NEWS PRELIMINARY ENROLLMENT FIGURES BREAK RECORDS PAGE 2
OPINION
SPORTS
EROSION OF ISLAM LIBERTIES PUTS RIGHTS AT RISK
GOALKEEPER’S RETURN GIVES NEW CHANCE TO LEAD
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TUESDAY
September 8, 2026 VOLUME 115 ISSUE 36
CITY
Recent river injuries highlight importance of water safety Recent water-related injuries in the San Marcos River have experts and residents reassessing water safety. On Aug. 5, a 70-year-old woman from Austin died after diving underwater at Rio Vista, and in March 2025, a 17-year-old died after being trapped underwater for around two
minutes near Cape’s Dam. At around 4:24 p.m. on Aug. 25, the University Police Department received a report of an injury behind Kirby Lane. Officers located a female student who had sustained injuries after jumping from the waterfall. She was later transported to Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle for medical treatment. No other injuries were reported, Cat Hoyt, alternative
FOOTBALL
FEATURE
By Arabella DiChristina News Editor
program coordinator for UPD, stated in an email to The Star. Christian Lopez, deputy director of watershed studies at the Meadow Center and a lecturer in the department of geography and environmental studies, said the river can be misleading, as it may look calm. Yet upon entering, the current will start pushing. “Some people become caught off
guard by the current on their first time [in the river] ... I think just knowing that it is a moving, living system and when you enter that system, you are going to be subjected to that energy,” Lopez said.
SEE SAFETY PAGE 2
MEG BOLES | MANAGING EDITOR
The San Marcos River flows through Rio Vista Park, Sunday, April 19, in San Marcos.
‘Cats and Roadrunners Film student returns to American Ninja Warrior with a new perspective set for high stakes game By Anaiya Brannon
Life & Arts Contributor
By Jackson Grettler The tide has started to turn in the I-35 Showdown as the Texas State Bobcats look for a third straight victory against the UTSA Roadrunners, this time with the rivalry returning to San Marcos. After dropping the first five meetings of the showdown, the Bobcats have won the last two, including a 43-36 shootout victory at the Alamodome last year. Texas State became one of five away teams to beat the Roadrunners on their own turf since UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor took over in late 2019.
A Texas State senior film student, Aidan Gonzales, took his passion for film-making to the popular sports reality show American Ninja Warrior (ANW), working both behind and in front of the camera. Now, he enters his next challenge: his last semester of college. ANW, a long-running television series, tasks contestants with completing challenging obstacle courses for the chance to win a one-million-dollar prize. Gonzales appeared in both seasons, 17 and 18, taking time off from Texas State to compete.
SEE PREVIEW PAGE 6
SEE TV PAGE 3
Sports Reporter
PHOTO COURTESY OF AIDAN GONZALES
Falls Hall toilet floods dormitory UNIVERSITY
By Ca’Myah Robinson News Reporter
A Falls Hall resident at Texas State returned home to a flooded area after a toilet malfunctioned in the dorm across the hall. Peyton Faour, education freshman, said she arrived to see her room partially filled with toilet water on Aug 19. A ball valve from the bathroom toilet across the hall malfunctioned, causing water to burst and cover the floor of the hallway and two dorm rooms. Staff were notified and shut off the water supply while alerting maintenance. The toilet was repaired AIDEN FRITSCHE | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR while affected areas were Texas State Falls residence hall, Friday, Sept. 4, in San Marcos. Falls cleaned and dried, according Hall was built in conjunction with Sayers Hall in 2014. to Kate Gannon-Cullinan,
Housing and Residential Life executive director. “The issue was contained to a single suite area,” GannonCullinan said. “No students were displaced, and residents were able to return to their rooms that evening.” The incident started in the dorm across the hall when one of the residents’ toilets burst. Faour said she arrived to see water spilling into her dorm and had to wait about four hours while maintenance fixed the incident. “It was [about] a foot deep,” Faour said. “My whole foot was sunk into [the water].” The water that filled a part of the hallway only managed to reach the shared space where Faour’s mini-
fridge was kept, leaving the bedrooms dry. Suite residents used towels to help slow the water from reaching kitchen appliances. However, Faour said some of the belongings in the dorm did end up water damaged. “All of our rugs are messed up, and some of my roommates’ shoes got messed up,” Faour said. Texas State did not compensate the students for any items damaged in the incident due to its housing contract policy. They were given fans that night to help reduce the possibility of mold and were able to stay in their room. Faour said they haven’t experienced any other issues since the incident occurred.
