Saturday afternoon should be one for the ages as the Roadrunners host rival Texas State in the first home game of UTSA Football’s 15th season.
The Roadrunners and Bobcats will write the next chapter in the Battle for I-35 rivalry at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Alamodome. UTSA Athletics is expecting a massive crowd on Saturday with aspirations of breaking the all-time single-game home attendance record of 56,743 fans set in the football program’s inaugural game in 2011.
The game marks UTSA’s annual “Orange Out,” so all Roadrunner fans are encouraged to wear orange to Saturday’s matchup in what should be a vibrant scene at the Alamodome. UTSA boasts a remarkable 29–3 record in home games since head coach Jeff Traylor’s first season at the helm in 2020. The Roadrunners will lean on that rowdy home-field advantage again this weekend as they aim to upend their rivals to the north.
The Roadrunners are coming off a hard-fought 42–24 defeat at No. 19 Texas A&M last Saturday that featured many promising individual performances. Running back Robert Henry Jr. rushed for 177 yards and two touchdowns against one of the Southeastern Conference’s best teams. The senior from Lumberton, Miss., averaged 11.1 yards on 16 carries, coming up just one yard shy of his UTSA career high of 178 in a win over Temple last November.
On the defensive side of the ball, Shad Banks Jr. registered seven tackles with one for a loss, while Kendrick Blackshire and Jimmy Wyrick added five stops apiece. UTSA held Texas A&M to only 108 rushing yards in the game.
Texas State is 1–0 after defeating Eastern Michigan last weekend in San Marcos, pulling away late in the game for a 52–27 victory. Though the Bobcats won last year’s matchup against UTSA, they have never defeated the Roadrunners at the Alamodome. UTSA is 5–1 against Texas State since the Battle for I-35 football rivalry started in 2012.
As fans enter the Alamodome, they can pick up their set of free UTSA “Bam Bams.” If the Roadrunners win on Saturday, Pluckers Wing Bar will be handing out coupons for five free wings to fans as they exit the Alamodome. UTSA Athletics has also rolled out a selection of enhanced gameday opportunities and fan experiences during the 2025 season. Those attending the game are being asked to arrive earlier than usual to accommodate what is expected to be a record-breaking crowd.
Roadrunner Nation is invited to show its school spirit on Saturday at the following family-friendly events:
Pre-game fun
Rowdy Town Live at H-E-B Plaza
11:30 a.m., H-E-B Plaza and VIA Bridge (north side of the Alamodome)
Roadrunner fans of all ages can take part in free pre-game festivities at Rowdy Town Live, including a live DJ set, a video game truck, a mechanical bull, a swing ride and other family-friendly carnival-style attractions. Fans can also stop by the autograph session with the 2025 American Conference Champion UTSA women’s basketball team.
UT San Antonio Alumni Association’s Forever Rowdy Tailgate
11:30 a.m., Alamodome Lot B
The UT San Antonio Alumni Association invites its members to the Forever Rowdy Tailgate, located in Lot B. At the Forever Rowdy Tailgate, Alumni Association members can enjoy complimentary food and drinks, ‘BEAT’ buttons and new merch, while basking in the unbeatable Roadrunner spirit. Food and drinks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are not required, but members must show their membership ID card for entry.
Spirit Walk
Noon, Roadrunner Alley (between Alamodome Lots B and C)
This exciting tradition gets Roadrunner fans and the UTSA team pumped up for the game. Join Rowdy, the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band and UTSA spirit squads as they accompany the team down Roadrunner Alley and into the Alamodome approximately two-and-a-half hours before each home game. Fans can line the walkway between Alamodome parking lots B and C to cheer on the team.
Going to the game
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased by calling or texting 210-458-UTSA (8872) or visiting ticketmaster.com. UTSA has transitioned to digital tickets through the Account Manager. For more information, please visit goutsa.com/tickets.
All students currently enrolled at UT San Antonio are eligible for free admission to all home football games. Students can purchase up to four guest tickets for student section seating.
For walk-up sales, the Alamodome Southwest Box Office opens at 10 a.m., and all other Alamodome box offices open at noon. Customer service windows are located at the Northeast and Southeast box offices.
Parking and tailgating
Parking in Alamodome Lots A, B and C is limited to fans who have already purchased permits. Alamodome Lots A, B and C will open at 8 a.m. for those who have valid parking passes. Please do not enter the lots before the scheduled opening time; those who do will be asked to vacate the space and re-enter when the lots are open. The Alamodome parking lots close to tailgating one hour after the game ends.
