Who is the San Antonio Brahmas’ Biggest Rival?
A good sports rivalry is driven by a mix of competition, history, and emotion that keeps fans and players invested. Some of the biggest sports rivalries in my personal fandom are Aggies vs. Longhorns, Cowboys vs. Commanders (it should still be Redskins), and Spurs vs. Mavericks. UTSA vs. TX State (AAC vs the PAC 12) is a new rivalry that piqued my interest. The two teams fighting to be the top college football team in San Antonio promise to be entertaining in the years to come. In this article, I am going to break down what criteria I use when considering which teams make good rivals and then use that criteria to select who the Brahmas’ biggest rival is in the UFL.
What Makes a Good Rival
As you can tell, my opinions on sports are heavily influenced by various sports in Texas. That leads me to the first metric I consider when discussing rivals: proximity. Proximity doesn’t always mean how close to one another the teams are, but it does mean location has to play a part in the rivalry and connect the two teams somehow. For instance, the Lakers vs the Celtics is a historic rivalry on opposite sides of the country. The East Coast vs West Coast rivalry is real and promotes fan engagement and smack talk. Proximity typically ties into cultural or regional stakes. It represents something bigger, like geographic pride (e.g., Ohio State-Michigan) or cultural divides (e.g., Barcelona-Real Madrid)—proximity and culture prompt fans to feel personally tied to the outcome.
Competitive Balance
My next metric is Competitive Balance. Both teams or athletes need to be evenly matched, creating unpredictable outcomes. Think Yankees-Red Sox or Messi-Ronaldo—close games and tight races fuel tension and excitement. The Big 10’s football rivals, Minnesota and Wisconsin, have an overall head-to-head record of 62-62 with 8 ties. While not hyped like Ohio vs Michigan, the competitive balance leaves fans of those teams never knowing who is taking the Paul Bunyan trophy home year over year. Part of the competitive balance is essentially what we call historical context. Deep backstories, often spanning decades, add weight. Iconic moments, controversial plays, or legendary showdowns—like Ali-Frazier or Lakers-Celtics—build a narrative that transcends single games.
My last metric for deciding on a rivalry is that the games must be frequent and mean something. Rivalries thrive when championships, bragging rights, or legacy-defining moments are on the line. Regular matchups in playoffs or finals help fire up fanbases and give fans who live and breathe the rivalry something to be passionate about—think Alabama-Auburn’s Iron Bowl and those schools regularly clashing. Annual games or frequent playoff encounters ensure the rivalry stays fresh and relevant to fans’ dislike or hatred for the other team.
When a Game is More Than a Game
When Proximity, competitiveness, and Frequency are combined, a rivalry becomes more than a game; it’s a story that captivates everyone involved. Using those metrics, the obvious choice for the San Antonio Brahmas’ biggest Spring Football rival is the Arlington Renegades.
These two teams meet all the key criteria. They are both located in the State of Texas and fit the frequency and meaning metric because they are both in the XFL conference. Their head-to-head lifetime record is 3-3, with the Brahmas winning 3 of the first four games and Arlington winning both head-to-head matchups in 2025. The games and player matchups were great. For instance, the Brahmas defeated the Renegades 25-15 with standout performances from players like John Lovett in April of 2024, when he had 95 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Then on May 19, 2024, the Brahmas won again, 20-15. This win clinched the Brahmas a playoff spot, with quarterback Quinten Dormady throwing for 320 yards and two touchdowns.
2025
In 2025, the series took a turn for the worse from the Brahma perspective when, in the opening week, the Renegades crushed the Brahmas 33-9 at Choctaw Stadium, led by former Brahma now Renegade Kalen Ballage’s record-setting 77-yard rushing touchdown and De’Veon Smith’s 3 rushing attempts resulting in 3 scores. Then, in Week 10 on June 1, 2025, the Renegades won again, 23-6, this time without their head coach due to Bob Stoops being sidelined by injury. Interim coach Chuck Long led the team to victory behind a remarkable passing performance by Luis Perez, who had an 81.3% completion percentage, going 26 for 32 passing for 283 yards.
The coaching matchup in these games has also been excellent, with contradicting styles of play being showcased. Wade Phillips’ aggressive, adaptive approach with the Brahmas has at times outmaneuvered Bob Stoops’ more conservative, loyalty-driven style with the Renegades. Stoops and the Renegades made up for it in 2025 by winning both games. In all fairness to Coach Wade Phillips, he wasn’t part of either of those games due to the health struggles he battled all season.
Conclusion
Arlington and San Antonio football fans primarily share their fandom of the Dallas Cowboys. But that doesn’t stop this UFL Texas showdown from evolving, fueled by close games, standout performances, and the high stakes of in-state bragging rights. Fans and teams alike are eager to establish dominance in the UFL.
