The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

I-35 Rivalry

UTSA6-2Texas State
National Program II#53 of 138–Regional Program III#92 of 138▲
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →

UTSA leads the all-time series 6-2. They've met 8 times since 2012. UTSA once took 5 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

UTSA
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-4
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -9
Texas State
Transfer portal
+0
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -8

Stature & the series, 2012–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeUTSATexas Stateevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: UTSA won, gray: Texas State won)2020

The identity war

Texas State has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 15 seasons of real play-level data (2012–2026), UTSA led 7 and Texas State led 8.

more passmore runUTSATexas State201220142016201820202022202420262019Texas State 12.7 pts
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Texas State by 39 in 2024. The biggest crowd, 49,342, was in 2023.

The coaching duels

Jeff Traylor vs G.J. Kinne2-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
5-16
Texas State leads
1st-rounders
1-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
UTSATexas State
1960s0-1
1970s0-2
1980s0-5
1990s0-1
2000s0-5
2010s2-2
2020s3-0

Best picks, either side

2018Marcus Davenport Defensive End · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 14#14 overall
1982Bobby Watkins Defensive Back · Detroit LionsRd 2, pick 15#42 overall
1973Jim Stienke Defensive Back · Cleveland BrownsRd 2, pick 21#47 overall
1968Reece Morrison Running Back · Cleveland BrownsRd 3, pick 11#66 overall
2015Craig Mager Cornerback · San Diego ChargersRd 3, pick 19#83 overall
2022Spencer Burford Offensive Tackle · San Francisco 49ersRd 4, pick 29#134 overall
1984Van Hughes Defensive Tackle · Pittsburgh SteelersRd 5, pick 23#135 overall
1989A.J. Johnson Defensive Back · Washington RedskinsRd 6, pick 10#149 overall

Recent meetings

2026UTSA31-26
2025Texas State43-36
2024Texas State49-10
2023UTSA20-13
2020UTSA51-48Texas State — decided by 3
2018UTSA25-21
2017UTSA44-14
2012UTSA38-31

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is UTSA’s chance to win through that meeting. UTSA is 3-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2026: loud. Fans of both teams were loud at once in 2023. The bracket marks where.

2026UTSA 31-26UTSA won 31-26 at Texas State. Chance to win started at 40%, low 15%, high better than 99%.Loud
2025Texas State 43-36UTSA lost 36-43 vs Texas State. Chance to win started at 72%, low 13%, high 72%.Busy
2024Texas State 49-10UTSA lost 10-49 at Texas State. Chance to win started at 43%, low under 1%, high 51%.
2023UTSA 20-13UTSA won 20-13 vs Texas State. Chance to win started at 80%, low 43%, high 98%.Busy
2020UTSA 51-48UTSA won 51-48 at Texas State. Chance to win started at 31%, low 22%, high better than 99%.
2018UTSA 25-21UTSA won 25-21 vs Texas State. Chance to win started at 61%, low 61%, high 96%.
“Endless pain for TxSt fans”
A fan of another team
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “Endless pain for TxSt fans”
    A fan of another team
  • 2025
    “not enough people are watching this game and they are missing out.”
    A fan of another team

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