Two rebuilding programs collide on a Friday night in San Antonio, one led by a brand-new coaching staff, the other trying to prove last year's bowl run wasn't a fluke.
Bush’s Picks
CSUUTSA
CSUUTSA
OverUnder
Best BetUTSA
Back UTSA here. McCown's continuity and Traylor's track record of building rosters that overachieve are hard to bet against, especially against a Colorado State team that's still figuring out its starting quarterback under a brand-new staff. The Roadrunners have simply been here before and know how to win these games.
Colorado State
+Mora brought in nearly 20 of his own UConn players
+Fresh identity built around ball control, no turnovers
−Went 2-5 before Norvell was fired last season
−Starting QB job still unsettled entering the year
UTSA
+Traylor has gone 53-26 over six seasons at UTSA
+McCown returns for a third year as the starter
−Lost 23 players to the transfer portal this offseason
−McCown missed all of spring ball after surgery
This one's a study in contrasts. UTSA is running it back with continuity — a proven head coach, a returning starting quarterback, a program that's won bowl games in three straight years. Colorado State is starting almost from scratch under first-year coach Jim Mora, who's installing an Air Raid system with a roster that got torn down and rebuilt over the winter.
The Roadrunners bring real staying power into this one. Jeff Traylor is 53-26 across six seasons in San Antonio, and Owen McCown is back for his third year as the starter after UTSA closed 2025 with a 57-20 demolition of FIU in the First Responder Bowl. That said, UTSA didn't get out of the offseason clean — the Roadrunners lost 23 players to the transfer portal, including receiver Devin McCuin (Ohio State) and tight end Patrick Overmyer (Houston), and McCown sat out spring ball recovering from surgery.
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CSU Colorado State
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Colorado State's story is a total reset. Norvell got fired at 2-5 last October, and Mora — fresh off UConn — brought close to 20 of his own guys with him along with assistant Pryce Tracy, who's preaching ball control, run-first football and no turnovers. It's a philosophy built for a program trying to survive its jump into the Pac-12, not necessarily one built to win a shootout in the Alamodome on short notice.
Colorado State Rams
Sep 19?vs BYU—
Sep 12?vs Southern Utah—
Sep 5?vs Wyoming—
UTSA Roadrunners
Sep 19?@ Texas—
Sep 12?@ Texas State—
Sep 5?vs Vaqueros—
Recent form.
The quarterback picture says a lot about where each program stands. McCown enters with two years of starts under his belt in the same system, while Colorado State is still sorting out its answer between Hauss Hejny and a handful of other options — not the ideal spot to be in against a Group of 5 heavyweight that's used to winning double-digit games.
Colorado State Rams
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
UTSA Roadrunners
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
UTSA's 2026 slate is loaded — seven bowl teams, six nine-win squads, four teams that finished ranked — which means Traylor's group has already been playing meaningful football by the time this one rolls around Friday, September 25. Colorado State, meanwhile, is still finding its footing in a brutal new conference and won't have had much time for a rebuilt roster to gel.