Limited ADA parking spots are available in Lot A on a first-come, first-served basis. By state law, veterans who have Disabled Veteran plates but not a valid state-issued disability placard are not permitted to park in ADA accessible spaces. (The Disabled Veteran and ADA state-issued accessibility placard are separate designations.)
There are several paid public parking lots in the general vicinity of the Alamodome and downtown San Antonio. For the City’s available downtown parking, visit sanantonio.gov. For more information and City of San Antonio tailgating guidelines, visit goUTSA.com.
Student transportation
New this year for students and their guests, look for the IKEA signs at the North Paseo Bus Oval at the UTSA Main Campus and at the Alamodome for free shuttle service to and from the Alamodome for home football games. Shuttles will begin service to the Alamodome at 11:30 a.m. Passengers will be dropped off at the Robert Thompson Transit Station at the Alamodome, where return shuttles to the UTSA Main Campus will start service at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The last return shuttle will depart an hour after the game ends.
Public transportation
VIA will offer Park & Ride Service with round-trip travel to the Alamodome for just $2.60 with reduced fares for students, military and others who qualify. Service will be provided from Crossroads Park & Ride (151 Crossroads Blvd., 78201) and Brooks Transit Center (3026 Sidney Brooks Drive, 78235) for Saturday’s game. Fans have several convenient ways to pay. Passes can be purchased online, at the Park & Ride location, or through the VIA goMobile+ app. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the Park & Ride location.
UTSA students can use their VIA U-Pass for service to the game. VIAtrans customers and children ages 5 and younger ride for free. VIA bus passes are not valid for this service. VIA’s Day Pass, 7-Day Pass, 31-Day Pass and U-Pass are valid for special event service.
Rideshare
The drop-off and pick-up location for rideshare users is located in Parking Lot D next to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center at the corner of Montana Street and Tower of Americas Way.
Alamodome entry
Doors open to the public at 1 p.m. Please enter the stadium well before kickoff to avoid long lines. Speed lanes will be available at security checkpoints for those with no bags. Have your keys, phone and wallet out before getting to the scanners, and be sure your tickets are out or loaded on your phone, with the screen brightness turned all the way up, before reaching the doors. The Alamodome Clear Bag Policy is in effect all season.
Student seating
Student seating is general admission within sections 122-131. To accommodate increased student attendance, sections 318-329 will be open for student general admission seating. The Spirit of San Antonio band will occupy sections 127-128.
Get ready for gametime
UTSA Roadrunners mobile app
Visit the App Store or Google Play to download the UTSA Roadrunners app and immerse yourself in the gameday experience. Through this app, fans will enjoy a personalized mobile experience with the ability to manage tickets, shop for official UTSA Athletics merchandise, and receive breaking news and score notifications for the teams they follow.
To be part of the Rowdy Light Show during introductions, download and update the UTSA Roadrunners app, click on the MORE menu option at the bottom, then click on Rowdy Light Show and accept all permissions.
Rowdy Campus Store
Looking for UTSA’s newest gear from Nike? Fans can buy the latest Roadrunner apparel and accessories from the Rowdy Campus Store, which will be set up adjacent to Roadrunner Alley, which is located between Lots B and C. Merchandise sales counters are also located inside the Alamodome on the Plaza Level concourses near Section 106 and 118.
Watch, follow, celebrate
Television and radio broadcasts
Saturday’s broadcast will be televised on ESPN+ and will also be available on the ESPN app for Apple and Android. Jack Benjamin will provide play-by-play commentary alongside analyst LaDarrin McClane.
UTSA Sports Media Network will air the game live in the San Antonio area on Sports Radio AM 760 The Ticket, online at ticket760.com and via the free iHeartRadio app. Andy Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Ed Suarez (reporter) will call the action. The pregame show hosted by Pat Evans will begin at 12:30 p.m., and there will be a 45-minute postgame show.
Gameday traditions and social media
First, get into game mode by brushing up on UT San Antonio’s traditions, including the fight song and alma mater. Then, stay engaged with fellow Roadrunners by sharing your gameday experiences on social media using the hashtags #LetsGo210 and #BirdsUp. All Roadrunner fans are encouraged to follow UTSA Football and UTSA Athletics on X (Twitter) and UT San Antonio on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Campus experience
During the football season, the Monument lights and Student Union Tower lights will glow blue and orange during home game weeks. When the Roadrunners win, the lights turn orange for the rest of the weekend in celebration.
