Texas State and UTSA Set for Exciting Rivalry Matchup with Star Quarterbacks and Coaching Connections
SAN MARCOS- On Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at 3 p.m., the Texas State Bobcats will host the UTSA Roadrunners at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, with the game set to air on ESPNU.
Both teams enter the matchup at 1-0 after similar performances in their opening games. Texas State built a solid lead at halftime against Lamar, mirroring UTSA’s performance against Kennesaw State. Both teams faced a challenge in the second half but managed to secure victories. This game will mark the sixth meeting between UTSA and Texas State, with the Roadrunners having won all previous encounters.
Saturday’s game will be a home contest for the Texas State Bobcats, who are aiming to break the Roadrunners’ winning streak against them. The rivalry is intensified by the deep connection between the two head coaches: Texas State’s G.J. Kinne and UTSA’s Jeff Traylor, who was Kinne’s high school coach and has also coached alongside him at SMU and Arkansas.
“Sometimes I call him Jeff and sometimes I call him Coach Traylor,” Kinne said. “He is someone I lean on in a lot of areas. He’s an unbelievable coach, father, and husband—a real role model.”
In their previous meeting last season, UTSA defeated Texas State 20-13 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.This season, Texas State has revamped its roster, notably adding quarterback Jordan McCloud, the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year, and returning 18 players. Both teams are expected to contend at the top of their conferences, with Texas State in the Sun Belt and UTSA in the American Athletic Conference—a new dynamic for these programs.
“People think we are good this year, that’s the only difference,” Kinnie said. “We know they are good, they’re the big dogs and we have to knock them off.”
Returning star running back Ismail Mahdi, who led the nation in all-purpose yards last season for the Bobcats, continued his strong performance against Lamar. Mahdi rushed for 156 yards on 28 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and scored a touchdown.
Texas State quarterback Jordan McCloud threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns, completing 21 of 30 pass attempts and throwing one interception. McCloud is starting to develop a strong rapport with his wide receivers, connecting with Joey Hobert for two touchdowns and Jaden Williams for another.
“I thought he played well on Saturday,” Kinne said. “This is not his first rodeo. He’s played in a lot of big games before, and that’s always something you feel good about as a head coach.”
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners are guided by sophomore quarterback Owen McCown. In their season opener against Kennesaw State, McCown passed for 340 yards and three touchdowns, completing 28 of 38 attempts.
The highly anticipated matchup between quarterbacks Jordan McCloud and Owen McCown is generating buzz. As UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor looks forward to the game, he reflects on his long standing relationship with Texas State coach G.J. Kinne, whom he considers like family.
“He was my quarterback; he’s like a son to me,” Traylor said. “I don’t frequently communicate with other head coaches, but he is one I stay in touch with regularly. I’ll be supporting him every day until Saturday at 3 p.m.”
Texas State is known for its high-tempo, no-huddle offense, frequently taking deep shots at the end zone. This approach echoes the style Coach Kinne played under with Coach Traylor in high school. In contrast, UTSA’s game plan reflects Traylor’s current coaching philosophy.
“The young Jeff Traylor, back when I was flat-bellied and had hair like G.J., would probably be just like him—having a blast, throwing deep, and playing as fast as possible,” Traylor said. “We don’t play that way much anymore.”
I expect Texas State to win against UTSA. The game is projected to be high-scoring, with both quarterbacks and offenses performing at an elite level. I predict a final score of 38-31 in favor of the Bobcats.
