloud the larger picture. This Roadrunner defense ranks top 15 nationally in total defense and owns the crown jewel: the #1 run defense in America.

Temple’s offensive line has been leaky, and their running game hasn’t had room to breathe. If there was ever a chance for UTSA’s front seven to reassert itself, it’s this week.

The Southwest Sack Exchange: Time to Collect Again

Against Colorado State, the “Southwest Sack Exchange” must’ve felt out of rhythm. Just three sacks on the night, a quieter outing than their season standard. Credit CSU for scheming quick releases and rolling pockets, but the bar has been set high by this group.

This Saturday should offer a chance to reset. Temple’s offensive line has struggled to keep Simon upright, and the Roadrunners’ pass rush thrives on exploiting hesitation. Expect that motor to rev higher in the Alamodome.

The Bottom Line

UTSA has passed every test so far — the statement win in College Station, the rivalry brawl against Texas State, the blowout over Maryland, and now the gritty road survival in Fort Collins. The narrative is no longer about whether the Roadrunners belong. It’s about how high they can climb.

Temple rolls in winless, battered, and searching. UTSA rolls in undefeated, battle-tested, and hungry. Conference play is a different beast, and Coach Merritt knows the margin for error shrinks with every week.

The message is simple: stay sharp, stay physical, and let the rest of the American know that the rise of the Roadrunners isn’t a fluke. It’s a movement.

— Frankie “The Horn” Calderón