UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 11, 2025

Owen McCown

Press Conference

UTSA 61, Rice 13

Q. Owen, what was the locker room like after this one?

OWEN McCOWN: Electric. Coach had to turn the music off a little early due to speeches, so definitely electric in there.

Q. How does it feel to come away with the big win tonight?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, huge, especially coming off first conference loss. You know our coaching point of the week was passion, and that's what we had all through practice and that's something coach preached all week. For that to happen throughout the week and then this be the result of this game was just huge for us.

Q. The offense started off pretty quick, pretty efficient in that first half. What did you see out there? What do you think you're going to see on film from the first half?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, a lot of execution. I think I look back, a lot those, especially in the first quarter, were scripted play calls we knew coming into the week. Obviously credit to Coach Burke for planning those balls and then great job to the O-line holding up in the pass protection and great job by the receivers.

Q. Was there anything that was particularly different in the passing game compared to previous weeks? What was clicking today?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, not really. I think we just executed at a high level from all phases. Starts up front with the O-line, and my job is to get the playmakers the ball. Felt like we did that really well today.

Q. It seemed like from talking to you after last week that you felt like the passing game was heading in the right direction and had made some strides. Is this a continuation of that? How are you feeling about coming into today?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, exactly. I think you said it best. We saw the progress in that Temple game. Did didn't get the result we wanted. There were a couple plays we said we played good but not great, not good enough to get the win. Couple plays that game we want back, but we knew we were in the upward direction when it came to the pass game and knew we had that all year. Just a matter of time of getting that executed and today we did that.

Q. Despite you guys feeling that way internally, yourself in the passing game faced a lot of criticism from the outside. What was that like this week?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, I don't really know. I'm kind of off social media during the season. We got a great group of guys in the locker room. That's all that matters.

Q. What are the emotions like of having a game where everything clicks at this level? How does this feel for you overall?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, like I said, for us to come off that loss and for the coach to put it up for our team to be passion, the whole week during practice we were celebrating. In this games probably be 15-yard penalties, but during practice we can do whatever we want. So it was just a bunch of passion. Super cool to see coming off a loss. Obviously extremely cool to get the win.

Q. And how are you feeling physically at this point? Anything bothering you injury-wise?

OWEN McCOWN: Oh, no, not at all. Feel great.

Q. Just to follow up on that, you took a couple big shots in this one. You stand and delivered a few big passes. What goes through your mind during those plays?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, well, those pass plays my eyes are down the field. When it comes to playing quarterback, sometimes you got to get hit, but you have to deliver the ball first. So that's my job, and like I said, credit to those playmakers that do the work.

Q. We saw a few down-the-field opportunities tonight. What led to that? Was that something in their coverage or something you guys worked out?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, exactly. They had a really good defense, but we thought one of their weaknesses was the back ends, defensive back. So obviously we love our receivers against really anybody, but especially coming into this week we knew the game plan was to get after those guys.

So credit Coach Burke for seeing that and obviously our playmakers for making plays.

Q. Coach Traylor told us that most of your receiver group has been at practice the last two weeks. How much does that make a difference?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, it's awesome knowing I can trust all those guys. They been relatively healthy throughout the year so makes my job easy knowing I can trust all of them.

Q. What's the confidence level of the team, specifically with the offense, to try and get back to where you guys were at the end of last season?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, extremely confident. Like I said we were progressing upwards throughout that Temple game. Had a few mistakes, but to come out here and really execute the way we did is a huge confidence boost.

Now the challenge will be put it behind us and get ready for a really good North Texas team.