From Charlotte to Clemson: UTSA Blanks Charlotte 87–0, Climbs to #21 and Projects as CFP 12-Seed

From Charlotte to Clemson: UTSA Blanks Charlotte 87–0, Climbs to #21 and Projects as CFP 12-Seed

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

Editor’s note: Final reads 87–0. I said “86” once live—scoreboard and stats confirm eighty-seven to nothing.

Quick Hits (TL;DR)

• Final: UTSA 87, Charlotte 0 (road)

• New Rank: #21

• CFP Projection: 12-seed (G5 rep) at #5 Clemson

• Season Résumé Anchor: Road win at Texas A&M (Week 1)

• Total Offense: UTSA 522 • Charlotte 38 (Charlotte 206 incl. returns; 168 KR yards)

• First Downs: UTSA 21 • Charlotte 4

• Turnover Margin: UTSA +3 (2 KO scoop-and-scores, 1 INT)

Postgame Column 

The Business Trip Became a Takeover

Micole Richardson Field at Jerry Richardson Stadium saw a road crowd take over by halftime. UTSA walked in ranked #23 and walked out an even louder #21 after an 87–0 avalanche—less a game, more a billboard. And before anyone files this under small-sample magic, remember: this team opened by beating Texas A&M in College Station. That wasn’t luck; that was foreshadowing.

Scoreboard Truth: 87–0

• First downs: UTSA 21, Charlotte 4

• Yards (offense only): UTSA 522, Charlotte 38

• All yards (incl. returns): UTSA 654, Charlotte 206 (park that 168 KR yards—they mostly existed because UTSA kept scoring)

• Turnovers: UTSA +3
  The Roadrunners dominated situational football, flipped momentum with special teams, and erased Charlotte’s ground game entirely.

Offensive Headliners

• QB Owen McCown: 16/19, 250 yds, 5 TDs; 1 carry for 18 yds; 1 fumble recovered by UTSA

• RB Robert Henry Jr.: 13 rush, 165 yds, 3 TDs (quiet early, exploded late)

• WR David Amador II: 6 rec, 122 yds, 3 TDs

• WR Devin McCuin: 4 rec, 74 yds, 2 TDs

• WR Willie McCoy: 3 rec, 53 yds, 1 TD (clear mismatch traits)

When opponents sell out to bottle Henry, McCown and the slot punish leverage. If they widen to cap Amador, McCuin and McCoy eat the soft space.

Defensive Decimation (Southwest Sack Exchange)

• DT Kaian Roberts-Day: 6 TFLs, 1.5 sacks

• DT Cameron Blaylock: 5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks

• Will/EDGE Brandon Tucker: 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks

• ILBs Kendrick Blackshire + Shad Banks Jr.: 6 TFLs combined

• CB/FS Jermarius Lewis: INT (2nd straight game)

Result: Charlotte All-Conference RB Donald Chaney: 11 carries for −2 yards. That’s not “contained.” That’s erased.

Special Teams = Special Points

• CB Zach Morris: Two kickoff scoop-and-score TDs (yes, two)

• K/P Brock Chambers: 39-yd FG early; perfect on PATs
  Ten straight touchdowns after the lone FG drive. When coverage teams score twice, your night’s over.

Charlotte Snapshot (Accuracy-Checked)

• QB Conner Harrell: 6/11 (54%), 30 yds, 1 INT, 4 sacks

• RB Donald Chaney: 11 for −2

• RB Henry Rutledge: 3 for 44

• ILBs Reid Williford + Parker Startz: 16 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PBU combined

Pivotal Swing

Mid-2Q: UTSA settles for FG (17–0). Next kickoff—big hit, Zach Morris scoop-and-score to 24–0. Any “maybe” evaporated right there.

Game Balls

• Offense: Robert Henry Jr. (165 & 3)

• Defense: Cameron Blaylock (5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks)

• Special Teams: Zach Morris (two KO TDs)

Rankings & CFP Outlook 

UTSA is now #21 and projected as the CFP 12-seed (G5 rep) with a road matchup at #5 Clemson if the bracket holds. The path is brutally simple: finish clean, win the American, punch the ticket. If you’re wondering whether this group can handle the stage—revisit that Texas A&M road win.

Full, Verified Stat Lines 

UTSA Team

• First Downs: 21

• Total Offense: 522 yds

• Total Yards (incl. returns): 654 yds

• Turnover Margin: +3

UTSA Individuals

• QB Owen McCown: 16/19, 250 yds, 5 TDs; 1 rush for 18; 1 fumble (UTSA recovered)

• RB Robert Henry Jr.: 13 rush, 165 yds, 3 TDs

• WR David Amador II: 6 rec, 122 yds, 3 TDs

• WR Devin McCuin: 4 rec, 74 yds, 2 TDs

• WR Willie McCoy: 3 rec, 53 yds, TD

• DT Kaian Roberts-Day: 6 TFLs, 1.5 sacks

• DT Cameron Blaylock: 5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks

• Will/EDGE Brandon Tucker: 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks

• ILBs Kendrick Blackshire + Shad Banks Jr.: 6 TFLs combined

• CB/FS Jermarius Lewis: 1 INT (second straight game)

• CB Zach Morris: 2 kickoff scoop-and-score TDs

• K/P Brock Chambers: 39-yd FG, perfect PATs

Charlotte Team

• First Downs: 4

• Offense: 38 yds (206 incl. returns; 168 KR yds)

Charlotte Individuals

• QB Conner Harrell: 6/11 (54%), 30 yds, 1 INT, 4 sacks

• RB Donald Chaney (All-Conf): 11 rush, −2 yds

• RB Henry Rutledge: 3 rush, 44 yds

• ILBs Reid Williford + Parker Startz: 16 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PBU

What’s Next (Internal Links & Engagement)

• Read the full Rise of the Roadrunners archive → Blog Series

• Watch Episode 10 on YouTube → #23 UTSA Back on the Road @ Charlotte | Rise of the Roadrunners Episode 10 #cfb26dynasty

• Listen to Episode 250 of the FEOTB Podcast → Got the Fight Knocked Right Out Of You-Bengals @ Broncos MNF Recap, MLB Predictions | Episode 250

• Subscribe to @FeOTBpod on YouTube and follow on socials for weekly episodes and clips.

Question for readers: Does UTSA score first in Death Valley—and how? Drop your prediction in the comments.