Texas State football just got absolutely hammered 59-7 by the Texas Longhorns, but they cannot afford to dwell on that brutal beatdown. Not with UTSA coming to town for the home opener, and believe me, this rivalry is ELECTRIC. Texas State has owned the I-35 Rivalry for two years straight, stomping the Roadrunners 49-10 in 2024 and snatching a 43-36 win in the Alamodome last season. The Roadrunners are looking to stop the bleeding, and they’re bringing some serious firepower with them.
Owen McCown Is Back to Torch Texas State (Again?)
Look, Owen McCown is one of those rare guys you see sticking with one program for three seasons at quarterback these days. He’s thrown for a legit 6,419 yards and 55 touchdowns as a Roadrunner, which is insane. Plus, UTSA’s new offensive coordinator, Rick Bowie, is all about that vertical passing attack, which means McCown is probably gonna be slinging it deep. Now, here’s the kicker for Texas State fans: McCown had one of his worst games EVER at UFCU Stadium in 2024, going 10-of-23 for a measly 105 yards and ZERO touchdowns. But last year? He bounced back, throwing for 219 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-43 attempts. Which McCown shows up for this one? That’s the million-dollar question.
UTSA’s Secondary Is Nasty, and Will Henderson III Is a Straight-Up Freak
Don’t sleep on UTSA’s defense, seriously. Their secondary was showing out last week. Nate Robinson Jr. and Ahamad Chapman both snagged interceptions in their season opener, with Chapman even taking his to the house for a touchdown. Keep an eye on Elijah Newell and Cam Upshaw too, because these guys can shut down a passing game. This battle between Texas State’s high-powered passing and UTSA’s defense is gonna be the whole ballgame.
But the real threat? UTSA running back Will Henderson III. This dude is a big-play waiting to be unleashed. He ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run last week and averages 7.1 yards per carry for his career! Texas State already knows his speed, he had 5 carries for 49 yards in last year’s rivalry game. Texas State coach GJ Kinne himself asked, “That running back is like, what’s that movie where they talk about the fastest kid alive?” Shout out *Superbad*, because that’s exactly what he is. If Texas State doesn’t give him proper respect, it’s gonna be a long night.
This I-35 Rivalry game is more than just football; it’s coaches Jeff Traylor and GJ Kinne, who have a close bond going back to Kinne playing QB for Traylor in high school, battling it out again. These two schools are constantly competing for recruits, and the social media trash talk has already started among the fans. Texas State might have won the last two, but they’re still 2-5 all-time against UTSA after losing the first five matchups. This home opener is everything for Texas State to get their season back on track, and they better be ready for the fastest kid alive!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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