Heisman favorite Quinn Ewers and Texas Longhorns against UTSA Roadrunners – Picks & Analysis

Off an incredibly impressive win at defending national champion Michigan, No. 2 Texas looks to avoid a major letdown against UTSA on Saturday, with the Longhorns as heavy home favorites on the NCAAF odds.

Horns QB Quinn Ewers is the new Heisman favorite.

UTSA Roadrunners

UTSA (1-1) was shockingly blown out at Texas State on Saturday, 49-10. A couple of big-yardage touchdowns helped Texas State sprint to a 35-3 halftime lead. Chris Dawn, Jr. grabbed a pass at the 39 and turned it into a 46-yard score to lead 21-3. Lincoln Pare burst through the line for a 45-yard touchdown and a 32-point bulge at the break. The Bobcats rolled up 504 yards of offense overall to 334 for the Roadrunners.

The Quarterbacks

UTSA saw two different quarterbacks combine to pass for 252 yards, as Owen McCown completed 10 passes for 105 in the first half and Eddie Lee Marburger piled up 147 yards and a touchdown on 14 completions, all after halftime. Marburger also had a career-high 23 rushing yards on five attempts. Marburger connected with Willie McCoy on a 2-yard TD pass in the third quarter, and McCoy also had a 40-yard reception in the fourth, as the senior receiver racked up a team-high 59 receiving yards on three catches. Devin McCuin led all Roadrunners with six grabs for 29 yards, Patrick Overmyer had three receptions for 31 yards and Chris Carpenter hauled in two passes for 43 yards.

UTSA Defense

Defensively, Ken Robinson paced UTSA with seven tackles, including one for a loss. Martavius French and Jimmori Robinson made five stops with one TFL apiece, while Jermarius Lewis, Owen Pewee and Brevin Randle also recorded five tackles each.

Jeff Traylor

UTSA is now 40-15 (.727) under fifth-year head coach Traylor. The Roadrunners are now 7-7 overall in road openers, 3-2 in the Traylor era. UTSA is now 35-21 (15-5 under Traylor) all-time against teams from the state of Texas.

While Saturday’s game wasn’t close, UTSA is no stranger to close contests in the Traylor era, as 31 of the 55 games have been one-score ballgames in the fourth quarter. The Roadrunners own a 22-9 record in those games. Dating back to the 2021 campaign, UTSA has seen 18 of the last 32 contests decided in the fourth quarter or later. Additionally, the Roadrunners are 13-4 (.765) in games decided by eight points or fewer since 2021, the most wins and top winning percentage among FBS teams who have played 15 or more one-score games during that stretch.

Trey Moore

Last season, Moore produced a school-record 14 sacks for UTSA and was named the American Athletic Conference’s defensive player of the year. Moore transferred to Texas in the off season. Without Moore, UTSA has produced four sacks over its first two games.

McCown or Marburger?

It’s not clear which QB will start this game. Combined, McCown and Marburger have thrown for 592 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Frank Harris was UTSA’s long-time starting QB, but his eligibility ran out after last year.

Texas Longhorns

Texas (2-0) was incredibly impressive Saturday with a 31-12 win at No. 10 and defending national champion Michigan, with Horns QB Quinn Ewers jumping into the favored Heisman role and UT rising from No. 3 to No. 2 in the AP Top 25. The Longhorns have their best ranking since finishing second in 2009. The SEC grabbed six of the top seven spots in the AP Top 25 — a first in the 88-year history of the rankings. Not only is six of the top seven teams from one conference a record for a poll, but never before had a single league held as many as five of the top seven places.

Quinn Ewers

Ewers on Saturday became the only FBS quarterback in the country since the start of last season to throw three touchdowns without an interception against multiple AP top-10 opponents. Last year, Ewers passed for 349 yards in a victory over then-third-ranked Alabama. Against Michigan, Ewers was just as prolific. He completed 24 of 36 passes for 246 yards, as Texas scored on four straight drives in the first half, including three touchdowns, to put the Wolverines on their heels.

“There’s something about Quinn in his demeanor. He’s a very calm guy. He’s really collected. He never rides the emotional rollercoaster,” Coach Steve Sarkisian said. “When you’ve got a quarterback that everybody can believe in, that just fuels confidence and belief that, ‘Hey, let’s go do our part, because the guy that’s holding the ball every play he’s on point.'”

whole pocket collapsing and Quinn Ewers’ eyes never drop. his movement in the pocket to extend plays this weekend was awesome. pic.twitter.com/6Zq2wkZQl8

— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) September 9, 2024

Texas Offensive

Much was made about how the Texas offensive line would handle Michigan’s front, particularly Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, but the Longhorns neutralized them. Texas ran the ball effectively and protected Ewers, who wasn’t sacked and didn’t face consistent pressure. UT’s starting offensive line is exclusive to juniors and seniors. Those linemen range from 6-foot-3 to 6-5 and weigh anywhere from 315 to 335 pounds.

The Texas offense combined 246 passing yards with 143 rushing yards to out gain the Wolverines, 389-284 and earn the Longhorns’ first win on the road against a reigning national champion since Oct. 13, 1998, when UT beat Nebraska, 20-16, to end the Cornhuskers’ 47-game home winning streak. The victory by Texas marked the 140th all-time victory for the Longhorns against a ranked opponent, with 37 coming on the road and the 950th all-time victory for UT.

How about the Defense?

The Texas defense was as good as the offense and stuffed the Wolverines, who had just 80 rushing yards, while also intercepting two Davis Warren passes. The Longhorns ended the Wolverines’ 23-game home winning streak, which dated back to November 2020, and it was Michigan’s first regular-season loss since October 2021.

UTSA vs Texas NCAA Football Info

When: Saturday, 7 PM ET
Where: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: Tunein.com

UTSA vs Texas Series History

These programs met two years ago and Texas won 41-20 in Austin. UT trailed 17-7 in the second quarter, then rallied to tie it by halftime. Bijan Robinson’s 78-yard touchdown run gave Texas the lead, and Jahdae Barron’s third-quarter interception return for a TD put the Longhorns up by 11 to snuff the Roadrunners’ bid for an upset that would have been the biggest win in the history of the program that has only been around since 2011.

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