Game Preview: Bobcats Welcome Arkansas State for Sun Belt Home Opener - Texas State Athletics (2024)

Texas State (3-2, 1-0) vs. Arkansas State (3-2, 1-0)
Family Weekend

Saturday, October 12, 2024
UFCU Stadium | San Marcos, Texas
Kickoff: 6PM

TV:ESPN+
Brant Freeman(Play-by-play)
Keith Moreland(Analyst)
Koral Allemand (Sideline)
Radio:KTSW 89.9 &Varsity Network (free app)
Clint Shields (Play-by-play)
Geff Gandy (Analyst)
X/Twitter Updates:@TXSTATEFOOTBALL

OPENING DRIVE

  • Texas State is coming off a historic 2023 season that saw the program win its first bowl game, in its first appearance, a 45-21 victory over Rice in the SERVEPRO First Responder Bowl.
  • The Bobcats set an FBS-program record with eight wins in 2023.
  • Texas State posted the highest season attendance average the program has seen in 2023 at 21,184 (127,102 total).
  • Texas State opened the season receiving votes in the US LBM preseason Coaches Poll and received eight votes in the week 3 edition.
  • Texas State finished 7-2 across nine games played in the state of Texas in 2023.
  • TXST is coming off a 38-17 win over Troy, its first over the program since Oct. 4, 1997 and first on the road.
  • Nash Jones was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award.

A WIN VS ARKANSAS STATE MEANS

  • The Bobcats improve to 5-7 in the series with Arkansas State.
  • Texas State has won 5 of 7 dating back to the 2023 season.
  • TXST starts 2-0 in Sun Belt Conference play for the first time in program history (joined in 2013).
  • The Bobcats are 6-4 in their last 10 SBC outings dating back to the start of 2023.
  • TXST moves to 3-1 at UFCU Stadium this season.

VICTORY STAR
Texas State played in, and won, its first bowl game in 2023, a 45-21 victory over Rice in the SERVEPRO First Responder Bowl.

  • The Bobcats set an FBS program record for wins in a season with 8.
  • The last time Texas State had 8 wins in a season was in 2008 when the Bobcats were 8-4 in the regular season and finished the year with a first-round loss at Montana in the Division I-AA (FCS) Playoffs first round.
  • Texas State has 14 seasons in its program history with 8 or more wins.

THE KINNE EFFECT
In his first year, Texas State head coach GJ Kinne took the Bobcats to a place they have never gone -- a bowl game -- and did something that has not been done in 40 years.

  • Kinne is the first Texas State head coach to have a winning season in his first campaign at the helm of the Bobcats since Dennis Franchione in 1990 (6-5).
  • With the bowl win, Kinne became the first, first-year head coach at Texas State to win 8 or more games since John O'Hara in 1983 (9-3). O'Hara took over the Bobcats after they won back-to-back DII national championships under Jim Wacker in 1981 and 1982.
  • Prior to Kinne, only 2 Texas State head coaches in the program's history had won 8 or more games in their first season: O'Hara (1983) and Bill Miller (8-2 in 1965).
  • Kinne was named the 21st head coach in Texas State's history on Dec. 2, 2022 (one day after his 34th birthday).

EXCITING BRAND OF FOOTBALL
One thing that GJ Kinne and the rest of the Texas State coaching staff installed in their first year was an offense that has produced at its highest level in the Bobcats' FBS history.

  • Texas State finished the 2023 season ranked 11th in the country in scoring offense (36.7) and 15th in total offense (457.6).
  • Texas State finished 28th in the country in passing offense (270.9) and 26th in rushing offense (186.7).
  • Entering 2023 as an FBS team, Texas State had never ranked higher than 24th in the nation in total offense. In 2014, the Bobcats finished the season 24th in total offense, which was the only time they had been in the nation's top-50 in that category.
  • Also entering the season, Texas State's highest finish as an FBS team in rushing offense was 18th (2014) and passing offense was 56th (2020).
  • Its best finish in scoring offense at the FBS level was 31st in 2014.
  • The Texas State offense averaged 132.4 more yards per game in 2023 compared to 2022.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Comparing averages and national rank

20222023
CategoryTotalRankTotalRank
Total Offense325.2112th457.615th
Scoring Offense21.1110th36.711th
Passing Offense221.179th270.928th
Rushing Offense104.1119th186.726th

TXST in 2024

2024
CategoryTotalRank
Total Offense454.827
Scoring Offense37.622
Passing Offense285.624
Rushing Offense169.2t61

ON THE OFFENSIVE
While Texas State's offense finished 11th in the country in scoring offense, it became the nation's most improved scoring offense over the 2023 season.

