Owen McCown’s loyalty gives UTSA rare quarterback continuity

The UTSA Roadrunners are the sole American Conference team entering the 2026 season with a third-year starting quarterback, a rare occurrence. This remarkable continuity can be traced back to a basketball court in Jacksonville, TX, during the late 1990s. Jeff Traylor, who coached football and basketball at Jacksonville High School from 1993-99, coached the McCown brothers – Randy, Josh, and Luke – who produced three college quarterbacks and two NFL careers.

Josh McCown initially aimed for an NBA career, but Traylor shifted his focus to football, significantly influencing his future as a quarterback.

Owen McCown is preparing for his third season as UTSA's starting quarterback, a rarity in modern college football. Despite lucrative NIL offers from other schools, McCown chose to stay with UTSA due to his loyalty to head coach Traylor and the program. Traylor attributes McCown's commitment to his strong family values and "old-school, tough, country" upbringing in East Texas.

In 2025, McCown improved his performance, recording 2,995 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and seven interceptions on a 67.6 percent completion rate. He aims to build on these successes and help UTSA improve from their back-to-back 7-6 finishes. The addition of former Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Rick Bowie as offensive coordinator introduces an air raid-inspired offense with fewer motions and an emphasis on mastering a smaller playbook.

Traylor believes that Bowie's background and Bowie's offensive system will help McCown elevate his game further. Moreover, McCown's health has improved, and he is expected to run the ball more in 2026, similar to his performance in his first year as a starter. With a strong commitment from UTSA's offensive starters and a more dynamic offense under Bowie, the future looks promising for the team in McCown's final season.