SEE DORM PAGE 2
NEWS
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Arabella DiChristina | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 FROM FRONT DORM
BRIEF
“Housing & Residential Life continues to monitor the area to ensure no additional issues develop,” Gannon-Cullinan said. However, this isn’t the first time an incident like this has happened at Falls Hall. A year prior, another resident in Falls Hall experienced flooding in her room from another toilet malfunction. Patricia Piampracha, respiratory care junior, experienced a dorm flooding in Dec. 2025, when the handle to her toilet broke and began to spill over, affecting the common area, parts of the hallway and even the floor below, according to Piampracha “My belongings were luckily not ruined; my suitemates’ carpet got completely soaked,” Piampracha said. Piampracha said maintenance took almost an hour to reach the dorm to fix the problem. Fans were given to dry the area; however, Piampracha and her roommate still had to be relocated for about three days. Both incidents were recorded and posted on TikTok, showing the extent of the incident. The videos brought comments from people who shared similar stories from Falls Hall. “I’ve seen from previous comments [that] apparently it is an ongoing issue till this day, but I never expected it to be my room specifically,” Piampracha said. Students requiring assistance with a maintenance concern can submit a maintenance request through the Texas State University housing portal.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PEYTON FAOUR
FROM FRONT SAFETY
Even with trespassing warnings along the Spring Lake Dam, Kimberly Meitzen, professor in the department of geography and environmental studies, said it is a popular place where people jump off into the river, which has caused a lot of injuries and deaths. “Following posted rules, knowing what those rules are, is one way that will keep people really safe because that’s a place where we have a lot of injuries,” Meitzen said. “Dam locations tend to be kind of the hot spot where injuries occur on rivers, because they’re often attractive for a lot of different recreational activities.” However, low-head dams, like the Rio Vista Dam, can have dangerous currents and undertows, with many deaths occurring around them or around falls, Meitzen said. Undertows are powerful currents that move in a different direction from the water on the surface. “So you can have really rapidly changing water conditions within a small area within the river,” Meitzen said. “With any water recreation, it’s really important if you’re not able to swim, [to] high [avoid] the water and not entering the water.” Kami Wimberley, a Hays County resident, said she was caught in the undertows at the Rio Vista rapids in 2006 before the reconstruction was done with the walking paths.
