Two of Week 1's most impressive teams will square off Thursday in San Antonio, when Larry Coker's UTSA Roadrunners host the Arizona Wildcats.
How to watch Arizona vs. UTSA: Preview, TV schedule, betting line and more
Week 1’s best offense will face one of Week 1’s best defenses in what could be a thrilling Thursday night encounter.
Christian Petersen
Both teams opened their season last Friday with sizable victories against FBS opponents. Arizona blew out visitors UNLV 58-13 with nearly 800 yards of total offense, and Rich Rodriguez's rebuild of the program looks to be in full swing. Quarterback Anu Solomon had a career-defining day, passing for 425 yards with four touchdowns and rushing for another 50 yards. The redshirt freshman won the job in camp and torched a strong, experienced secondary en route to the blowout win. Add in 100-yard rushers Terris Jones-Grigsby and Nick Wilson, and the Wildcats' offense looks to be somewhere between dynamic and straight-up dangerous.
UTSA, meanwhile, impressed on defense. The Roadrunners shut down AAC contender Houston, holding the Cougars to 208 total yards in a 27-7 victory. Houston quarterback John O'Korn, who played very well as a freshman last year and was expected to continue to do so with the Cougars' talented receiving corps, completed just 21 of 43 passes for 204 yards and four interceptions against the UTSA secondary.
How to witness
TV: Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1
Radio: Here’s a list of affiliates for Arizona. In San Antonio, tune in to Ticket 760.
Online streaming: FOX Sports GO
The numbers
Rankings and records: Neither team is ranked in the AP Poll or Coaches Poll. Both are 1-0 on the season. Arizona holds a 1-0 lead in the all-time series, defeating the Roadrunners 38-13 last season in Tucson.
Vegas: Arizona is a 7-point favorite.
Weather forecast: 90 degrees with a chance of thunderstorms.
Three names to know
Austin Hill, WR, Arizona. In 2012, Austin Hill was the second-leading receiver in the Pac-12, with his 1,364 yards trailing only USC's Marqise Lee. He missed the entire 2013 season with an ACL injury, but Austin Hill is back. He caught three passes for 110 yards and a touchdown last Friday, including a 92-yard touchdown grab. Hill has big-play potential that could threaten a very capable UTSA secondary.
Nick Wilson, RB, Arizona. The four-star true freshman out of Fresno pledged to the Wildcats over offers from Arkansas, Tennessee and Wisconsin, among others, and showed his explosive ability against UNLV. Terris Jones-Grigsby (13 rushes, 124 yards) was Arizona’s leading rusher, but Wilson ran seven times for 104 yards and a score, including an 85-yard touchdown near the end of the third quarter.
Triston Wade, S, UTSA. The senior picked up where he left off last season, recording an interception, two pass deflections and two tackles against Houston. In 2013, he had two interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown) with 94 tackles and five pass breakups. Solomon will have to keep an eye on him Thursday.
Two things at stake
Is Arizona a legitimate Pac-12 contender? The offense certainly looked up to the challenge against UNLV, but UTSA is another step up the rung. If the Wildcats can beat the Roadrunners, the schedule works out pretty nicely to set up a 4-0 record when they travel to Oregon on Oct. 2.
UTSA is the most experienced team in the country, and is one of a handful of mid-major programs able to knock off bowl-quality power conference opponents. The program, just four years old, took a big step with last week’s win over Houston. This Thursday is another opportunity to move forward.
Further reading
For more on Arizona, check out AZ Desert Swarm. For coverage of UTSA and the rest of Conference USA, head to Underdog Dynasty.
See More:
