UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 5, 2026

Owen McCown

Press Conference

UTSA Roadrunners 45, UTRGV Vaqueros 16

Q. Owen, can you just tell us your thoughts on this game?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, yeah, obviously first game. Ton of energy. Credit to them. I thought they brought a great away crowd. Just a ton of energy. Obviously first game back for a lot of guys. We were tired of practicing against each other. Finally got to bring the juice out and play game one and got the win.

Q. Coach Traylor was just telling us he felt it was a little sloppy in some areas. What do you think you'll see on film when you look back at this one? F?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, I think speaking from offensively, I thought we were executed for the most part. Had a lot of big plays. Not many plays in general in the first half. There was a lot of explosive plays.

So I thought we executed well. Passed the ball. Ran the ball. There is two throws I wanted back a that third and fourth down in the second half, but I think outside of that and the penalties we'll clean up.

It's game one and ultimately we got the win.

Q. Talk about the second half a little bit. Offense feels like it stalled a little bit in the third quarter. What's the reason for that in your mind?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, just execution. Like I said, starting with me. That fourth down slant to Jamel, I missed a little high. Had a guy in my face. Still got to make the throw.

Down there in the red zone, same thing. DJ coming across on the drag and just missed the throw. So just execution things at least from my perspective. So those little things will get cleaned up though.

Q. Owen, this being first time getting team on the field today with a lot of newness around this roster, what was the biggest thing that stood out to you or that you feel like you learned about this group today?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, I think my message to those guys was just play free, be themselves. We got it going. Obviously defense did a great job getting the first stop and getting the ball in the first drive, and going to score really I though freed up us. Obviously there was nerves going into it, but a bunch of competitors and glad we got the win.

Q. (Off mic). Did you notice a difference?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, no, felt great. Nothing different than what I learned in spring and fall camp. So just about the same. Brings a ton of juice. Level headed. So I love it, yeah.

Q. You had a very efficient first half, 10-12.

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah.

Q. How did you feel going into the locker room after the half?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, felt great. Offensively you don't want to get too high because you still got to play the second half. I thought Coach Bowie called it great. Protected great. Guys did a good job getting open and running the ball really well.

Q. You told us during the week you were looking forward to taking a hit again for the first time. How did it feel in live action?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, yeah, that first one I was going to throw the ball away and then just had to tuck it. It was going to my right so I jumped up a little bit. It was a good hit. Luckily we got the flag, but it was fun to get tackled again for the first time a little bit.

Q. We talked a lot through camp about if there will be any level of rust after some of the stuff you went through in the offseason and last year. How did you feel just physically today? Anything stand out?

OWEN McCOWN: No. I thought as far as rust goes, I thought we did a great job execution-wise. Like I said, it was first game so had some penalties we'll get cleaned up.

I thought we executed really well.

Q. Are you able to play kind of any more freely or differently down to down if you're not worried about managing some of the injuries you were last year? Did you notice a difference today?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, for sure. I just think being able to scramble and spin out of pockets and just throwing the ball away, little things like that that I don't feel kind of limited, so just feel free and ready to go.

Q. How do you think your team will play next week?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, obviously big game, big rival game. I know Texas State will be on a hate-on just like we will. It's a big rival game. Whoever has a better week of work practice-wise and in the execution of the game will ends up on top.

Q. Do the players feel the magnitude of this matchup? I know it's only week two, but it's a pretty big one here.

OWEN McCOWN: For sure. When that's your rival, I think people know what the standard is when you play a rival for sure.

Q. On top the rivalry aspect, a lot has been made about your guys' struggles on the road. What are you doing to prepare to remedy that?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, we prepared all week, or all year, even in the offseason. You can't -- there is so much you can do. Road in-season games are only played in season, so it'll be a big test for us. Obviously both sides really want that one. We're excited for it though.

Q. There was a lot of shifting in your offensive line this year. I know your right tackle shifted out. Protecting your blindside.

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah.

Q. Did that change your mentality in the pocket at all?

OWEN McCOWN: Not really. I think we have a lot of depth in that room, which is a good problem to have. No matter who is out there I trusted and really thought they played well today.