TXST sets another enrollment record with preliminary fall figures By Andrew Bencivengo Editor-in-Chief
Texas State announced a record fall 2026 enrollment of 47,513 students, setting 11 new university enrollment records. The preliminary census day figures, released on Sept. 4 and based on the first day of classes, mark a 7% increase from 2025. The university indicated a record 83,479 applicants, 14,267 new students and a record 12,715 undergraduates in a press release sent on Sept 4. Out of the new students, 9,145 are freshmen. The record-breaking enrollment figures come alongside Texas State’s move to the Pac-12 and push toward R1, which is set for 2027. In the press release, Texas State announced 270 new students pursuing research doctoral degrees, a 67% increase from 2025. “We have been intentional on our journey to becoming the fastest-growing university in Texas. We are expanding graduate programs, strengthening community college partnerships, growing opportunities at our Round Rock Campus, and reaching more students through online degrees. Together, these efforts reduce barriers of cost, time, and geography while allowing us to manage growth thoughtfully on our San Marcos Campus,” Texas State President Kelly Damphousse said in the press release. The university also announced 3,571 new transfer students, a 3% increase from the previous year, making Texas State one of the top 25 universities in the country in attracting transfer students. A large share of transfer students are coming from co-enrollment partnerships with community colleges across Texas, according to the press release. “And we aren’t done yet. While we haven’t raised tuition since 2021 (and have committed to keeping tuition flat through 2027), we continue to
seek ways to reduce the cost of a TXST degree, including our expanded Bobcat Promise program and the creation of future three-year degrees,” Damphousse said in the press release. “TXST is proving what public higher education can achieve when access, academic excellence, research, workforce development and student success are not competing priorities, but shared commitments.” Texas State’s Round Rock Campus set a new record with more than 4,000 students in both in-person and online programs, a 37% increase from the previous record in 2025, according to the press release. International student enrollment also increased by 9% despite a predicted statewide decrease, and fully online enrollment rose to 6,121, according to the university. Texas State’s academic colleges also saw increased enrollment, with The Graduate College up 20% to more than 6,228 students, a 547-student increase at the McCoy College of Business and the College of Health Professions seeing the largest increase with 1,079 new students. Texas State may now be the fourth-highest enrolled university in Texas, behind Texas A&M University, the University of Texas and the University of Houston. However, preliminary figures from the University of Houston and University of North Texas have yet to be released. The University of Houston reported an enrollment of nearly 49,000 students last fall, and the University of North Texas’ student population decreased the same year to 43,568. The final enrollment numbers will be finalized on the 12th day of classes. This is a developing story. The University Star will provide updates as they become available.
“There wasn’t a catch. I didn’t get a good whirlpool to give me a chance and I went forward; by the third fall I hadn’t come back up [from the water], for me my tube slipped on the first [falls],” Wimberley said. “... I still hadn’t come back up for air and I thought to myself, I’m going to die.” Wimberley said she was there with a group of friends and they hadn’t noticed she never resurfaced. Someone pulled her out at around the Cheatham Street Bridge, after she had already been knocked unconscious. Once she regained consciousness, Wimberley said she started coughing up a bunch of water. “I had to climb back through the MEG BOLES | MANAGING EDITOR foliage of nasty draft water and come back. In that walk I was weak, still The San Marcos River flows through Rio Vista Park, Sunday, April 19, in San Marcos. choking. I sat down at one point. My The three low-head Rio Vista Dams create artificial rapids. friends were up there, I could hear them [laughing] and jumping off With the risks of slipping cfs. Any rates above 500 cfs are the dam ... not even clocking that and head injuries, Lopez said it’s recommended for experts only, I’m not just swimming somewhere,” important not to copy other people according to Texas State Tubes. Wimberley said. who have jumped off the dams or Meitzen said there is a danger It took Wimberley years to bridges in the past. in not knowing what lies below the come back to the Rio Vista rapids “People can even be the best rapids, especially with different after relearning water safety and swimmer [but] you can just get places in the river reaching 10 to the dangerous parts of the river. tired, and just the few moments of 12 feet just a few steps away from Wimberley said she still hasn’t been exhaustion, you could swallow a wading areas. back to the rapids after the woman gulp of water that could lead to a Most injuries that occur on the passed on Aug. 5. drowning,” Meitzen said. “There [are] river happen because of slippery “Don’t underestimate the river accidents of all terrible tragedies that rocks, hidden obstacles, sun, heat, and don’t go alone ... like have your occur in water.” dehydration, alcohol and crowds, fun but it’s just not worth [it], not The conditions of the river vary, causing cuts and scrapes, sprains or coming home with somebody and with the low-flow, or speed, at around broken bones, head injuries and even not underestimate the reality of the 100-200 cubic feet per second (cfs) near-drowning events, according to danger,” Wimberley said. and the high-flows at 500-100+ Ally Medical.
Editorial Staff
History:
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The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 3,000. Printing is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
Publication Info
Editor-in-Chief: Andrew Bencivengo
Multimedia Editor: Aiden Fritsche
stareditor@txstate.edu
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Managing Editor: Meg Boles
Engagement Editor: Tatum Pou
starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu
starengagement@txstate.edu
News Editor: Arabella DiChristina
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starnews@txstate.edu
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Opinions Editor: Regina Orozco Lopez Forment staropinion@txstate.edu
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Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, September 8, 2026. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief. Corrections Policy: Errors appearing in the pages of The University Star and brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible.
