By Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin

Outside of Central Florida, the UTSA Roadrunners might be the most complete team that FIU will face through the Panthers' first eight games of this season. The Roadrunners can run the ball, stop the run, score in bunches and they allow the fewest points of any Conference USA team. Despite Saturday being FIU homecoming, UTSA is not the cupcake opponent that teams usually schedule for homecoming.

Overall as a team here are some of UTSA's conference rankings: scoring offense (No. 3, 31.1 points per game), rushing offense (No. 2, 219.9 yards per game), total offense (No. 3, 449.3 yds per game), rushing defense (No. 1, 122.3 yds per game), pass defense (No. 1, 172.4 yds per game), total defense (No. 1, 294.7 yds per game), scoring defense (No. 1, 17.4 points per game) and the Roadrunners are also tops in C-USA in opponents third down conversion at 27.7 percent.

FIU has played UTSA only once before. That game in 2014 in San Antonio at the Alamodome resulted in a 16-13 UTSA win. UTSA kicked a field goal with 50 seconds left in the game as the Roadrunners rallied from a 13-10 deficit in the fourth quarter.

UTSA has a pair of running backs in Jalen Rhodes (5.4 yds per carry) and Tyrell Clay (5.7) that each average more than five yards per carry. Both backs have good size with Rhodes at 200 pounds and Clay at 210. But what drives the run game has been the UTSA offensive line.

"When you look at a team you try to assess where their strengths are," FIU coach Butch Davis said. "Offensively, one of the things that is blatantly apparent is they have an unbelievable ability to run the football. They are big and strong at the point of attack in their offensive line. They have two really good running backs. From that standpoint that is one of the things that is going to be important."

UTSA quarterback Dalton Sturm can also run the ball. He's rushed for 382 yards on the season, including a long of 40 yards. Sturm has completed 65 percent of his passes and has 13 touchdowns with just two interceptions. Sturm spreads the ball around with 6-4 Josh Stewart (352 yards, 3 TDs) leading the receiving corps.

The FIU running game has been solid this season, including 224 yards last week at Marshall. FIU has rushed for more than 200 yards in three of its last four games. The Panthers have done it with a variety of backs carrying the ball. UTSA features a variety of playmaking defenders on the conference's top defense.

The UTSA defensive line might be the strength of the Roadrunners defense. Defensive end Marcus Davenport, a 6-7, 255-pound senior that will likely be playing football on Sundays next fall, leads the unit with 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Sophomore Eric Banks (6-5, 240 pounds) is the other bookend with 6.5 tackles for loss. Linebacker La'Kel Bass is tops on the team with 40 tackles, including 5.5 for loss.

"Defensively they play multiple fronts and they like to bring a lot of pressure," Davis said. "They have a couple of guys on their front four that are absolutely NFL-quality players. These guys can rush the passer. They can come off the edge. They are big, strong and physical. UTSA will play some odd fronts which changes the protection a lot. Sometimes it takes the running back out of the protection because they get into a 3-4 type of defense. When they get into their 4-3 with their two big defensive ends those cats can light it up. They are 6-6, 6-7, 265-pound guys. When they walk into the stadium you go "whoa" that's what they are supposed to look like."

UTSA hasn't broken any punt or kickoff returns for touchdowns this season but it has the athletes to do so according to Davis. Brett Winnegan is the Roadrunners main kickoff returner with a long of 51 yards. Brady Jones is the punt returner with a long of 27 yards.

"They might have the best punt and kickoff return guys that we have played," Davis said. "A lot of times the ball is kicked on the ground and they don't get a lot of opportunities. Their punt returner has had at least four or five returns of 20 to 35 yards. They can flip the field position on you. Our coverage has to be good. We have to kick the ball better than we kicked it last week. They are a very good football team."