I-35 Showdown: Texas State Humbles UTSA in Rout

© Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

The Texas State Bobcats (2-0) dominated the UTSA Roadrunners (1-1) for a 49-10 victory on Sept. 7 at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Texas. UTSA arrived late to the stadium before the start and failed to show up once the game began. Texas State scored five touchdowns in the first half, outgained UTSA 394-137 in total yards and effectively ended the game by jumping out to a 35-3 halftime lead. The second quarter was particularly brutal as the Bobcats outscored the Roadrunners 21-0 and outgained them 224-42 in total yards.

Game Summary

With 1:43 left in the first quarter, UTSA trailed 7-3 after a 26-yard field goal by kicker Chase Allen. From that point, Texas State stifled UTSA's offense while moving the ball effortlessly. The Bobcats scored touchdowns on five of their final seven possessions, taking a 35-3 lead into halftime. It could have been worse for UTSA as Texas State was stopped on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line on their second drive or the score would have been 42-3.

The second half was essentially a glorified scrimmage with the only notable change being UTSA’s switch at quarterback from Josh McCown to Eddie Lee Marburger. McCown struggled in the first half, completing 10 of 23 passes for 105 yards with a QB rating of 81.8. He received little support from the running game as UTSA managed just 32 rushing yards in the first half. Marburger didn’t fare much better, completing 14 of 27 passes for 147 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

Turning Point for UTSA

On the Bobcats' first possession, UTSA’s defense forced a turnover on the third play when cornerback Zack Morris intercepted a pass from quarterback Jordan McCloud. Despite starting at the Texas State 33-yard line, UTSA failed to capitalize, turning the ball over on downs after a failed fourth-down attempt. Roadrunner fans can only wonder if converting that turnover into a touchdown would have changed the game's outcome.

What It Means

UTSA started fast in the opener against Kennesaw State, scoring touchdowns on their first three drives to take a 21-3 lead. However, since early in the second quarter of the opener, the Roadrunners have only scored touchdowns on two of their last 24 drives. Key concerns after the opener included mental toughness—specifically penalties (10 for 109 yards)—and a lack of a running game (76 yards). Those issues persisted as UTSA committed 10 penalties for 73 yards and rushed for just 82 yards in this game. While McCown’s strong play in Week 1 earned him the Manning Award QB of the Week, head coach Jeff Traylor and his staff now face additional challenges compared to Week 1, including quarterback performance. Next up, UTSA faces a tough road test against the No. 3 Texas Longhorns (2-0).

Like UTSA, Texas State struggled in their opener, narrowly defeating Lamar 34-27. However, the Bobcats rebounded impressively, scoring 49 points, racking up 504 yards of total offense, producing 15 explosive plays and committing only 3 penalties. Head coach GJ Kinne has his team trending upward as they prepare for a home game next week against the Arizona State Sun Devils. While UTSA's College Football Playoff hopes are over, Texas State must now be considered a top Group of Five candidate to make it.