UTSA and #24 Tulane will face off on Black Friday at 3:30 PM ET on ABC. The winner will secure a berth in the AAC championship game.
UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has his team on a warpath, winning their last seven games and going undefeated so far in conference play. Following their most recent win against South Florida, Traylor noted his respect for Tulane head coach Wille Fritz.
"Willie is like legendary in our profession, Traylor said Saturday, following UTSA's Senior Day win over South Florida. "As good a human you'll have be around, good a coach, he's about the right stuff."
Traylor went on to further emphasize his respect for the man to took Tulane from a 2-10 team in 2021 to a New Year's Six berth and a Cotton Bowl win in 2022. The Green Wave are also defending conference champions.
"I'm looking forward to this matchup because [of] the respect I have for Willie Fritz," Traylor stated. "Look where he's always done it. He's taken tough jobs and always won. He's always had character. The game needs a ton more of Willie Fritz in it. That's why I'm most excited, to go against the true legends in our profession."
Fritz has won multiple FBS and FCS coaching awards over the course of his career, including during his time at another East Texas school in Sam Houston State. Fritz also won two junior college championships with Blinn College, located in Brenham, Texas.
UTSA and Tulane are in a three-way tie for first place in the AAC with SMU heading into the weekend. The winner of the Runners-Wave matchup will earn a berth, which means the other spot in the title game will come down to SMU's game against Navy. If SMU do win that game, they'll claim the second spot. If not, that's where tiebreakers like score differential and CFP rankings will come into play.
UTSA are seeking their third consecutive conference championship after winning the CUSA championship each of the last two seasons.
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