NEW ORLEANS - On UTSA's first play from scrimmage, quarterback Owen McCown fired a screen pass to his left, then watched helplessly as Tulane's Anthony Rogers jumped in front of the route and returned an interception 22 yards for a pick-six.
After just five seconds of game time, the Roadrunners' unbeaten record in the American Conference appeared to be in jeopardy.
Coach Jeff Traylor had been in this position before, and he remembered how frustrated he felt the last time he stepped in Yulman Stadium.
During UTSA's previous visit to Tulane in 2023, quarterback Frank Harris was intercepted on the second play from scrimmage, and the Green Wave cashed in a touchdown three plays later. The turnover was the first of five for the Roadrunners, who entered undefeated in the American before having conference title hopes dashed with a 13-point loss on the final day of the regular season.
But Traylor has stressed week after week that the 2026 Roadrunners are a mature, resilient group - one that looks primed to overcome the road struggles and late-game letdowns that have often plagued UTSA since that last flirtation with a conference title three years ago.
Rebounding from the early hiccup, UTSA delivered its most dominant performance of the season, cruising to a 42-19 win against Tulane on Saturday at Yulman Stadium.
"That was a big one for us. I never doubted we were ready for this, so it doesn't surprise me," Traylor said. "You guys are the ones still hanging on the last two years. I'm into this year."
UTSA coach Jeff Traylor after beating Tulane 42-19 to move to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the American: "It's almost too good to be true, honestly. I really like this group. … We've got a lot left, but I'm going to try to enjoy tonight and enjoy the bye." https://t.co/7bD3m2uAXj
- Greg Luca (@GregLuca) October 25, 2026
The win moves the Roadrunners to 7-1 and 4-0 in the American, standing as one of two teams with unbeaten records in league games along with North Texas (5-2, 3-0).
After going 3-10 away from the Alamodome between 2024 and 2025, UTSA is 3-1 in road games this season, with the only loss coming at then-No. 1 Texas on Sept. 19. Tulane's loss Saturday snapped a 10-game home winning streak for the Green Wave dating to the start of last season.
Traylor acknowledged that the shortcomings of the past two years factored into the way the Roadrunners built this season's roster. He shared credit with general manager Mike Giglio and player personnel director Parker Cundiff, who "forced some guys on me I normally would not take, because of IQ and character."
"I've chased a lot of talent in my life," Traylor said. "It's about time I settled for a kid that was a little more mature and ready for the road games."
Watching as the defense stepped up and the offense rebounded from the early miscue, McCown thought back to the offseason process of honing in on identity. Each player filled out their own version of UTSA's Triangle of Toughness, hanging the finished product in their locker as a constant reminder of their goals and motivations.
Tight end Brandon Young missed a block on the opening play that allowed Rogers to sneak through for the pick-six, but McCown highlighted Young's ability to rebound with a 14-yard catch on a crossing route in the second quarter that led to UTSA's third score.
"Our mindset's been super elite. It goes back to the offseason, diving into our self-identity," McCown said. "This group of guys is super unique. We don't blink when it comes to good or bad stuff. We just roll into the next play."
UTSA flipped the early deficit into a 14-7 advantage by the end of the first quarter, turning three straight Tulane fumbles into a pair of touchdown runs from A'Marion Peterson.
McCown added a rushing touchdown late in the second quarter, and after the Green Wave knocked in two field goals to trim the halftime margin to 21-13, the Roadrunners used rushing scores from Will Henderson and Brandon High to carry a 35-13 lead into the final period.
Backup quarterback Mark Wiepert's 1-yard touchdown run on a sneak helped the Roadrunners match a program record with their sixth rushing score of the game. UTSA finished with 223 rushing yards on 47 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per rush.
Traylor said UTSA "really exercised some physical dominance" on the ground, continuing to attack as Tulane's defense cycled through unorthodox looks.
"They were doing a bunch of stuff that we hadn't seen them do a lot of," Traylor said. "When a team does that, they kind of let you know they don't think they can stop you."
All five of UTSA's matchups against Group of Six opponents before Saturday had been played within a one-score margin at some point in the fourth quarter, and the Roadrunners had prevailed in all five.
But UTSA entered Saturday's fourth quarter with a 22-point lead - the largest margin the Roadrunners have built against an FBS opponent this season.
UTSA's defense matched a program record by forcing six turnovers, as Traylor said the daily focus on takeaways "just all showed up" Saturday.
Defensive tackle Jameian Buxton said the early pick six "didn't faze us at all," serving as another reminder that the Roadrunners are a "buttoned up" group ready to respond to any challenge.
"I'll go to war with these guys on any day," Buxton said. "This is a group, man, we're going far this year."
Buxton called UTSA's 7-1 record "the exact way that we wanted to start this season off," and Traylor described it as "almost too good to be true."
For linebacker Owen Pewee, UTSA's success this year both on the road and in the face of early setbacks is a result of "everybody just loving each other," pointing to the level of trust within the group.
After an open date on the schedule next weekend, UTSA will be tested on the road again, traveling to face Florida Atlantic on Nov. 5. But after enduring the worst possible start Saturday, McCown expects the Roadrunners will be ready.
"This is one of the more special teams, special group of guys I've been a part of in my time in college football. Just the people they are is super awesome," McCown said. "I just think naturally, guys are just so cool to be around. That's really the root of all of it."
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There’s more to San Antonio with the Express-News. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at UTSA shakes off opening pick-six, routs Tulane to remain unbeaten in American.