By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa

UPDATE: The UTRGV Vaqueros defeated Sul Ross State 66-0 in its inaugural game.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – AUG. 30, 2025 – On a warm Saturday evening, the Valley’s long-anticipated dream came to life as The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley played its first-ever football game.

More than 12,000 fans filled Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium, with an estimated 8,000 gathered outside for tailgates, pep rallies and watch parties as the team took on Sul Ross State. The roar of the crowd, the drumbeat of the marching band and the sea of orange and gray created an atmosphere that felt like both a celebration and a homecoming.

A fan throws up the V’s Up hand sign while tailgating outside Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium ahead of UTRGV’s inaugural football game on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. Thousands of fans gathered for tailgates and pep rallies before kickoff, creating a festival atmosphere across Edinburg. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

YEARS IN THE MAKING

The historic kickoff was more than a game — it was the result of years of planning and student vision. In November 2021, UTRGV students cast a record number of ballots in favor of a referendum that raised the athletics fee to help fund football, along with new spirit programs, marching bands, and women’s swimming and diving. The measure passed with nearly 61% support, marking a turning point in the university’s history.

A year later, the UT System Board of Regents approved the program, officially giving UTRGV the green light to build a Division I football team. From there, the university invested in facilities, recruited its first roster of athletes, and began preparing for the moment fans experienced this weekend.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey, along with other university leaders, has long pointed to football as a way to bring national visibility to UTRGV and unify the Valley under one banner.

“This is more than the launch of a football program — it’s the start of a tradition that will bring the Rio Grande Valley together in ways we’ve never seen before,” Bailey said. “When our students voted for football, they weren’t just voting for games on Saturdays. They were voting for a stronger sense of community, for opportunities that will last generations, and for a chance to show the nation the pride and spirit of Vaquero Nation.”

Fans fill the stands at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium during UTRGV’s inaugural football game on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. An estimated 12,000 fans attended the historic matchup, with thousands more celebrating outside at tailgates and pep rallies. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

For the Rio Grande Valley, the game meant more than a score on the board. Families arrived hours before kickoff to fire up grills, pitch tents, and line the walkways with Vaquero flags. Students, alumni and community members mingled in parking lots and lawns, turning Edinburg into the heart of a festival of Valley pride.

Dulce Cortina, a UTRGV alumna who graduated with a BA in business in 2014, said she was proud to be part of the historic moment.

“It’s a historic moment, and I’m very blessed to be here,” the Mission native said. “This is history in the making. We’re excited that Division I football is finally in the Valley, and I think it’s going to generate a much-needed economic boom. We couldn’t be more excited to support the team.”

Mike Arellano, of McAllen, said he wouldn’t have missed this milestone for UTRGV.

“We wouldn’t miss this,” he said. “I had to make things happen to be here today. It’s long overdue, and now we get to see the talent the Valley has to offer.”

Andrew Gonzalez, a UTRGV senior majoring in anthropology and a Student Union employee, said he was glad to see the Valley’s growth.

“There’s so much pride and so much emotion. I’m happy to see the Valley growing — and it’s growing through UTRGV.”

Isabella Garcia, a UTRGV senior majoring in psychology from Mission, said spirits were high and she was excited to be part of the day.

“It’s amazing — there are so many people here, the spirits are super high, and I just love being part of it,” she said. “I get to share my message and also highlight what my club, Baptist Student Ministry (BSM), is doing here at the tailgate.”

A NEW CHAPTER

The debut of Vaquero Football is just the beginning. While the outcome of the game will be written into the record books, the significance of the day rests in the sense of belonging it created.

What started with a student vote has become a rallying point for a region. The first game was proof that Vaquero Nation extends far beyond the walls of a stadium — it’s a movement that has been years in the making and is only just getting started.

UTRGV’s mascot leads the Vaquero Marching Band and spirit teams in rallying the crowds before kickoff at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The spirited performance energized fans ahead of the university’s first-ever football game. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)