UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 26, 2026

Owen McCown

Press Conference

UTSA - 59, Colorado State - 45

Q. Owen, what were the overall vibes this game day?

OWEN McCOWN: They were great. I think we know we didn't come out of the gates how we wanted to, but did a great job responding. A really good team win. Like I said, to respond offensively, I thought we played really well.

Coming out of conference 3-1, can't complain about that at all.

Q. What did it mean to get the offense rolling today?

OWEN McCOWN: It was huge. I thought the keys were the change in early downs and also limiting penalties. That was our big focus heading into the week was limiting penalties and rush yards, winning the rushing battle from a team standpoint and the turnover battle, which we did all three. Super excited about that. I thought it was a great team win.

Q. Last week the defense really performed well and the offense didn't get to get things going, but today it kind of flips. Just talk about your team's ability to keep each other afloat when maybe one side of the ball isn't performing the way they'd like.

OWEN McCOWN: Sounds like the definition of a team, when you're just picking each other up. "Ubuntu" is our word; I am because we are. The defense is having a great day, and they're picking us up and vice versa, like it was today. Just really have that ubuntu mindset, and yeah.

Q. What is the atmosphere like on the sideline when you guys go down 14-0 as quickly as you did in this game?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, I think it's a little bit of shock at first, but then the guys just don't blink. You saw it, we came right back out and executed on offense really well and ended up getting those seven points back on special teams, and the defense played good enough, believe it or not, to keep us in the game and win the game.

Q. Do you have to say anything to the offensive unit just to make sure guys don't start pressing and everybody stays level headed in a moment like that?

OWEN McCOWN: Not too much. It's a veteran group, a mature group. They know what it is. I don't have to say too much. A lot of credit to those guys, just really diving into our self-identity. That was a big thing this off-season, and responding.

Q. Is there anything you can pinpoint that helped you guys kind of catch fire in that stretch? I think it was five straight touchdown drives.

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, we were really rolling. I think just staying ahead of the change in early downs and limiting penalties. Those were really the big ones. Coming into it, they like to blitz a lot, blitz a ton. They didn't do it too much. It was either three high safety look and just dropping way out of there or man-to-man single or man free. It was a lot of credit to our O-line in the run game and then pass blocking.

Q. Owen, you had six straight guys on -- not six straight, but six different guys on offense score touchdowns. What does that do to the play calling and versatility of your offense having that versatility?

OWEN McCOWN: Obviously we have a deep room all around, O-line, tight ends, wide receivers, running backs. So for those receivers to stay in it like they did, super proud of A.J. Wilson who didn't get the targets he wanted early on, just the way they presented their defense, and then to come up with that scramble catch was huge.

Then the running back room, this is just multiple weeks of them showing up all one through three.

Q. Take me through that play with A.J. Looked like you were kind of scrambling towards the sideline. Could you tell us what you thought, and then what was your reaction when he caught it?

OWEN McCOWN: Well, honestly it started on the kick return when we were about to walk out there. You could tell A.J. was -- he wasn't down in a negative way. As a competitor, wanted a little more targets. I can see that from A.J.; I've been around him a ton. He's my hotel roommate. So I told him, stay in it, stay in it, you're about to make a big play.

Sure enough, on third down, I scramble out. I'm looking, I'm looking, I see him back side. I'm thinking at worst, if they intercept it, it's a deep punt, or it's PI or something like that, and he makes a helluva catch.

Q. It seemed like you had a little more time today as compared to weeks in the past. Just talk about how your offensive line improved today in pass protection.

OWEN McCOWN: They were motivated after last week. They know it. I missed a couple throws, but I thought they did a great job holding up in the run game and pass game.

Q. Looking forward a little bit, last time you guys played Rice in Houston, a little bit of a heartbreaker. What do you take from that type of game, and how do you apply it to this next one?

OWEN McCOWN: We use it as motivation. Again, it was two years ago, and this is a completely different team, just like they have a completely different team. It's our first conference game on the road. I know Rice will be competing at a very high level, just like we will.

Q. What does it say about this team that you guys were able to come through in a wild game like this and not really get rattled at any point?

OWEN McCOWN: I think, like you said, the big focus was highlighting our defense after the performance they had in Texas, and not having the performance they wanted to today, but really gave us enough chances on offense to put up a bunch of points. It was really just a complete team win.

Q. Can you expand on the ubuntu? Where did that come from for your team?

OWEN McCOWN: It's our team motto. Ubuntu, I am because we are, that's the definition. So Coach Traylor really brought that to us in the off-season. It was either some guys come up with a motto to vote on, or he kind of just brought this one amongst the team. It was big. Doc Rivers, I believe in the Celtics, and Kevin Garnett and those guys used it. It was something we fell in love with it and something we really have grasped onto.

Q. When you're down 14-0 that early, what keeps you level-headed and prevents you from trying to force plays to get points on the board?

OWEN McCOWN: Yeah, just doing your job. I think it starts in early downs offensively speaking, just staying ahead of the chains and knowing, if you keep going forward, good things will happen. Keep getting those positive yards on early downs and execute on third down.

Q. Did the early morning start affect anything for you personally?

OWEN McCOWN: No, not at all. We have to report every morning at 7:00 a.m., 6:30. So we practice, and we're usually off the field by 11:00. We're used to these early mornings, and guys knew it. So it was kind of a shock when we came out down 14-0. Then again, we're so used to it, we didn't blink.

Q. Being in the American Conference, you're at a better position to for the College Football Playoffs. Has that crossed your mind this early in the season, or are you still focusing on one game at a time?

OWEN McCOWN: Absolutely, one game at a time. As competitors, that's our long-term goal. Celebrating a little tonight, but then getting back and watching the film tomorrow. We'll learn and get ready for our first conference game next week.