Note: This story is featured in the 2026 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Summer Magazine, which you can order here.

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Eleven athletic departments have started football programs from scratch in the FCS ranks (previously NCAA D1-AA) since Division I college football split into two levels in 1978 and UTRGV set a record with nine wins, smashing the previous high-water mark of seven by South Alabama in 2009. 

The record for wins by teams playing against Division I competition was six, which was set by Kennesaw State in 2015, Georgia State in 2010, and Coastal Carolina in 2003. In short, the Vaqueros passed their first test as a football program with flying colors, finishing in a tie for third in the Southland Conference and flirting with a Top 25 ranking.  

“Sometimes it is hard to believe it happened the way that it did,” head coach Travis Bush admitted. “It is a credit to everyone involved, the administration, and the way it was set up. We had a bunch of dudes that not a lot of people wanted with chips on their shoulders. We didn’t have expectations or know what to expect, but it was a special season to be part of and one that will always be remembered.” 

UTRGV is no longer just a fun story. The program is a legit contender in the Southland and a program on a rapid rise in the FCS. Repeating the success in Year 2 won’t be easy, however, and Bush knows that. The Vaqueros play UTSA in non-conference – their first game against an FBS opponent – and must navigate the dangerous waters of a Southland Conference that sent three teams to the playoffs in 2025.  

“We could have a better team this year than last year and not even when half the games,” Bush said. “That’s how tough the schedule is. It is tough to play on the road in this conference and we’re doing that five times. The non-conference schedule is also tougher.”  

The Vaqueros return nine starters on the defensive side of the ball, including the entire defensive line and two proven linebackers. A trio of Freshman All-Americans – LB Jaiden Haygood, DL Ja’Marcus Anderson, and DB Alijah Prosser – return, as does LB Spencer Rich, who was second on the team in tackles behind Haygood, and All-SLC defensive end Ian Box.  

“The strength of our team right now is the defensive line because we have everyone back up front,” Bush said. “Those guys have matured and played a lot of football for us last year. The defense is ahead of the offense right now because we know what those guys can do and we can tailor what we do to fit their strengths.”  

Bush, who called offensive plays in 2025, hired Theron Aych as co-offensive coordinator and play caller, which will allow the head coach to spend more time with the defense and special teams. The two come from a similar coaching tree and he expects the schemes and plays to look mostly the same.  

Any schematic changes to an offense that led the SLC with 39.6 points per game a year ago would be based on personnel, specifically at quarterback where Aidan Jakobsohn and Garrett Rangel are competing to replace Eddie Lee Marburger. Bush says that Jakobsohn, who played in seven games for UTRGV last year as the primary backup, was the front-runner during spring ball.  

“He’s a phenomenal competitor with a unique skillset, so we’ll be able to do some things that we couldn’t do with Eddie,” said Bush of Jakobsohn. “If he’s the guy, we can restructure some stuff because he’s very athletic and we’ll utilize his legs a lot more.” 

Replacing the production around the quarterback who wins the job and solidifying the offensive line are the challenges facing the Vaqueros leading into the season. They lost their starting running back, both of their leading receivers, and the starting tight end from the 2025 squad.  

“We’ve challenged our guys at wide receiver to step up,” Bush said in the spring. “We think it is a good group, but nobody has separated themselves yet.” 

DCTF Take  

Matching the success from Year 1 will be a challenge for the Vaqueros as Travis Bush’s squad faces a tougher schedule while replacing most of the production from an offense that led the Southland Conference in scoring. The good news is that the defense returns nine starters, including a trio of Freshman All-Americans and an all-conference performer at defensive end.  

UTRGV is a program on the rise in the FCS ranks and the 2025 season was proof of concept. Bush says the instant success has allowed the Vaqueros to win more recruiting battles in the high school and transfer portal ranks and we believe it is a matter of when, not if, the program becomes a yearly contender for top FCS program in the Lone Star State.