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LIFE & ARTS
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Cady Clements | Life & Arts Editor | starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
FROM FRONT TV
PHOTO COURTESY OF AIDAN GONZALES
The series has been a longtime interest for Gonzales and his family. He made it his mission early in life to train for and earn a spot on the show. Gonzales was impressed by the large selection of talented competitors, who needed the perfect balance of strength and agility to withstand the show’s toughest challenges. He saw the show and its consistently remarkable competitors as an opportunity to test himself. Gonzales began training for ANW at age 11 after his family took him to Iron Sports, a gym in Houston, for the first time. There, he met Sam Sann, a competitor on the show and coach. Gonzales started training under Sann, later becoming a coach himself at Iron Sports at the age of 17. “[Sann] was my first ever coach to teach me ninja, and I got the hang of it pretty well,” Gonzales said. “I was already in gymnastics at the time, and
then I eventually moved to ninja, and ever since I’ve been training there.” Gonzales was chosen to return for season 18 after showing great potential during his debut in the season prior. His status as both a student and a rookie competitor made him an underdog, making it easier for audiences to root for him. For his second appearance on ANW, his run got more screen time, and more attention was given to his background as a film student. Leaning into this passion, he was given a body camera to get first-person footage of his stunts. “They really liked him as a rookie and the camera stuff. The producers loved that he is in film, so they had a GoPro this time.” Camille Gonzales, Gonzales’s sister, said. After graduation, Gonzales plans to put more energy into film projects. He’s currently working on a 30-page thriller script involving a supernatural house only visible through a camera lens and hopes to turn this project into a reality one day.
Gonzales said his passion for being behind the camera started in high school and that he hasn’t looked back since. Gonzales was initially planning to pursue architecture before deciding to fully embrace his love for film. “I got my first camera when I was in high school, and it started as a photography thing and then eventually videos.” Gonzales said, “I started posting on Instagram and got pretty viral off of that, and I was like ‘okay, people like this, maybe I can do something more with it.’” Juggling training, university and film required intense focus, something his colleagues said they commended. “I deeply admire the amount of himself [effort and passion] that he puts into his work. It’s something I aim to match every day with my ninja coaching.” Case Ogden, head coach at Iron Sports, said. Though he was eliminated this season, in the future, Gonzales plans to expand on his creative projects while also continuing to be a part of the ANW community, whether it be
training for another appearance or coaching people at Iron Sports. “We’re coming up to the third year, and I anticipate he’s gonna get that call again. It’s the same level of excitement and pride, and I hope he does really well. I know he’s worked so hard for it,” Camille said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AIDAN GONZALES
OPINION
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Regina Orozco Lopez Forment | Opinion Editor | staropinion@txstate.edu
Tuesday, September 8, 2025
Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.