  • Texas State improved its scoring output from 21.1 points per game in 2022 to 36.7 in 2023 (+15.6). 37.6 in 2024
  • The Bobcats' 36.7 points per game in 2023 marked the first time they have averaged more than 28 points per game since 2014 when they averaged 33.8.

LET'S GET ACTIVE
Quarterback Jordan McCloud ranks in the top 10 among FBS active players in touchdown passes and total TDs responsible for and the top 20 for completions, completion %, passing yards, total plays and total offense.

TD Passes737
Total TDs Responsible For897
Completions69017
Completion %64.4%17
Passing Yards8,30116
Total Plays1,38116
Total Offense9,18216

Ismail Mahdi is also an active national leader for all-purpose yards, leading the country in all purpose-yards per game.

All-Purpose YPG152.281
Rushing YPG93.05
KO return avg.26.07

STAYIN' ALIVE
Wide receiver Joey Hobert is one of 24 players with a streak of 25+ consecutive games with a reception at 28, dating back to Dec. 31, 2021.

Hobert had his 3rd multi-TD game at Texas State, and 8th overall, against SHSU.

vs. Lamar | 6-91, 2TD
vs. Sam Houston | 8-75, 2TD

TAKE BACK TEXAS
Texas State has a .611 winning % dating back to the start of the 2023 season, and is one of only four FBS teams in Texas to win eight games in 2023.

20242023Total%
Texas5-012-217-2.895
SMU5-111-316-4.800
Texas A&M5-17-612-7.632
Texas Tech5-17-612-7.632
TXST3-28-511-7.611
UTSA2-39-411-7.611
North Texas4-15-79-8.529
TCU3-35-78-10.444
Sam Houston 5-13-98-10.444
Rice1-46-77-11.389
Houston2-44-86-12.333
Baylor2-44-85-13.278
UTEP0-53-93-14.176

PLAY FAST, GO BIG
Part of Texas State's unprecedented scoring output is its ability to play fast and hit big plays.

  • The Bobcats tied for 19th in the nation with 215 plays from scrimmage of 10+ yards (85 in 2024).
  • Texas State had 76 plays of 20+ yards, which tied for 17th in the country (24 in 2024).
  • TXST was tied for 13th in the country in pace of offense with a play every 23.1 seconds. Jacksonville State led the country at 20.3 (25.4 in 2024).

MAKING OUT POINT
While Texas State's offense was one of the highest scoring in the country in 2023, the season was also its highest scoring in the school's FBS history.

  • Texas State set an FBS school record with 477 points scored, besting the previous mark of 406 set in 2014.
  • It was only the second time in the school's FBS history that the Bobcats scored 400+ points in a single season (406 in 2014).
  • The 477 points were the most points scored by Texas State in any season besting the 470 in 13 games in 2008 as an FCS program. That year, Texas State scored 457 points in 12 regular season games (432 in 2023 regular season).
  • Texas State scored 40+ points in 6 games last season, which topped the overall program record of 5 previously set in 1967 and 1983.
  • The Bobcats scored 265 points in conference-play in 2023 (8 games). In 2022, Texas State scored 253 points all season (12 games).

SCORING OFFENSE, TXST'S FBS HISTORY
Top seasons since 2012

-- 20241885
1.202347713
2.201440612
3.201234312
4.202033212
5.201532312

TXST has scored 188 points through five games in 2024, one of three seasons with 188+ dating back to 2012 when the Bobcats joined the FBS.

2024 188
2023 217
2014 193

FAST START
The Bobcats have outscored their opponents 72-10 in the first quarter of games this season and 134-55 through the first half. TXST has also held 3 opponents (Lamar, Sam Houston & Troy) scoreless in the first quarter.

TOTAL OFFENSE
Texas State's offense set the FBS program record for most yards in a season in 2023.

  • Texas State's 5,961 total yards of offense bested the program's previous FBS record of 5,573 set in 2014.
  • The overall program record for most yards of total offense in a season is 6,147 set in 2005 (14 games).
  • The Bobcats had 486+ yards of offense 6 times in 2023, a yardage total they matched exactly to open the 2024 season

450+ in 2024
UTSA | 504
Lamar | 486
Troy | 467

TOTAL OFFENSE, TXST'S FBS HISTORY
Top seasons since 2012

RkYearTotal YardsGames
--20242,2745
1.20235,96113
2.20145,57312
3.20155,00012
4.20124,55712

AIR ATTACK
Texas State's passing offense set the FBS and overall program record for most yards in a season in 2023.

