EDINBURG — Bringing Division I college football to the Rio Grande Valley has been a process nearly a decade in the making, but the countdown to kickoff for UTRGV Vaqueros football is under 365 days and counting.
During the past year, UTRGV football has signed its first recruiting class, rounded out its coaching staff and has its first game in program history scheduled against Sul Ross State on Aug. 30, 2025, at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg.
The team began strength and conditioning in mid-August and will officially hold its first practice open to the public at 7 p.m. Monday at Richard R. Flores Stadium in Edinburg, giving the RGV community its first chance to see the Vaqueros in action during their practice year. Gates open at 6 p.m. and there will be performances from the band, cheer, dance and drill teams.
Fans can enter for free by signing up for a practice pass at UTRGVTickets.com. Fans must show their practice pass to gain entry. Fans are required to follow the clear bag policy which can be found at GoUTRGV.com/ClearBag.
“The main thing (in Year 1) is setting the foundation and culture for the team. We have to build that from the ground up, and as far as practice, everyone’s going to be a true freshman, everyone’s going to redshirt,” UTRGV head coach Travis Bush said at Southland Conference Media Day on July 22 in San Antonio. “Anywhere else in the nation, they’re just playing scout team, but they’re going to have the opportunity to get every rep, learn the offense, learn the defense, compete for spots and really have that practice season to really develop. Coming in from Aug. 18 to the end of the season on Nov. 28, they are going to develop more than any other redshirt freshman in the nation, so really making sure we maximize that time and our efforts to develop them the best we can.
“As coaches, it’s about understanding the process, seeing who the guys that are going to come in and grow and develop, who’s going to take over what spot, that’s the fun part for us, just watching that competition every day and those battles on the field,” Bush said.
UTRGV football players had their first taste of the college football spotlight at Southland Conference Media Day on July 22 in San Antonio. Former San Antonio Roosevelt running back Brennan Carroll and former Smithson Valley linebacker Jaxson Maynard said they were excited to kick things off and began preparation for the 2025 season.
“I’m ready for it, ready to get down there and hopefully win some games for the Valley,” Carroll said. “I had never really been down to the Valley, but Coach Bush had a vision and he showed me his vision and I fully believed in it and trusted him, so I told him I’m ready to be a part of this first class. Seeing the school, seeing everything around there definitely played a big part in my decision.”
The 2024 roster during UTRGV’s practice year features 75-plus student-athletes and several Rio Grande Valley football products, and recruiting of the 2025 class in the RGV is already underway. McAllen High senior offensive lineman Maddox Braxton earned an offer from UTRGV after attending a UTRGV football camp earlier this summer.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity. It’s amazing to see all the talent and UTRGV finally get recognized,” Braxton said. “It’s been a long time coming. There’s been ballers here in the Valley for many years, and it’s awesome to see some of the talent get noticed.”
One year from now, football fans across the RGV can spend their Thursday and Friday nights rooting for their favorite high school football teams, then flock to Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium on Saturdays to see the Rio Grande Valley’s Division I football team, the UTRGV Vaqueros, represent the entire region at the collegiate level.
Maynard, who played against Brownsville Veterans with Smithson Valley in the 2023 Class 5A Division I state semifinal at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi last December, already has a taste of the Rio Grande Valley football faithful. He hopes to see the energy translate as the Valley rallies behind the Vaqueros beginning in 2025.
“That was insane. At 2 p.m., (Brownsville Veterans) had over 300 fans lined up, and the game didn’t start til 7, and that just proves how dedicated those fans are and I can’t wait,” Maynard said. “We already have over 5,000 season ticket holders, that first game is going to be insane. We’re probably going to have over 10,000 people there, and for a first game for a new program, it’s going to be a crazy atmosphere.”
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