UTSA @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2013 ) Houston 59, Texas-San Antonio 28

Houston returns all of its skill players on offense but that's nothing compared to the experience visiting Texas-San Antonio brings into Friday's opener. The Roadrunners, who became a full-fledged FBS member earlier this month, lead the nation with 54 returning letterwinners, 21 returning starters and 37 seniors. "These players are older than I am," UTSA's 66-year-old coach Larry Coker told the San Antonio Express-News. "They've been here for three or four years. There'll obviously be some (first-game) jitters, but they've been around it before. It won't be the first time we've played a big team. We got to wear our big-boy pads."

John O'Korn returns after a record-setting freshman season and the Cougars quarterback has his top receiver and a talented backfield with him. Houston beat the Roadrunners, who won their final five games last season, 59-28 last year in O'Korn's second career start. The Cougars also have nine starters returning to a defense that led the nation with 43 turnovers.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Houston -10

ABOUT TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO (2013: 7-5): Quarterback is the least experienced position for the Roadrunners as senior Tucker Carter will make his first start after seeing action in five games last year. Senior David Glasco II returns after rushing for five touchdowns and senior Kam Jones (34 catches, 345 yards, touchdown; 302 rushing yards and five TDs on 29 carries) leads a deep group of receivers. UTSA will use three safeties in its 4-2-5 defensive scheme, led by senior safety Triston Wade (team-high 94 tackles, program-best eight career interceptions).

ABOUT HOUSTON (2013: 8-5): O'Korn (259-of-446, 3,117 yards, 28 touchdowns) set freshman school records for completions and touchdown passes and junior Deontay Greenberry, his favorite target, returns after being ranked 15th nationally with 100.2 receiving yards per game. The Cougars will have three new starters on the offensive line after losing junior left tackle Zach Johnson to an ACL injury this spring and will need to replace senior defensive end Eric Braswell (knee). Texas A&M transfer Gavin Stansbury will help the experienced defensive line fill that gap while junior safety Trevon Stewart returns after leading the country with 10 takeaways and six fumble recoveries.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Houston's four regular-season losses in 2013 were all by a touchdown or less.

2. Eric Soza, a three-year starter at UTSA and the program's all-time leading passer, is an offensive assistant at Houston.

3. UTSA is 3-0 in season openers - beating Northeastern State, South Alabama and New Mexico - since starting the program in 2011.

PREDICTION: Houston 45, Texas-San Antonio 24