UTSA seeks to reclaim I-35 Series Trophy after consecutive Texas State losses

UTSA will face Texas State at 2.30pm on Saturday with the I-35 Series Trophy and rivalry bragging rights at stake, as the Roadrunners attempt to end a two-game losing streak against the Bobcats.

Texas State won 49–10 in San Marcos in 2024 before retaining the trophy with a 43–36 victory in San Antonio last year. The results ended UTSA’s run of five consecutive wins in the series after Jeff Traylor became coach in December 2019.

Traylor said the 2024 defeat had left a lasting mark, describing it as a “physical beating” and one of the most embarrassing days of his time at UTSA. The game came as both programmes were pursuing ambitions of reaching the expanded College Football Playoff.

UTSA players have framed Saturday’s meeting as an opportunity to respond to those setbacks. Receiver Mekhi Anderson said the contest carried significant meaning for the team, while defensive tackle Jameian Buxton said the previous two results remained familiar inside the programme.

The fixture also carries broader stakes for the two programmes, including recruiting momentum and competing claims to be Texas’ leading Group of Six team. Those ambitions remain prospective, but the result will determine whether Texas State keeps the trophy and whether UTSA can begin to reverse the recent direction of the rivalry.