Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, September 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET
- Network: ESPN+
- Location: Alamodome — San Antonio, TX
- Spread: UTSA (-3.5)
- Over/under: 64.5
- All-time series: UTSA leads, 5-1
- Last meeting: Texas State 49, UTSA 10 — September 7, 2024
- Current streak: Texas State, 1 (2024)
Setting the scene
The I-35 Rivalry is one of college football’s most intense rivalries established in the past 15 years. The UTSA Roadrunners and Texas State Bobcats joined the FBS together in 2012 and the Central Texas schools took an immediate disliking to one another. That vitriol only amplified when the Roadrunners and Bobcats established winning cultures under their head coaches — Jeff Traylor and GJ Kinne, respectively.
Until last year’s meeting in San Marcos, the only fingerprints stained on the trophy belonged
to the boys in orange and blue. UTSA swept the first five matchups in series history, but Texas State countered with the most lopsided I-35 Rivalry victory to date, eviscerating UTSA 49-10. The Bobcats aim to double down on 2024’s result, while Traylor and the Roadrunners seek revenge on their premier non-conference rival.
Texas State Bobcats outlook
Texas State finally arrived to the I-35 Rivalry last September, and what a statement GJ Kinne and the Bobcats made with a 39-point thrashing at Bobcat Stadium. All six UTSA regular season opponents were able to upend the Roadrunners on the road, but Texas State must now complete the rare feat of defeating them at their own sanctuary in San Antonio.
GJ Kinne’s team returned just three offensive and three defensive starters, but the Bobcats’ new-look roster proved its firepower in a 52-27 season-opening win over Eastern Michigan. Kinne teams traditionally started a slew of incoming transfers, but this year’s lineups are constructed primarily from incumbent reserves. One of those 2024 reserves was quarterback Brad Jackson who shined his starting debut with 214 passing yards and four touchdowns on an 18-of-26 showing.
All four of Jackson’s touchdown receptions landed in the gloves of Beau Sparks, who is now the standalone leader with four receiving touchdowns on the year — when no other player has three in one game. Sparks provided a spark to a potent aerial attack, and returning starter Chris Dawn Jr. carried a bulk of the load as well with five receptions for 50 yards.
The most promising aspect of the Bobcats’ 52-point outburst? It was accomplished in a balanced effort. While Jackson thrived with his arm, the team generated a Week 1-best 392 rushing yards at a 10.1 average on the Eastern Michigan defense. Sixth-year senior Lincoln Pare led the charge with 167 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries while Greg Burrell and Jaylen Jenkins also averaged a first down per carry, going seven rushes for 79 yards and five rushes for 74 yards, respectively. Even Jackson displayed his mobility at times in a 48-yard performance, giving the Bobcats a slew of options.
Moving the ball with such much ease, there was never a daunting third down all game. Texas State converted 7-of-10 tries and its lone fourth down attempt, scoring on eight of its nine full possessions and punting just once.
The offensive film room session was certainly more positive than the defensive session, as Texas State surrendered 391 yards to the Eagles in the 25-point victory. Eastern Michigan’s offense moved the ball better than the Eagles have been accustomed to lately, generating 248 passing yards and 143 rushing yards to remain in striking distance until the mid-third quarter.
One promising sight on defense was the presence of strong safety Bobby Crosby. Crosby looked to be a significant player on the 2024 defense but suffered an injury which held him out of eight contests. The senior generated five solo tackles and a pass breakup in the opener and will be tested against a UTSA team that frequently utilizes three tight ends in the receiving game. Another defensive standout was Treylin Payne, who eyes his greatest season to date. The former Houston transfer logged just 28 tackles in 2024, but he ranked atop the Bobcats in the opener with nine. Payne will be one of the main forces in charge of limiting a UTSA rushing attack which ran rampant on Texas A&M in Week 1.
Texas State rides an impressive wave of momentum heading into this one. The Bobcats have won four-straight contests when the nation’s longest win streak is only five. They’ll need to shatter UTSA’s 10-game Alamodome streak in order to make it five, but Kinne’s Bobcats have been strong on the road lately. They won their last two road openers by double-digits, pushing past Baylor 42-31 in 2013 and pummeling Troy 38-17 in 2024.