Erosion of Islam liberties affects universities By Maryam Ali Opinions Columnist
Texas lawmakers’ attempts to treat Islam as a political threat rather than a protected religion put Muslim Texan students’ First Amendment rights at risk. The First Amendment protects Americans from government interference in religious beliefs and practice. Stripping religious expression from one group opens the floodgates for regulation of speech, assembly and personal liberty for everyone. Texas Republican lawmakers have centered their campaigns around efforts to limit the influence of Islam in the state. In March, State Rep. Brent Money (R-Greenville) created the Sharia Free Texas Caucus. This summer, the Republican Party of Texas adopted the “Don’t Sharia My Texas” resolution into its platform, calling for future legislation against sharia law. Some Texas Republicans have since proposed banning the sale of halal foods, prohibiting hijabs in public schools and requiring school lessons about the “violence and political domination of Islam.” According to a 2025 study on Muslim American college students, participants reported facing stereotypes, microaggressions and Islamophobia because of their religious identity. The study found that these experiences can create fear and anxiety for Muslim students. When elected officials portray Muslim beliefs and practices as threats, that hostility and push for legal backlash can follow students into classrooms, campuses and other
NATALIE MURRAY | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
public institutions. While Texas State does not publish statistics on its Muslim student population, the presence of Muslim organizations and a mosque on campus shows that these policies would directly affect members of our community. Universities, such as Texas State, thrive on diverse perspectives and open exchange. Legislative campaigns that encourage restrictions on cultural and moral frameworks risk creating a culture of censorship and fear. Texas State regularly serves as a site for political debate across the ideological spectrum. Liberal groups, conservative organizations and freespeech activists regularly hold events, demonstrations and counter-protests. The ability of these groups to coexist on the same campus illustrates exactly why constitutional protections for speech, assembly and religious expression matter. Universities should be places where students can express
their political, religious and cultural identities without fearing that those identities will become grounds for government restriction. That freedom is already being contested on campus. Rallies and marches have criticized administrative actions involving free speech, called for a “sanctuary campus,” and demanded the reinstatement of fired educators, demonstrating how quickly questions about institutional policy can become questions about whose voices are allowed to be heard. This disregard for the ideals of the First Amendment is hidden beneath the guise of declaring Islam a political ideology rather than a protected religion. If politicians can successfully use loopholes such as this one to target a specific demographic, it may set up a precedent that threatens constitutional protections and personal liberties for everyone. Restrictions to religious attire or essential dietary options for Muslim
students would not exist in isolation; it would establish another boundary around who is permitted to fully participate in campus life. If these proposals were extended to public universities, Muslim students could face limits on how they practice their religion while on campus. Once the government begins deciding which religious practices are acceptable in public institutions, the First Amendment’s promise of religious liberty becomes far less meaningful for everyone. Alina Mehveen, psychology senior and Muslim student at Texas State, said this issue affects everyone. “Anything that threatens a person’s rights should matter to everyone because it’s not happening to you right now, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t ever happen to you,” Mehveen said. Texas State students should use the same freedoms our campus depends on by speaking out and utilizing their voices to protect them. Refusing to stay silent when rights are questioned is how we ensure they remain protected for everyone. We should not wait until our own beliefs are the ones being questioned to care. The First Amendment does not ask us to agree with one another. It asks us to protect one another’s right to disagree. That protection means nothing if it disappears the moment a minority religion becomes politically inconvenient. - Maryam Ali is a computer science senior
On young people have a place in state government When I arrived at Texas State, I planned to become a journalist. Through my years at The University Star, eventually serving as news editor, I learned how to ask difficult questions, explain complicated issues and write quickly and accurately. What I did not expect was that those same skills would lead me into state government. A few months after graduating, I joined the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) as a communications intern. Three months later, I accepted a full-time position on the agency’s communications team. What began as an opportunity to gain experience quickly became one of the most rewarding moments in my career. DIR serves as Texas’ technology agency, supporting digital government services, digital accessibility, data programs and technology modernization across Texas’ public sector. In my role, I help communicate that work through media pitches, press releases, social media, communications strategies, newsletters and media relations. One of the more interesting parts of the job is that I now pitch stories to the same kinds of reporters I once hoped to work alongside. The journalism skills I developed at Texas State have been some of the most useful skills I brought with me. Understanding how reporters think, what makes a story newsworthy and how to turn complicated information into something people can understand has made me a stronger communicator. I spent years preparing for one career and ended up finding another way to use the same skills.
Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned is that communication itself is a form of public service. A program cannot help people if they do not know it exists. A resource cannot create value if its intended audience never hears about it. Good communication helps connect Texans with the services, information and programs designed to serve them. That experience is also why I think more young people should consider state government as a career. State and local governments employ more than 20 million people nationwide, yet as of fiscal year 2024, only 14.7 percent of full-time Texas state agency employees were under the age of 30. The relatively small share of young professionals in government creates an opportunity for the next generation not only to enter public service, but to help shape its future. From my first day as an intern, I was trusted with meaningful work and encouraged to contribute ideas. That trust accelerated my growth and showed me that recent graduates can make an impact from the start. For students considering what comes next after graduation, I would encourage them not to overlook public service. Government needs communicators, writers, strategists and storytellers. More importantly it needs people who are passionate about serving others. For students interested in exploring public service, DIR offers opportunities for students, recent graduates and professionals interested in serving Texas.
Letters to the Editor Policy The University Star welcomes letters from our readers. Letters must be 300 words or fewer to be considered for publication. Writers must include their full name, mailing address, major and academic year designation (for students), phone number and e-mail address when submitting a letter. Submissions that do not include this information cannot be published. This information is seen only by the editors and is used to verify the identify of the
Aside from DIR, Texas has hundreds of state agencies and departments, with opportunities across nearly every field. Students can explore openings through CAPPS Careers. Lucciana Choueiry, Communications Specialist Texas Department of Information Resources
Scan the QR a code to submit a Letter to the Editor.
letter writer. It is not used for any commercial purpose. Letters become the property of The Star and may be republished in any format. The letter may be edited for length and clarity. An editor will contact the letter writer if their letter is a candidate for publication. The Star will not run letters that are potentially libelous, discriminatory, obscene, threatening or promotional in nature. Letters can be submitted to staropinion@txstate.edu or by mail to Attn: Opinion Editor, The University Star, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666.
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GAMES
Sophia Gerke & Milla Deur | Creative Services | starcreative@txstate.edu
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
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SPORTS
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Ayden Oredson | Sports Editor | starsports@txstate.edu
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
SOCCER
Goalkeeper’s return gives her new chance to lead By Juan Pereira Casanoba Sports Reporter
A season-ending injury is one of the most grueling experiences an athlete can face. At the collegiate level, when time is precious and limited, the effects feel more intense. This was Caitlyn Draper’s reality in 2025. The redshirt junior goalkeeper was forced onto the sidelines as the Texas State Bobcats not only won the Sun Belt Conference and played in the NCAA Tournament, but also set the foundation for a pivotal inaugural Pac-12 season. “It was very hard mentally at the time seeing everyone else have so much fun getting to play,” Draper said. “I had to just change the way I thought about everything [and] adapt to my new role.” Now, Draper is in between the goalposts for the first time since 2024. She’s been a big reason why No. 17 Texas State has been firing on all cylinders with five straight victories and a national ranking next to their name. Against the then-ranked No. 6 Baylor Bears on Aug. 22, she played a crucial role in denying the Bears several dangerous goal opportunities. “I think she was runner-up [for save of the week] against Baylor, [and she] had some big saves [against East Texas A&M],” Texas State head coach Steve Holeman said. “She’s just been solid.”
AYDEN OREDSON | SPORTS EDITOR
Texas State junior goalkeeper Caitlyn Draper (1) picks up a shot towards the goal against East Texas A&M, Thursday, Aug. 17, at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.
Draper’s return from injury and re-entry into the starting lineup comes as a surprise to those who followed the team last season. Sophomore Brooklyn Escobar broke onto the scene as a freshman and played a vital role in Holeman’s title-winning squad. While a changing of the guard can at times be tense, Escobar and Draper have instead developed a deep sense of camaraderie. “We got really close last year, but I feel like this year, [she’s become] one of my closest friends on the team,” Draper said. “We’re not going at each other’s throats. Knowing
I have her support, and she has mine … We’re a unit.” Draper’s ability to connect with her teammates has been crucial for the defense as a whole. Since the goalkeeper is usually the person who takes the lead when it comes to communication, some goalies have become known for their shouting and antics with their teammates. Draper, however, doesn’t roll like that. “I don’t want to yell at my teammates because I want them to respect me and I want them to listen to me when I do have things to say,” Draper said. “I want them to have trust
For the Roadrunners, it’s senior Owen McCown starting at the helm for his third season as QB1. McCown has put together two strong seasons as the starter, after tossing 30 touchdowns and only seven interceptions last season. McCown will have most of his supporting cast back, with two of his top three receivers returning: AJ Wilson and David Amador II. Running back Will Henderson III will get a chance to be a fulltime running back after former UTSA RB Robert Henry Jr.’s departure to the NFL. Like the Bobcats, the Roadrunners’ defense struggled last season, ranking 93rd nationally and allowing 28.8 points per game. UTSA has a ton of new faces coming in, including nine new defensive starters alongside 21 total newcomers in hopes of turning the unit around.
