Texas State (0-1, 0-0 Pac-12) vs UTSA (0-1, 0-0 AMERICAN)

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
UFCU Stadium (28,000) | San Marcos, Texas
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT

TV: CW
            Rick Allen (Play-by-play)
            Will Blackmon (Analyst)
            Michael Bumpus (Sideline)

Radio: KTSW 89.9 & Varsity Network (free app)
            Brant Freeman
            Clint Shields

X/Twitter Updates: @TXSTATEFOOTBALL
Opening Drive...

• Texas State enters its first season as a member of the Pac-12 Conference after spending the past 13 seasons as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. During that span, TXST was the top-performing athletics department six times, including the last 3 consecutive seasons.
  Texas State is coming off its third consecutive bowl win with a 41-10 victory over Rice in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, this came after back-to-back wins in the First Responder Bowl over North Texas (2024) and Rice (2023).
  New Faces: Head Coach GJ Kinne welcomed 4 news faces to the Bobcat coaching staff this past offseason, including Defensive Coordinator Will Windham as well as Chris Gistorb (Defensive Line) and Marcus Patton (Secondary). On offense, Kiel McDonald takes over for TXST-great Barrick Nealy.
  Texas State won 7 games in 2025, the third straight season with 7+. Last time it happened: 1982-1984 (14-0, 9-3, 7-4)
  Today's game is the eighth edition of the I-35 Showdown with UTSA holding the 5-2 lead in the series. Texas State has won two straight, including a 49-10 victory the last time the teams met in San Marcos.
  GJ Kinne has named the following captains for the 2026 season: Brad Jackson, Beau Sparks, Chris Dawn, Jr., Sully Burns, Ryan Nolan, Terrence Cooks II, Phillip Bradford & Jo'Laison Landry.
  Flex: The Bobcats currently have 11 games on the schedule for 2026, with the final week serving as a non-conference, Pac-12 flex game. Opponents will be determined 6 days out from game day, with TXST scheduled for a road game.

A Win vs UTSA Means...

• Texas State wins its fifth straight home opener.
  The Bobcats win their third consecutive game in the TXST-UTSA I-35 Showdown.
  GJ Kinne wins his 24th game at the helm for the Bobcats, placing him 4th all-time for DI (FBS/FCS) wins with the program.
  TXST has won 5 of its last 6 games dating back to Nov. 15, 2025, including a 41-10 win in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

Inside the Series... 
All-Time Record: TXST trails 5-2
In San Marcos: TXST trails 2-1
In San Antonio: TXST trails 3-1
Most points scored by TXST: 49 (2024)
Most points scored by UTSA: 51 (2020)
Largest margin of victory by TXST: 39 (2024)
Largest margin of victory by UTSA: 30 (2017)
Longest win streak by TXST: W2
Longest win streak by UTSA: W5

Last 5 Meetings

Date	S	Res	TXST	UTSA
9/6/25	A	W	43	36
9/7/24	H	W	49	10
9/9/23	A	L	13	20
9/12/20	H	L	48	51
9/22/18	A	L	21	25

Last Time Versus...
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Brad Jackson threw for 286 yards and Beau Sparks caught five passes for 155 yards as Texas State took down UTSA, 43-36, on Saturday.

The game featured six lead changes, one tie and 951 yards of total offense, with Sparks' 65-yard touchdown reception on the first Texas State play of the fourth giving the Bobcats (2-0) the lead for good.

Sparks also took the first play of the second quarter 73 yards, but was brought down at the UTSA 11. Robert Henry led off the second half with a 75-yard touchdown run, his second score of the day. Henry totaled 159 yards rushing on 17 carries.

The Texas State defense forced three straight incompletions on UTSA's final drive for a turnover on downs.

Ryan Nolan racked up 11 tackles and Kenard Snyder had the lone sack for the Bobcats.

Owen McCown completed 23 of 43 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns for the Roadrunners, who start 0-2 for the first time since 2018.

Texas State has won two straight against UTSA in the I-35 Rivalry, played in football since 2012. 

Complete Notes Packet...