2026 Week 2 Preview: UTSA Roadrunners @ Texas State Bobcats

Game notes

• Time and date: Saturday, September 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET
• Network: The CW Network
• Location: UFCU Stadium — San Marcos, TX
• Spread: Texas State (-1.5)
• Over/under: 66.5
• All-time series: UTSA leads, 5-2
• Last meeting: Texas State 43, UTSA 36 — September 6, 2025
• Current streak: Texas State, 2 (2024-25)

Setting the scene

The Iron Skillet between SMU and TCU is no more. The Bayou Bucket between Houston and Rice also was wiped off the schedule this year.

Annual non-conference rivalries, including several in the state of Texas, are fading from college football. But the I-35 Rivalry is the solution. It’s a refreshing new-blood rivalry between two Central Texas teams that joined the FBS simultaneously in 2012 and will battle for the fourth-straight season.

The fanbases despise each other, showing more hatred toward the other side of I-35 than than they show to any conference opponent. UTSA controlled the series for the first five meetings. Texas State got its lickback for the last two. Now the Roadrunners and Bobcats converge in San Marcos for the eighth edition of one of college football’s newest rivalries.

And best of all, it’s a rivalry of familiar faces. Jeff Traylor is in year seven at UTSA and GJ Kinne in his fourth at Texas State, and both are unquestionably the most successful coaches in their programs’ FBS history. Owen McCown and Brad Jackson remain the quarterbacks after the two produced an electrifying 43-36 offensive shootout last season. Expect another showing of high-flying offenses in San Marcos on Saturday afternoon in this heated American Conference vs. Pac-12 matchup.

UTSA Roadrunners outlook

UTSA has produced six winning seasons in six years under Jeff Traylor.

This year, the aspirations are especially high considering the firepower of the offense. Owen McCown is the only three-year starting quarterback in the American Conference, and the lefty is back for his third I-35 Rivalry — looking for his first win over Texas State.

McCown passed for 3,424 yards in 2024, but his 2025 was arguably better despite his yardage total taking a dip. His completion rate spiked to 67.6 percent and he delivered 30 touchdowns to seven interceptions — all while dealing injuries, which significantly limited his mobility after posting a season-high 55 rushing yards against Texas State last September. McCown looked every bit of a three-year starter in the opener, connecting on 22-of-27 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns.

UTSA also provides McCown with strong run support. Will Henderson III generated 331 rushing yards in a two-game stretch last November. After the departure of Robert Henry Jr., Henderson rose into the lead back role, and the early returns are positive. The speedy redshirt sophomore only needed nine carries to produce 101 yards and a touchdown in the opener, while A’Marion Peterson added 96 yards on eight attempts as an effective second fiddle.

The chemistry for the Roadrunner offense, which returned six starters from 2025, also was prevalent in the receiver room. DJ Allen Jr. posted a team-high 116 yards in the opener, while returning starters AJ Wilson and David Amador II were among McCown’s other primary targets. A newer name emerging in the room is Mekhi Anderson, a redshirt sophomore who already surpassed his entire 2025 with reception total with a team-high of seven in the opener. Anderson is a prime candidate to take over the Devin McCuin role as UTSA’s primary screen threat.

Defensively, the Roadrunners satisfied expectations in their 45-16 win over second-year FCS upstart UTRGV. UTRGV rattled off a couple explosive plays, but UTSA held firm for the most part. The Roadrunners won the turnover battle 2-0 after interceptions from cornerbacks Ahamad Chapman and Nate Robinson Jr.

But UTSA understands how lethal Texas State’s passing offense can be. The Roadrunners allowed 23.8 yards per completion and 14.3 yards per passing attempt in last year’s shootout loss to the Bobcats. UTSA, which only generated one sack in Week 1, looks to apply more pressure on Brad Jackson while showing improvement in coverage. The Roadrunners feature several newcomers in the secondary with pivotal roles, including cornerback Asaad Chapman (the brother of Ahamad Chapman), who produced two tackles and a pass breakup in the opener.

