16 Louisiana-Lafayette beat UTSA 31-24 in the First Responder Bowl on Saturday at SMU’s Ford Stadium. The Ragin’ Cajuns (10-1) drove 72 yards in 12 plays for the winning score after UTSA (7-5) overcame a 24-7 second-half deficit to tie it. UTSA: The Roadrunners, playing in the program’s second bowl, fell short of compiling the first four-game winning streak in the program’s nine-year history. The Ragin’ Cajuns are scheduled to open at Texas after upsetting then-No. UTSA: The Roadrunners should be experienced at the offensive skill positions with Harris, a junior, and sophomore running back Sincere McCormick scheduled to return.

WHAT’S AT STAKELouisiana-Lafayette is playing in its third bowl game in a row under coach Billy Napier. UTSA, with first-year coach Jeff Traylor, has a three-game winning streak and is one win away from matching the program record of eight set in 2012. Louisiana-Lafayette has the Sun Belt's best pass defense, allowing 167 yards per game, and gives up 347 total yards per game. The Roadrunners are playing in their first bowl game since the 2016 New Mexico Bowl, when they matched an NCAA modern startup record when playing in a bowl game in only its sixth season as a program. ... UTSA was initially headed to the Frisco Bowl, but that game was canceled after expected opponent SMU had COVID-19 issues.

Louisiana-Lafayette was 0-8 against Appalachian State, including losses in the last two conference championship games. But Ferrod Gardner and Chauncey Manac combined to sack Appalachian State quarterback Zac Thomas on a fourth-and-9 play at the Lafayette 29. Appalachian State beat Louisiana-Lafayette four times in the previous two seasons, twice in the championship game on this same field. 14 Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Conference championship game on Dec. 19. Appalachian State: Head on the road to face Georgia Southern on Dec. 12 in the regular season finale.

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State, in Clemson, S.C. Lawrence is a candidate for the 2020 Heisman Trophy award. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)This college football season is already so odd that it’s unclear whether this is Week 1 or Week 2. 1 Clemson and Trevor Lawrence begin their season at Wake Forest, a solid opportunity for the star quarterback and preseason Heisman front-runner to launch a campaign. The Sooners' new starter is the first non-transfer to begin the season as QB1 since before Trevor Knight in 2014. One coach who could really use a win to start this season, though, is Les Miles of Kansas.