SAN MARCOS - Texas State football coach GJ Kinne said Saturday's 31-26 loss to UTSA was one of the weirdest games he's ever experienced.
The Bobcats (0-2) outgained the Roadrunners (2-0) offense by 83 yards. The Texas State running backs averaged 7.15 yards per carry on 35 attempts. UTSA was 3-of-15 on third down; Texas State was 9-of-17. UTSA quarterback Owen McCown faced pressure from Texas State's defensive line all afternoon.
MORE:Texas State recap from loss to UTSA
And yet, the Bobcats were the team desperately tossing laterals across the field when the clock hit zero, hoping for a miracle play. UTSA stormed the field afterward, whooping and hollering in celebration. For the first time in the rivalry, Texas State was the program defending its status. UTSA clearly had a chip on its shoulder that its San Marcos neighbours used to have. After the game, Kinne treated the loss like any other.
"We can't let this one define us," Kinne said. "It's not the end-all, be-all."
Special teams mishaps and an uncharacteristically dysfunctional passing attack were the main culprits. Kicker Dylan Cunanan missed a 26-yard field goal and an extra point attempt - a four-point swing in a four-point loss. Quarterback Brad Jackson had one of the worst halves of his career, completing 10-of-20 passes for 140 yards and an interception. He finished with 192 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions on 17-of-30 passing.
Texas State receiver Kylen Evans (2) is tackled during the I-35 rivalry college football game against UTSA at UFCU Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 12, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez)That's not all it was, though. On a more intangible level, UTSA cared more about the rivalry.
"It just means so much. To our fans, to our alumni, our city," UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor said.
It's not that Texas State didn't try or looked lackadaisical. In fact, the Roadrunners looked outmatched for most of the game; Traylor even admitted he thought his defensive line matched up poorly against the Bobcats' offensive line. Texas State kept running back Will Henderson III in check for most of the game. The defense, usually the punching bag for most of Texas State's losses, held UTSA to 17 points through three quarters.
McCown's stat line - 28-of-42 passing for 214 yards - won't blow anyone away, but it doesn't reflect his true level of play. He didn't shy away from hits and showed grit in the fourth quarter, completing 9-of-11 passes for 53 yards and three first downs. Facing two fourth-and-5s on the penultimate drive, he converted the first on a quick pass to David Amador III and scrambled for the second, diving for the marker.
"We were bringing both backers, so we should have had a perfect play call," Kinne said.
While Kinne is a brilliant offensive mind, UTSA's offense looked more creative. The second-half swing pass to Amador, who heaved a 44-yard touchdown to fellow wideout Mekhi Anderson, was a prime example.
Texas State went for it on fourth down once, after an eight-play drive that wiped nearly eight minutes off the clock. They failed to convert and settled for a field goal on fourth-and-3 later in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Roadrunners succeeded on five of six fourth-down attempts, which made up for their poor third-down success rate.
"We felt like we executed the game plan pretty well. Just couldn't put them away," Kinne said.
All week, Traylor lauded Texas State. He said the 2026 roster was the best it's ever been. He praised Jackson and Kinne, to the chagrin of his own fanbase. Truth was sewn within his compliments, but after the win, he said it was all on purpose.
"I wanted them to feel the heavy weight, like the torch had been passed," Traylor said. "I wanted them to feel that weight, which we kind of felt."
Texas State spent most of the week downplaying the stakes of the rivalry, countering Traylor's comments with mostly dry retorts. But if the Bobcats want to get their revenge next year, they might have to learn how to accept that weight instead of running from it.
Sign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.This article originally published at UTSA cares more about I-35 Rivalry than Texas State. It showed in the Bobcats loss.