One other trend to monitor, especially when UTSA is on defense, is penalties. The Roadrunners had the third-most penalty yards per game nationally in 2024, seventh-most in 2025, and are currently tied for fifth-most in 2026, after committing 11 flags for 115 yards in Week 1.

Texas State Bobcats outlook

Texas State drew one of the most challenging openers in the country. The Bobcats traveled roughly 30 miles to Austin and took a 59-7 shellacking from the No. 4 Texas Longhorns. Texas State’s 52-point margin of defeat was the third-highest among FBS teams in Week 1, far from a quality start for a team with hopes to compete in the new-look Pac-12 and contend for the College Football Playoff.

The Bobcats ranked fifth in total offense (473 yards per game) and 12th in scoring offense (36.5 points per game) in 2025 and returned seven starters for 2026. Key among them is Brad Jackson, who threw for 3,224 yards and 21 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman last year, while rushing for an additional 744 yards and 17 touchdowns (second most among FBS quarterbacks). Jackson only needed 12 completions to accumulate 286 passing yards on UTSA last year, and he rushed for two touchdowns in the high-scoring win. Explosive stat-lines like that were common for Jackson in 2025, who recorded the eighth-highest passing average in the FBS at 9.2 yards per attempt.

However, the quarterback did not see that type of performance in the 2026 opener. Texas stifled him to 150 yards and an interception on a 15-of-23 showing. Still, the Bobcats moved the ball well and were not subject to a single three-and-out. Instead, fumbles, missed field goals, and turnovers on downs doomed the typically explosive offense in the defeat.

Jackson also returned his two 1,000-yard weapons from last year, Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn Jr., who ranked sixth and 21st, respectively, on the receiving yards leaderboard. Both exceeded 100 yards in last year’s I-35 Rivalry, each earning a 50+ yard pickups. But in Week 1, Texas held the two to eight combined receptions for 59 yards. Redshirt freshman Tucker Cusano emerged as the top receiver last Saturday in Austin, tallying 58 yards for the Bobcats.

The run game was surprisingly the more effective facet of the offense against Texas, managing 161 yards while employing a committee approach. Incumbents Jaylen Jenkins and Torrance Burgress Jr., along with Mississippi State transfer Davian Jackson, were key ingredients in Texas State’s 349 yards against Texas’ defense, even if the consistent production didn’t lead to points.

Texas State only finished 7-6 despite its impressive offensive numbers in 2025, and that can be attributed to defensive struggles. The Bobcats were 95th in scoring defense, allowing over 30 points in seven games and 40+ points in four. When they held opponents below 30, they were a spotless 6-0.

Surrendering 59 in the opener to Texas was a concerning start. The Longhorns generated 516 yards of offense through a highly-efficient air attack, racking up 10.6 yards per pass. Texas State only recorded one stop all game — an interception by safety Ryan Nolan in the end zone. Nolan’s playmaking was a rare bright spot amidst the defense’s struggles. He also recorded six tackles and a pass deflection in his first action of 2026.

Prediction

Expect points, points, and more points as the I-35 Rivalry resumes in San Marcos. We’ve seen a fair share of shootouts in this series over the years, from the 51-48 finish in 2020 to last year’s 43-36 thriller.

Both offenses should have their way with the opposing defense. Owen McCown and Brad Jackson are some of the top quarterback talents in the country, and both gunslingers are armed with explosive playmakers at the skill positions — Will Henderson III and DJ Wilson on the UTSA side, and the receiver duo of Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn Jr. for Texas State.

Coverage and tackling are still works in progress for both teams, so there should be several breakaway 30+ yard touchdowns in Saturday’s affair. Lead changes should be abundant, and this rivalry matchup is bound to come down to the wire.

Given UTSA’s well-documented road struggles — faring 2-10 against FBS opponents since 2024 (with the lone wins over 2-10 Colorado State and 1-11 Charlotte last season) — Texas State has the advantage in San Marcos.

Prediction: Texas State 42, UTSA 38