UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 6, 2025

Jeff Traylor

Press Conference

Texas State 43, UTSA 36

Q. Jeff, what did you tell your team in the locker room after this game?

JEFF TRAYLOR: It's going to hurt for a while. We worked really hard for this game, put a lot into it. There is nothing good you can tell them in those moments. It just hurts. It stings.

We've got a decent little team. Are we going to let the outside noise get to us and break us down or are we going find out about ourselves and rally like we've done every year we've been here?

This one is going to sting for a while. Kids worked really hard for this game. Got off to a slow start and really got going, and then couldn't -- defense finally stopped them and we couldn't answer, which was so frustrating.

Q. What were some of the biggest challenges defensively or the things that Texas State offense did well to have success, especially in the second half?

JEFF TRAYLOR: The big plays. I mean, they just hit it deep twice and then they busted their own two-minute drive; they're up before halftime. Soon as we tie the game back up -- any time we got our crowd back into it they scored immediately. I think they scored on five straight possessions. We couldn't get the momentum. Then we got the two stops and we didn't answer on offense.

So I would say it was pretty much an example of how we play. "Inconsistent" would be a great way to describe how we were today. Very disappointing honestly. I know how hard my guys worked for it.

We knew defensively losing all 11 starters there was going to be some adjusting. We didn't know we would come out to a slow start offensively. Got to give credit to Texas State too. They played very well. They've got another good football team. They were good.

We just weren't good enough today.

Q. What do you think you'll see on film when you look at those big passing plays that set up most of their scores?

JEFF TRAYLOR: The first one, you know, just ran by us and the guy made a play. The second one I believe was a busted coverage. I need to watch the video and make sure.

The really disappointing one -- they're all big when you see them. When it's 36-36, they score on the very next play, you know, and I would imagine it's miscommunication, which is frustrating because that's happened to us quite a bit.

That's what I think I'll see, JJ.

Q. How do you feel about Owen's performance today?

JEFF TRAYLOR: Thought he was good. I mean, he missed a couple obviously, but also had a lot of drops in that critical drive.

But I thought he was good. He could be better, no doubt, but made some plays with his feet. Any time you have 500 yards of offense -- the one that's going to hurt us or haunt us is the fourth and one early in the game when you look back.

Not getting that in, you know, that was a really big play. That one is going to -- when we all go back and calm down and watch the game we're going to go, boy, that play really hurt.

Q. You mentioned fourth down. You were aggressive on fourth down at other times in game as well. Was it knowing this would become a shootout and you would have to keep up with them?

JEFF TRAYLOR: I was kind of preparing for that all season. I knew our defense was young and inexperienced and our offense we're older and more mature and need to carry more the load.

And we didn't execute. We were one out of six on fourth down.

Q. Yeah, but that fourth and eight was lovely.

JEFF TRAYLOR: Yeah, that's the only one. That was the one that got us back in the game. I just know how hard we worked. That's why it hurts so bad. Those kids really worked hard. They're good kids and they work their tails off.

Q. You did say coming away from last week and even as you looked back at last year's matchup, you wanted to see how your team would handle the physicality of this game. How do you feel about the way you stacked up in that regard?

JEFF TRAYLOR: You know, that's a good question. I'll need to watch the video. I felt personally we were more physical last week than we were this week. That might have to do with Texas State. I was concerned -- you know, you play -- basically we have three rivalry games in a row: We've got A&M, Texas State, and now UIW.

That's tough. People don't understand it unless you play the sport. Your bodies can only do so much. We tried to be smart with them this week, temper them, pace them into the game a little bit because we knew we left a lot out there Saturday night.

I thought we matched them but I didn't think we -- we hit them (coughing,) you know what I mean? I didn't feel like -- I guarantee I'm going to watch a lot of plays where we were way more physical than I think. Thought their backs did a very good job of being very patient, kind of hiding behind those linemen and did a really good job finishing their runs, but our kids were matching them.

I don't think we were overpowered, but I think we have got more in the tank than we showed honestly.

Q. Where does the overall morale of your group stand right now?

JEFF TRAYLOR: They're pretty low. That's a pretty tough locker room right now. We all are. We worked really hard for this. We didn't get it done. Especially at home this is a tough one.

Q. GJ next door said he knows what it feels like to be in your shoes after a game like this. What were the emotions after the embrace on the field?

JEFF TRAYLOR: He's just so happy and he tried to temper it. He tried to be a good sport about it. But huge win for him. We've been the third best team in the country at home, 29-3, and now we're not.

What they did today was pretty impressive, to come in here. Everybody did their job except for me, right? The crowd was here, city was here, our people that sell tickets did a great job. Marketing did a great job. Administration did a great job. Everybody did their job but the person that was supposed to win the football game.

That's the part that hurts the most. I see how far we've come in our six years here together. You know, this is one of those ones where the head football coach didn't do his job.

Thank ya'll. God bless. Birds Up.