FRISCO, Texas - UTSA (12-2) fell 38-24 in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl to No. 24 San Diego State (12-2) on Tuesday night at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. 

The Roadrunners jumped on top 7-0 after an efficient seven-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by a 12-yard scoring strike from QB Frank Harris to WR De'Corian Clark. The Roadrunners, without All-American RB Sincere McCormick, who made the decision to opt out of the game in order to prepare for the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft, ran for 75 yards in the first quarter against the nation’s second-ranked rushing defense (77.5 ypg). UTSA entered the second quarter with a 14-7 lead. 

It was all Aztecs after that, as San Diego State outscored UTSA 31-10 the rest of the way. San Diego State QB Lucas Johnson had a career day, throwing for 333 yards and a trio of scores in the win. The game's Offensive MVP, WR Jessie Matthews, hauled in 11 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

UTSA was led by WR Zakhari Franklin, who finished with eight catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Franklin concluded his season with 81 catches for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns. Harris was 22-36 for 271 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, ending his storybook season with 3,177 yards passing and 27 touchdowns tosses to only six interceptions.

The Roadrunners recorded a lot of firsts in 2021, earning the program’s first conference crown, they won a program-record 12 games and were ranked in all three major polls for the first time in program history. Head coach Jeff Traylor certainly has a lot to build on heading into the 2022 campaign.