The Cure Bowl matchup is a delight for college football fans everywhere, not just those who enjoy Group of Five football. This game features two of the best units in the sport, and both spent time residing in the AP rankings and were contenders to crash the New Year’s Six. UTSA has an electric offense led by veteran quarterback Frank Harris and has put up video game numbers all season. Troy has one of the best defenses in the country, which gives us a fantastic showcase matchup as the Trojans try to slow down Harris and company. 

If this bowl was flying under your radar – two teams from smaller conferences, non brand-name programs, played on a Friday afternoon – allow us to make the case for why this game demands your attention.

How We Got Here: 

UTSA:

The Roadrunners came into this year following the best season in school history. After going 12-2 and winning the Conference USA championship, expectations were high for the Runners. They lived up to the hype by arguably having a better season in 2022. 

A triple overtime loss vs. Houston and a relatively narrow loss on the road at Texas showed that despite a 1-2 start to the year, the Roadrunners were insanely talented. Following the loss in Austin, UTSA went on a tear by winning its remaining nine regular season games, including a perfect 8-0 in conference play. 

Led by Harris, the offense became one of the most prolific in the country, ranking ninth in total yards. A plethora of offensive weapons complimented Harris and despite losing running back Sincere McCormick, the offense took a step forward. The defense, however, took a slight step back. A combination of injuries and inexperience caused the Runners to allow over 400 yards per game. 

Despite the lack of defense, the Runners finished their C-USA tenure on top, capturing their second consecutive title following a 48-27 drubbing of North Texas in the conference championship game. They now set their sights on the Cure Bowl, where they have the opportunity to reach two milestones at once, winning a bowl game and beating a ranked opponent. 

Troy:

2022 was supposed to be a season of transition for the Trojans, but instead it became one of triumph. The Trojans switched coaches in the offseason, jettisoning Chip Lindsey and bringing in defensive-minded Jon Sumrall from Kentucky. They also switched divisions, sliding over from the East to the West as the Sun Belt expanded to 14 teams. 

On Sept. 17, the Trojans fell to a 1-2 record after losing to Appalachian State in the “Miracle on the Mountain” Hail Mary “College GameDay” game. Then, they reeled off 10 straight wins, including a controlled demolition of Coastal Carolina in the conference championship game. 

The Trojans have a truly excellent defense, ranking 10th in SP+ on that side of the ball. Senior linebacker Carlton Martial garnered the headlines earlier this season when he broke the FBS career record for tackles, but stars abound at every level like cornerback Reddy Steward and tandem edge rushers T.J. Jackson and Richard Jibunor. 

The offense is of the “game management” variety; quarterback Gunnar Watson is largely tasked with protecting the football while taking the occasional downfield shot. Running back Kimani Vidal has come on of late, eclipsing 1,000 yards for the season with a tremendous November effort. Troy won three different games this season while only scoring a single touchdown, so any big numbers from the offense is considered a luxury.

Players to Watch: 

UTSA: 

RB Kevorian Barnes — Despite starting the season as a backup, Kevorian Barnes finished the year as UTSA’s leading rusher. With Troy allowing 121.6 rushing yards per game, Barnes could have a big game and allow the passing game to open up for Harris. 

QB Frank Harris — The Troy defense is stellar and allows just 17.5 points per game. The secondary allows just 208.3 pass yards per game, and this unit surrenders just 6.1 yards per attempt as well. The UTSA offense scores a whopping 38.7 points per game! Frank Harris is a shining star. The field general throws for 297.3 yards per game and averages 9.0 yards per attempt. He was very good last season and he was extremely elite in 2022 thanks to an improved deep ball where every single ball is thrown precisely into the bucket.

WR Zakhari Franklin — After fellow UTSA star receiver De’Corian Clark suffered a season-ending injury, it was mission critical that Zakhari Franklin stepped up and played at an even higher level in an increased role. He did just that as he finished the season with 86 grabs for 1,100 yards and 14 tuddies. Franklin should be playing on Sundays thanks to his freakish athleticism and ball skills.

Troy: 

LB Carlton Martial — Martial emerged as one of the stars of the 2022 college football season by climbing to the top of the career tackles leaderboard. The 5-foot-9, 210-pound former walk-on might be small in stature, but he makes a gigantic impact for Troy, both with his off-field leadership and on-field run-stuffing abilities. Tune in to salute one of the all-time underdog stories in recent college football history.  

EDGE TJ Jackson and EDGE Richard Jibunor — Martial may garner the headlines and the accolades, but the tandem edge rushers of Jibunor and Jackson will be key for Troy on Friday. Jibunor has been a consistent producer rushing the passer for the Trojans since transferring in from Auburn in 2018, and Jackson has exploded onto the scene as a sophomore in his first year of significant playing time. The pair have terrorized quarterbacks, combining for 14.5 sacks and 64 pressures this year, according to PFF charting. Like most college quarterbacks, Frank Harris is less accurate under pressure, so it will be critical for Troy to put UTSA’s excellent offense in negative down-and-distance situations through constant quarterback pressure.

RB Kimani Vidal — While Troy’s offense doesn’t exactly light the world on fire, it did come on strong down the stretch, averaging 42.3 points in its final three contests. A big reason for that success was the emergence of Vidal, who topped the century mark in three of the four final regular season games after not reaching that milestone once previously. His hot streak really kicked off with his clutch effort against Louisiana in Week 10, when he broke a 17-17 deadlock with a 22-yard touchdown scamper with five seconds left to give the Trojans the comeback victory. He’s unlocked a more competent dimension for the Troy running attack to complement Watson’s occasional deep shots, and he should have a big day against a UTSA defense that surrenders 151.4 yards a game on the ground.

Score Predictions: 

Dan — UTSA has a good day, but Troy’s defense makes just enough timely stops to protect the big day from Kimani Vidal. The Sun Belt’s excellent bowl season kicks off in entertaining fashion. Troy 27, UTSA 24.

Brian — UTSA 31, Troy 20. UTSA’s offense should be able to outscore a Troy offense that has often struggled. The Roadrunners earn their first win in program history in an impressive all-around performance.