FROM FRONT PREVIEW Here’s what is in store for Texas State and UTSA. A tale of two teams Since their meeting last year, the Bobcats and Roadrunners have experienced similar results, with both teams going 7-6 in ‘25 with elite offenses but underwhelming defenses. The Bobcats’ and Roadrunners’ offenses were both top-15 units in the country last season, with Texas State ranking 12th at 36.5 points per game and UTSA placing 14th at 34.5 points per game. Both teams finished their seasons strong with dominant bowl game victories, with Texas State defeating Rice 41-10 in the Armed Forces Bowl and UTSA beating Florida International 57-20 in the First Responder Bowl. Sophomore quarterback Brad Jackson leads the way for the Bobcats. In his first year as a starter, Jackson broke out, completing over 70% of his passes for 21 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions, while adding 744 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. Jackson will have plenty of returning weapons this season, including senior wide receiver duo Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn Jr. The duo combined for 14 total touchdowns and both eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2025, making them the only duo in the FBS to reach that milestone. One area to watch for the Bobcats will be the rushing attack. With the losses of Lincoln Pare and Gregory Burrell, who had a combined 1,799 rushing yards, the void will likely be filled by committee,
in me … the minute you just treat them with disrespect is the minute they don’t listen.” Trust and communication are verbiage that oozes out of this Bobcat team. “Communication is really key [to success],” senior midfielder Annabelle Fisher said. “Trusting Caitlyn is a big part [of that] and understanding the coaches have a plan, and we need to follow that.” That sense of leadership is what Draper has developed through her time with Texas State. She’s become one of the longest-tenured Bobcats on the roster. Now, it’s her time to help lead the program and work towards bringing more silverware to San Marcos. “We don’t want to finish second, right? We think we’re capable of finishing first [in the Pac-12 Conference],” Draper said. “I want to do everything I can to make sure I don’t let this team down. And I guarantee you. Everybody else on the team is thinking the same thing.” Texas State will head out-of-state for the first time this season to play their former SBC rival in Louisiana at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10 at the Home Bank Soccer & Track Complex in Lafayette, Lou. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Setting the stage SOPHIE GERKE | CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR
with seniors Torrance Burgess Jr. and Jaylen Jenkins being the early front-runners to lead the way. While the Bobcats will return plenty of proven offensive talent, the defense comes into the season with more questions as new defensive coordinator Will Windham tries to turn around a defense ranked 95th in the nation last year, which allowed 29 points per game. Texas State reloaded its defense with plenty of talent from the transfer portal, landing senior cornerback Dexter Ricks Jr. out of Liberty and junior defensive lineman Chancellor Owens from Arizona.
With how the two programs opened their seasons the week prior, as Texas State opened last week against No. 5 Texas and UTSA hosting the UTRGV Vaqueros, this week two matchup will serve as both team’s first test among peers as Group of Six competition. Being an intense, rising rivalry in the college football and G6 landscape, the Bobcats will hope to keep the good times rolling while the Roadrunners want to snatch the chain back in enemy territory. Texas State will take on UTSA in the I-35 Showdown at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at UFCU Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the CW.
MEG BOLES | MANAGING EDITOR
Left: Texas State senior MLB Treylin Payne (2) celebrates a defensive play against UTSA, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at the Alamodome. Right: Texas State junior wide receiver Beau Sparks (11) runs down the field, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at the Alamodome. The Bobcats beat the Roadrunners 43-36.