Version en Espanol AQUI
Final Score: UTSA 45, UTRGV 16
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Attendance: 33,403
Conferences: UTSA (American Conference, FBS) vs. UTRGV (Southland Conference, FCS)
Game Recap: Alfredo Vazquez
UTSA Gives UTRGV a Rude Welcome to FBS Football
UTSA 45, UTRGV 16 — Week 2, 2026 Season
For UTRGV, September 5, 2026 was always going to be a landmark date: it marked the first time in the young program’s history (launched only in 2025) that the Vaqueros took the field against an FBS opponent. More than 100 students made the trip from the Rio Grande Valley to San Antonio as part of the “Rally the Valley” trip, and tickets sold out before the school year even started. But inside the Alamodome, UTSA made sure the night belonged to the home team, cruising to a 45-16 win to open its 16th season at the top level of college football.
The setup: FBS meets FCS, with a regional rivalry flavor
UTSA hosted the game as the American Conference program, while UTRGV — a Southland Conference member at the FCS level — got its first taste of facing top-tier competition. UTRGV activities director Edna Zambrano captured the pregame mood: “It’s exciting because we know there are a lot of people from the Valley that live in San Antonio.” That regional connection showed up in the stands, even if the gap in level showed up quickly on the field.
What decided the game: a devastating second quarter
UTSA struck first in the opening quarter on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Owen McCown to AJ Wilson Jr. (6:51 mark). But the game broke open in the second quarter, when the Roadrunners scored in bunches to take a commanding 31-6 lead into halftime. Two plays defined that surge: Will Henderson III broke free for a 75-yard rushing touchdown that exposed UTRGV’s defense, and safety Ahamad Chapman picked off Garret Rangel and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown — the play that put the game away.
UTRGV showed fight in the third quarter, holding UTSA to just 82 total yards, but the damage was done. UTSA answered again in the fourth with a 62-yard touchdown pass from McCown to DJ Allen Jr. and a 53-yard touchdown run from A’Marion Peterson, while the Vaqueros got their lone touchdown of the night on a 1-yard keeper by Atzel Chavez Jr.
The numbers behind the story
UTSA: Owen McCown finished 22-of-27 for 275 yards and 3 touchdown passes with no interceptions. Will Henderson III (99 yards, 1 TD) and A’Marion Peterson (96 yards, 1 TD) led the ground game, while DJ Allen Jr. topped all receivers with 116 yards and a score. On defense, James Walley Jr. added 6 tackles and a sack, and Nate Robinson Jr. picked off a pass in his Roadrunners debut.
UTRGV: Garret Rangel went 19-of-32 for 152 yards. Kicker Bryden Gardner connected on three field goals, and linebacker Spencer Rich paced the defense with a game-high 10 tackles. Despite the final score, the Vaqueros won the time-of-possession battle (34:49) and stayed disciplined with just 13 penalties.
Looking ahead
UTSA (1-0) hits the road to face Texas State (0-1) in San Marcos next week. UTRGV (1-1) returns home to host Nicholls at 6 p.m. Saturday, looking to build on the experience of its first FBS test. Can the Vaqueros carry that lesson forward? We’ll find out soon.
FAQs
What was the final score of the UTSA vs. UTRGV game on September 5, 2026? UTSA defeated UTRGV 45-16 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Where was the game played? At the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It marked UTRGV’s first-ever game against an FBS opponent.
What was the biggest play of the game? Ahamad Chapman’s 49-yard interception return for a touchdown, combined with Will Henderson III’s 75-yard touchdown run, sealed UTSA’s dominant second quarter.
How many fans attended? 33,403 fans filled the Alamodome.
