AAC opener at Rice becomes next test

After a 3-1 nonconference start, UTSA travels to Rice on Oct. 3 for a 6 p.m. CT American Athletic Conference opener on ESPN+. Rice is 1-3, has changed coaches and will use an option-oriented, unfamiliar attack to test UTSA's run fits, tackling, communication and defensive-front discipline; the matchup also revives context from Rice's recent upset and the 2024 meeting.