By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
SAN ANTONIO — The dust has barely settled on Texas State’s 43–36 win over UTSA, but there’s plenty to unpack from another chapter in this growing rivalry.
The Bobcats’ second straight win over the Roadrunners carried storylines that stretched from the quarterback duel to the Alamodome atmosphere. Here are five takeaways from Saturday’s game.
Brad Jackson shines in his hometown return
Redshirt freshman Brad Jackson didn’t just survive the Alamodome pressure, he thrived in it. The former San Antonio Reagan standout threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns, including the decisive 42-yard strike to Beau Sparks in the fourth quarter.
He admitted the moment carried special meaning, given UTSA recruited him late after he had already committed to Texas State.
“I think the atmosphere and the crowd today was something like I’ve never seen before,” Jackson said. “That’s an environment you can easily lose your composure in, but we stayed composed and got the win.”
Texas State defense answers call early
While most fans expected fireworks, the Bobcats’ defense came out swinging. Defensive end Khalil Alexander set the tone on UTSA’s first drive with a crushing hit on quarterback Owen McCown.
Later, Texas State stood tall with a goal-line stand in the first quarter and delivered a game-clinching stop on fourth down late.
“The message all week was just being physical,” Alexander said. “That hit brought the energy up for the defense. … At the end, our coaches put us in a great position, and we just executed.”
A bittersweet moment for G.J. Kinne
Saturday’s win for Texas State head coach G.J. Kinne was met with mixed emotions. Kinne played for UTSA coach Jeff Traylor in high school, and their postgame embrace reflected the personal ties behind this rivalry.
“I know what that feels like in that locker room,” Kinne said. “I hurt for them, because I know how hard they worked. But I’m proud of our guys. To win in a place like this, it’s a total team effort.”
Traylor, who fell to 29–4 at home since taking over the program, admitted the loss hit hard: “Everybody did their job except for me. That’s the part that hurts the most.”
UTSA’s Robert Henry is as good as advertised
If there was any doubt about Robert Henry’s place among the nation’s best Group of Five running backs, he put it to rest Saturday.
The junior powered his way to 168 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a 75-yard sprint that ignited the Roadrunners.
Henry now has 336 rushing yards through two games, averaging an eye-popping 10.2 yards per carry. Even in defeat, his performance was a reminder that UTSA’s offense has a star to lean on.
Alamodome atmosphere delivers
The announced crowd of 45,778 didn’t set a record, but the energy was undeniable. The Alamodome roared with every UTSA rally and fell silent just as quickly when Texas State answered. Jackson admitted the noise could have rattled him early, but it became part of the story.
“It was such a cool environment to play in,” he said. “At the end, to hear it quiet down, that’s something I’ll never forget.”
Kinne also praised the setting: “We knew coming into this environment it was going to be a tough place to play. I thought our guys handled the environment pretty well.”
