An offensively charged second half included the teams trading blows until Texas State stopped UTSA’s attempt at a game-tying drive, forcing a turnover on downs with 1:32 remaining. The Bobcats ran out the clock and celebrated a momentum-shifting victory over the Roadrunners, who had a 29-3 home record under coach Jeff Traylor before the defeat.
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Texas State (2-0) will travel next week to Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., to face Arizona State.
Here are some takeaways from the Bobcats’ win:
What this win means for Texas State
The Bobcats made headlines in July when they accepted an invitation to join the re-imagined Pac-12. But despite that debut in 2026 hanging over Texas State, head coach GJ Kinne recognized that the matchup of two campuses connected by Interstate 35 holds weight.
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“To me, this one’s more about Texas State, UTSA, and getting that road (win), beating them at their house,” Kinne said.
The series between the teams is slated to go through 2031. And though Texas State defeated UTSA 49-10 in 2024, it cemented itself as the program on an upward trajectory by storming into the Alamodome and silencing the crowd of 45,778. UTSA has never finished below .500 under Traylor. But the Roadrunners are 0-2 and their claim as the best Group of Five program in the Lone Star State is tenuous. The Bobcats have seemingly caught up to their rivals 53.5 miles down the road.Â
The Texas State Bobcats celebrate a safety during the first half of their NCAA football game with UTSA at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Texas State beat UTSA 43-36.
Marvin Pfeiffer/San Antonio Express-News
Clutch defensive performance
Texas State’s defense did not impress against Eastern Michigan. It wasn’t exactly fabulous against UTSA, either. The unit allowed 464 yards of offense, 43 more than the Bobcats’ 454. UTSA running back Robert Henry Jr. ran for 159 yards and scored three touchdowns. But the Bobcats stepped up in the big moments while the Roadrunners shrank.
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After Jackson and Sparks connected for the go-ahead touchdown with 10:08 left in the fourth quarter, Texas State faced three potential game-tying drives. With 8:13 left, linebacker Treylin Payne broke up Owen McCown’s third-down pass. On fourth down, safety Bobby Crosby disrupted a throw to David Amador II.
On the following drive, linebacker Michael Boudoin stuffed Henry at the line of scrimmage. McCown’s next two passes fell incomplete and UTSA punted. Then, with 1:59 left and the game in the balance at UTSA’s 47-yard line, McCown threw three consecutive incompletions after an initial 5-yard pass on first down.
“It’s always a lot of pressure,” Texas State edge rusher Kalil Alexander said. “But that’s why coach Kinne recruited us here. To handle those big-time moments.”
Texas State QB Brad Jackson bounces back
The first points of the game came from a Texas State blocked punt in the first quarter, which led to a safety. On the ensuing offensive drive, Jackson faced pressure up the middle and threw the ball right at UTSA linebacker Shad Banks, who caught it for an interception. He ended the first quarter with 12 yards on 2-for-4 passing.
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Jackson said last Tuesday he’d throw his first pick at some point, but he emphasized that the response to the mistake would be the most important thing. And on Saturday, the first-year collegiate starter lived his words.
Jackson finished with 286 passing yards, one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns. Facing a hostile environment in his road debut, the redshirt freshman got better as the game progressed. In the fourth quarter, he hit wide receiver Beau Sparks for a 65-yard touchdown pass to give Texas State the go-ahead score.
His key to moving past his mistake? Facing it head-on.Â
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“It’s just saying, ‘All right, guys, that’s on me.’ Taking initiative for it,” Jackson said. “It’s one of those things where you’ve got to bounce back from it, and you’ve got to be able to support your guys.”