Respect the Beep: UTSA vs. Tulane Preview – Rise of the Roadrunners

Respect the Beep: UTSA vs. Tulane Preview-Rise of the Roadrunners

📌 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.

Introduction: The Nation’s Most Overlooked 7–0 Team

Seven wins. Zero losses. A road victory inside Kyle Field against Texas A&M—a venue famous for swallowing opponents whole—and a decisive home rout of Maryland.

And still, no ranking.

Despite a perfect record and two marquee wins, the UTSA Roadrunners remain unranked, a slight that has both players and fans shaking their heads. Saturday night provides another opportunity to force the nation to pay attention when UTSA (7–0, 4–0 AAC) hosts the Tulane Green Wave (5–4, 4–0 AAC) in a clash of the American Athletic Conference’s last two unbeaten teams.

Setting the Stage: Rested and Ready

Both programs enter fresh after a bye week.

• UTSA Momentum: The Roadrunners demolished North Texas 58–0 before the break, displaying a balanced offense and a defense that has allowed just 12.4 points per game.

• Tulane’s Statement: The Green Wave upset a ranked Army team 35–14, showcasing a potent offense and resilient defense.

• Conference Stakes: Saturday’s winner seizes control of the AAC race and strengthens its case for the championship game.

Tulane Playmakers to Watch

Quarterback Kadin Semonza – The 5'11" Huntington Beach sophomore carved up Army, completing 21 of 32 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns. His quick release and calm demeanor make him a dangerous matchup for UTSA’s secondary.

Running Back Arnold Barnes II – A bruising back with All-American aspirations, Barnes rushed for 101 yards on 24 carries in Tulane’s win over Army. His physical style forces defenses to tackle perfectly for four quarters.

Wide Receiver Tre Shackleford – A red-zone nightmare, Shackleford turned just four receptions into two touchdowns last game. He is a key target whenever Tulane needs a big play.

Matchup X-Factors

• Ground Game Duel: Tulane’s rushing attack scores at nearly the same pace as UTSA’s explosive backfield. Containing Barnes II is critical.

• UTSA Offense vs. Tulane Front: The Roadrunners’ high-tempo attack will test a Green Wave defense fresh off stuffing Army’s option game.

• Roadrunner Secondary vs. Semonza’s Rhythm: Disrupting Semonza’s timing is essential to limit Tulane’s passing efficiency.

• Special Teams Edge: UTSA’s electric return game could provide the hidden yards that swing a tight contest.

Keys to Victory

UTSA Must:

1. Protect the quarterback and sustain tempo.

2. Win early downs to neutralize Barnes II’s ground threat.

3. Force Semonza into third-and-long situations.

Tulane Must:

1. Control the clock with Barnes II to keep UTSA’s offense on the sideline.

2. Give Semonza time to exploit quick-hitting routes.

3. Create explosive plays for Shackleford in the red zone.

Frankie’s Take

Rankings? Irrelevant but insulting.

This is swagger versus swagger, bye-week polish against bye-week polish. The Alamodome will shake like a freight train barreling through a tunnel. Tulane will land early punches, but UTSA’s depth and tempo can break open a close game late.

Prediction

Tulane will surge early behind Semonza’s poise and Barnes II’s power. Yet the Roadrunners have turned tight contests into track meets all season. Expect another second-half statement.

Final Score: UTSA 34 – Tulane 24

Maybe this victory finally forces the pollsters to acknowledge what Roadrunner Nation already knows: UTSA deserves a national ranking.

Call to Action

Roadrunner fans, fill the Alamodome and bring the noise. A win over Tulane would secure the inside lane to the American Athletic Conference Championship and leave the voters no excuse to overlook the Rise of the Roadrunners any longer.