How Owen McCown provided healthy spark to UTSA's offense in win over UTRGV

As the calendar flipped to the first game week of 2026, UTSA quarterback Owen McCown felt the sense of anticipation building, excited even for the sensation of being tackled again for the first time.  

Last year, every hit made coach Jeff Traylor cringe, as he wondered whether his starting quarterback would be able to keep soldiering through a range of nagging injuries.  

But after McCown underwent an offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia and enjoyed plenty of time to rest his other bumps and bruises, Traylor doesn’t hold his breath anymore.  

During UTSA’s first drive in Saturday’s opener against UTRGV, McCown rolled to his right and jumped in the air awkwardly as defenders closed in around him, catching a helmet to the midsection before being driven to the turf. He popped back to his feet, leading the Roadrunners to the first of four opening-half scoring drives.  

McCown completed 22 of 27 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns in a strong debut for new offensive coordinator Rick Bowie’s retooled attack, sparking UTSA to a 45-16 win against UTRGV in the Alamodome.  

“He looked like the kid from 2024,” Traylor said. “The quarterback run game will be back in play again. So, that was exciting. And, yeah, he was really good.”  

UTSA coach Jeff Traylor’s initial thoughts following a 45-16 win against UTRGV to kick off the season: “There were some good things. There were some bad things. Typical first game, you need to play, but you’re probably not ready to play.” pic.twitter.com/L2D5ilRh3Z

– Greg Luca (@GregLuca) September 6, 2026

McCown rarely had to rely on his mobility against an overmatched FCS opponent Saturday, finishing with just one rush for 5 yards.  

But as he reflected on his performance Saturday, McCown pointed to just two throws he wanted back, using his mobility to keep plays alive until the right window opened.  

“I just think being able to scramble, and spin out of pockets and throwing the ball away, little things like that,” McCown said. “But I don’t feel limited, so just kind of feel free and ready to go.”  

UTSA quarterback Owen McCown, on how he felt leading the offense in Saturday’s opener after struggling through injuries last year: “I don’t feel limited, so just kind of feel free and ready to go.” pic.twitter.com/gTd4eVNYTX

– Greg Luca (@GregLuca) September 6, 2026

McCown said his first game in Bowie’s offense felt just like what the Roadrunners had worked on through the spring and into the preseason, finding a flow with streamlined communication and a few more air raid wrinkles.  

The Roadrunners delivered explosive passing plays with a deep shot to AJ Wilson for a 36-yard score and a screen pass that DJ Allen broke for a 62-yard touchdown. Will Henderson’s 75-yard scoring run was the exclamation point as the Roadrunners jumped out to a 31-3 halftime lead, and A’Marion Peterson added a 53-yard touchdown sprint in the closing minutes.  

The Roadrunners piled up at least 250 yards passing and rushing – a feat UTSA failed to achieve last season – underscoring the efficiency of an offense that racked up 525 yards on 58 plays. 

“It was just easy. The plays were easy,” Henderson said of the new offense. “You don’t have to think too much. You just react and play.”  

Despite a strong statistical day, Traylor said “inconsistent” was the first word that came to mind to describe the offensive performance. He saw “a lot of positives, and some things that keep you up at night.”  

UTSA running back Will Henderson on his long touchdown run and the way everything flowed under new offensive coordinator Rick Bowie. “It was just easy. You don’t have to think too much. You just react and play.” pic.twitter.com/2O0p8Sff7I

– Greg Luca (@GregLuca) September 6, 2026

McCown was “really, really special,” the explosive runs were promising, and tight end Brandon Young notched a one-handed touchdown grab in his first start. But UTSA’s playmakers didn’t break many tackles, and the Roadrunners finished with 11 penalties for 115 yards, contributing to stalled drives.  

“There were some good things. There were some bad things,” Traylor said. “Typical first game. You need to play, but you’re probably not ready to play.” 

Looking at the defense, Traylor saw a unit that missed too many tackles and struggled to contain UTRGV’s quarterbacks – a troubling trend entering a critical matchup with Texas State and quarterback Brad Jackson next week.  

The Roadrunners allowed 422 total yards but kept the Vaqueros out of the end zone until the closing seconds. Cornerback Ahamad Chapman, who delivered an early highlight with a pick six, said the group will be looking to clean up missed tackles and find more big hits, looking for a forced fumble to add to a pair of interceptions.  

UTSA corner Ahamad Chapman, on the experience of playing with his brother, his pick six, and Asaad’s near interception: “It’s going to happen all year. I’m telling y’all.” pic.twitter.com/Ud0XSozbAc

– Greg Luca (@GregLuca) September 6, 2026

“We’ve just got to dial into little things, but not too much, though,” Chapman said. “For our first game and a real new defense, we played great.”  

After a quiet offseason resting his body, McCown said he felt UTSA’s offense “did a great job execution wise.” He had knocked off most of the rust through preseason camp, and the rest seemed to break away when he took that first hit.  

With a new coordinator and four new starters around him on offense, McCown’s message to the group was the same statement he showed with his performance: “just play free and be themselves.”  

“Obviously, there were nerves going into it,” McCown said, “but they’re a bunch of competitors, and glad we got the win.” 

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This article originally published at How Owen McCown provided healthy spark to UTSA’s offense in win over UTRGV.