UTSA Roadrunners outlook
Dome sweet dome. UTSA ventured off to College Station for a Week 1 matchup at Texas A&M and dropped its eighth-consecutive true road matchup. But when the Roadrunners are within the confines of the Alamodome, everything is right with the world. UTSA owns the seventh-longest active home win streak in the FBS at 10 games dating back to 2023, and the Roadrunners are 29-3 at the Alamodome under Jeff Traylor.
The Roadrunners aim to keep that road streak afloat, and in order to do so, they’ll need to build upon the positive aspects they demonstrated in front of 108,000 fans at Kyle Field in Week 1. UTSA lost its opener by 18 points, but the Roadrunners didn’t fall without providing a second half scare to the Aggies.
Running back Robert Henry Jr. ran all over Texas A&M for the first 31 minutes of action, producing 170 of his 177 rushing yards in that timespan. This wasn’t a one-off performance for the senior tailback; in fact, he has produced 165+ rushing yards in three-straight contests dating back to the tail end of 2024. UTSA saw great success running Henry on second and third-and-longs against nickel and dime defenses, and the Roadrunners will lean on the talented back to jump-start the offense once again in San Marcos.
UTSA also hopes to open things up in the passing attack. Against Texas A&M, the Roadrunners primarily resorted to the screen game so starting quarterback Owen McCown would have ample time to throw. McCown completed 19-of-32 attempts for 121 yards, taking one sack and refraining from an interception. As a 3,424-yard passer in 2024 with three 340+ yard games, McCown and Co. look to inject more verticality in the offense in Week 2, implementing deep-threat Willie McCoy into the mix after zero catches in the opener. Devin McCuin should still remain the top option in the screen game after six catches last week, while David Amador II and tight end Houston Thomas are among other veteran Roadrunner pass catches.
Texas State schemed very well against UTSA’s passing offense last year, holding McCown to a season-low of 105 yards on a 10-of-23 showing, but this year’s unit is far more experienced than the one that strolled into San Marcos in Week 2 last September.
Defensively, UTSA showed signs of promise for a team replacing all 11 starters. Texas A&M punted seven times, usually as a result at getting stuffed in the run game. UTSA limited the Aggies to 110 yards despite their highly-touted offensive line, with TCU transfer inside linebacker Shad Banks Jr. shining in his Roadrunner debut. Linebacker is the strength of this UTSA defense with Banks, Owen Pewee, and Kendrick Blackshire, but the Roadrunners will be without their fourth starter. Camron Cooper suffered a season-ending injury in the opener, thrusting Vic Shaw into an expanded role.
The secondary is the position group which needs to make the most progress for UTSA to contend for its American title. Texas A&M’s wide receivers created frequent downfield openings against this bunch in the opener, but new starters such as cornerback Davin Martin and free safety Jimmy Wyrick look to step up. Another aspect the Roadrunners must improve on is special teams. The team missed one field goal, yielded an 80-yard punt return touchdown and 62 yards on its other four punts, and allowed a pair of kickoff returns over 30 yards.
But a promising element UTSA can build on is its poise. The Roadrunners were second nationally in penalty yards last year yet drew four flags for 34 yards in the opener. They didn’t force a turnover, but they impressively didn’t commit one in a hostile atmosphere which is a positive sign heading back to San Antonio.
Prediction
There are going to be POINTS.
The Alamodome scoreboard operator won’t be able to take a water cooler break, as these teams are proven to be explosive and versatile on the offensive end. Texas State didn’t look like it missed a beat on offense despite losing eight starters, as Brad Jackson, Lincoln Pare, Beau Sparks, and the crew guided the Bobcats to a near-perfect offensive showing against Eastern Michigan. UTSA faced a more uphill battle at Texas A&M in Week 1, but the Roadrunners somewhat passed that test with 373 offensive yards and zero turnovers against a Top 25 opponent on the road.
It’ll be a back-and-forth battle in San Antonio. Neither defense is expected to dominate, but one must gain the slightest edge. The Alamodome factor certainly plays in, as does the Roadrunners’ ability to slow down the run shown at Kyle Field. In a highly-anticipated matchup expected to warrant ~45,000 fans, UTSA gets a critical fourth quarter stop and pulls through with a late touchdown, exacting revenge on Texas State.
Prediction: UTSA 42, Texas State 37
