RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque announced on Monday a three-year contract extension for head football coach Travis Bush, keeping him in the Valley through at least 2030.
 
"Coach Bush has done an extraordinary job launching our football program. What we experienced this past fall was nothing short of remarkable, and Coach Bush's leadership led our team to unprecedented success for a first-year program," Conque said. "While the wins are special, I also have the privilege of seeing what happens behind the scenes the other 353 days of the year. Coach has instilled foundational core values within our program – he values academic success, builds solid young men, and leads in a servant way. These qualities delivered a disciplined football team; a program built on unity and high character that ultimately led to wins on the field. Again, congratulations to Coach Bush, our assistant coaches, and student-athletes on a job well done. [UTRGV] President [Guy] Bailey and I truly believe our best days are still ahead."
 
Bush finished sixth among 15 finalists for the 2025 Eddie Robinson Award voting, which honors the FCS coach of the year after guiding the Vaqueros to a historic inaugural season, finishing with a 9-3 overall record, making them the winningest of 11 inaugural FCS programs since Division I college football split into two levels in 1978. No other team had ever won more than seven games or six while playing a schedule including NCAA Division I competition. The Vaqueros won their final three games, making it one of 16 teams in the FCS currently on a winning streak of three games or more.
 
UTRGV is the first inaugural team to win six games against NCAA DI-AA (1978-2005)/FCS (2006-Present) competition, breaking the record of five set by Florida International in 2002.
 
UTRGV is the only inaugural team to go undefeated at home, as the Vaqueros finished 7-0 and are currently one of 11 FCS teams on a home winning streak of seven of greater.
 
UTRGV is one of two programs to receive votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll at any point during its inaugural season, along with Kennesaw State, which received two points in the 2015 Week 7 poll. UTRGV is the only program to earn more than two points or receive votes in multiple weeks, receiving votes nine times.
 
"I couldn't be more thankful for Chasse Conque, Dr. Guy Bailey and all our supporters for the belief in our vision for this football program," Bush said. "It's been amazing to watch the vision come to life, and truly a credit to our assistant coaches and what our players have done on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. My family and I love UTRGV and the way the Rio Grande Valley has embraced us, our coaching staff, and our student-athletes. We look forward to the future of UTRGV Football as we continue to develop young men and build this program to compete for championships."
 
UTRGV is the first inaugural program to score at least 17 points in all its Division I games and the only one to score at least 17 points in all games while playing a schedule that includes NCAA Division I competition. UTRGV is also the only team to score 60+ points three times and 50+ points four times.
 
The Vaqueros had two of the nine-highest scoring halves in the FCS this season, with 52 points in the first half vs. Langston on Sept. 13, which is fourth, and 49 points in the first half vs. Sul Ross State on Aug. 30, which is tied for fifth.
 
The Vaqueros also had two of the 35-highest scoring quarters in the FCS this season, with 31 points in the second quarter vs. Langston on Sept. 13, which is tied for fifth, and 28 points in the first quarter on Aug. 30, which is tied for 12th. The FCS leader was Idaho State with a 42-point quarter vs. Lincoln on Sept. 20.
 
UTRGV set a record for largest margin of victory by a brand new program, beating Langston 80-0 in week 3. UTRGV is one of two new teams to score 80 points, along with South Florida (1997), who beat Kentucky Wesleyan 80-3 in week 1.
 
UTRGV finished the season ranked 26^th in the FCS with a +6.1 scoring margin.
 
UTRGV is one of four programs to win its first game against an NCAA Division I opponent, doing so at Prairie View A&M 27-21 in week 2. Kennesaw State (2015) beat East Tennessee State 56-16 on the road in week 1. FIU (2002) beat Saint Peter's 27-3 at home in week 1. Florida Atlantic (2001) beat Bethune-Cookman 31-28 on the road in week 2.
 
Among 2025's new football programs, UTRGV finished with the most wins by going 9-3, ahead of Roanoke (NCAA DIII), which finished 5-4. Marine Maritime (NCAA DIII) finished 0-10 while Rio Grande (NAIA) finished 0-9.
 
UTRGV finished its inaugural season 5-3 in Southland Conference, tying for third place with Lamar, which made the FCS Playoffs. UTRGV's only losses were to playoff teams on the road, including No. 7 seed Stephen F. Austin and No. 16 seed Southeastern.
 
UTRGV is currently ranked 32^nd in the Massey Ratings.
 
UTRGV led the Southland in 15 statistical categories, ranking first in the FCS in blocked kicks allowed (0), blocked punts allowed (0), and fumbles lost (1), second in fumbles recovered (13), third in turnover margin (1.33), fifth in defensive touchdowns (4) and turnovers lost (9), sixth in turnovers gained (25) and points per game (39.6), seventh in team passing efficiency (165.62), 10^th in team passing efficiency defense (116.93), 15^th in passing yards per completion (13.72), 18^th in total yards per game (435.2), 23^rd in fewest penalties (61) and fewest penalties per game (5.08), and 29^th in sacks allowed per game (1.50).
 
The Vaqueros' lone fumble lost was on a muffed punt in the inaugural game. The Vaqueros did not lose an offensive fumble. None of the Vaqueros' penalties were defensive substitution penalties, showing UTRGV's exceptional preparation, communication, and discipline.
 
UTRGV is also 14^th in the FCS and second in the Southland in winning percentage (.750), 14^th in the FCS and third in the Southland in points allowed per game (18.8), 16^th in the FCS and third in the Southland in rushing yards allowed per game (119.3), 19^th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in total yards allowed per game (328.4), 20^th in the FCS and second in the Southland in punt return defense (5.05), 21^st in the FCS and second in the Southland in rushing yards per game (188.3), 21^st in the FCS and third in the Southland in net punting (39.41), 22^nd in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in passes intercepted (12), 22^nd in the FCS and fifth in the Southland in tackles for loss per game (6.5), 24^th in the FCS and second in the Southland in passing yards per game (246.9) and third down conversion percentage (45.0%), 24^th in the FCS and fourth in the southland in kickoff return defense (18.19), 28^th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in red zone offensive conversions (86.5%), 29^th in the FCS and second in the Southland in tackles for loss allowed per game (4.67), 31^st in the FCS and third in the Southland in fewest penalty yards (555), 32^nd in the FCS and third in the Southland in completion percentage (64.1%) and fewest first downs allowed (221), 34^th in the FCS and third in the Southland in fewest penalty yards per game (46.25), and 34^th in the FCS and fourth in the Southland in sacks per game (2.25).

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