  • Texas State had 3,522 passing yards in 2023, which marked the first time since 2008 that the Bobcats totaled more than 3,000 yards in the air.
  • The overall program record for passing yards in a season was 3,499 set in 2008 (13 games).
  • Texas State had 200+ passing yards in all but 2 games in 2023 (4 in 2024).
  • The Bobcats have only thrown for 3,000+ yards in a season 4 times in program history: 2003, 2008, 2009, 2023.
  • Texas State had 5 300-yard passing games in 2023, which is an FBS program record (2 in 2024).
  • The Bobcats also set the overall program record for most completions in a season with 287. The previous record was 264 in 2009.

MOST PASSING YARDS, TXST HISTORY
Most passing yards in a season, overall history

RkYearPassing YdsGames
--20231,4285
1.20233,52213
2.20083,49913
3.20093,17811
4.20033,12912

GROUND GAME
Despite throwing for more than 3,500 yards in 2023, the Bobcat offense was also one of the best in the country and in the program's FBS history in rushing

  • Texas State rushed for 2,439 yards last season, which was the second-most in the program's FBS history (2,862 in 2014).
  • Texas State has rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a season 5 times in the program's 12 years at the FBS level. The first 4 instances, though, were in the first 4 years in FBS.
  • The Bobcats finished the season as one of 35 FBS team to register 3,000+ passing yards and 2,000+ rushing yards.

MOST TEAM RUSHING YARDS IN A SEASON
Texas State's FBS history

RkYearRushing YdsAttempts
--2024846184
1.20142,862538
2.20232,439529
3.20152,248470
4.20122,152413
5.20132,058471

On the other side of the ball, Texas State has held opponents under 101 rushing yards four times this season and is 3-1 in those outings.

vs Lamar | 51 yds
vs UTSA | 82 yds
vs Arizona State | 101 yds
at Troy | 63 yds

GETTING TO THE BACKFIELD
In addition to Texas State having one of the best offenses in the country, it finished second in the nation in TFLs and tied for 9th in sacks.

  • Texas State registered 7 sacks in the opener against Lamar. The most for TXST in an FBS game behind eight vs Idaho on Oct. 4, 2024 and the most since six against South Alabama Nov. 5, 2023.
  • The Bobcats have 21 sacks this season, finished with 40 in 2023.
  • TXST currently leads the nation in sacks at 3.75 and 8th (2nd SBC) for TFLs at 8.5.
  • The Bobcats had 108 TFLs in 2023, 2nd in the nation and an FBS program record, and were 16 shy of matching the overall program record of 124 set in 1982.
  • Texas State's 40 sacks were an FBS program record and most in any season for Texas State since it had 41 in 1997.
  • The overall program record for sacks in a season is 58.5 set in 1982.
  • The Bobcats finished 9th in the country with an average of 3.08 sacks per game this year.
  • Texas State had 7 games in 2023 of 10+ TFLs and 8 games of 3.0+ sacks.
  • The Bobcats had 26 different players credited with a TFL and 19 with a sack in 2023.

THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS
Lou Groza Award Semifinalist Mason Shipley finished 2023 15-of-15 on field goals.

  • Shipley tied his former teammate Seth Keller (2021, 2022) for the overall program record for most field goals made in a season.
  • Shipley finished as one of two kickers to not miss a field goal in 2023.
  • In 2022 & 2023 Texas State kickers (Shipley & Keller) went 30-of-32 on FB (93.8%).
  • Shipley set the TXST and Sun Belt Conference record with a 60-yard field goal against Sam Houston (9.28).

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Players Mentioned

#10 Joey Hobert

WR
5' 11"
Senior
Sr.

#76 Nash Jones

OL
6' 5"
Senior
Sr.

#21 Ismail Mahdi

RB
5' 9"
Junior
Jr.

#36 Mason Shipley

K
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R-Jr.

#3 Jordan McCloud

QB
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
R-Sr.

Players Mentioned

#10 Joey Hobert

5' 11"
Senior
Sr.
WR

#76 Nash Jones

6' 5"
Senior
Sr.
OL

#21 Ismail Mahdi

5' 9"
Junior
Jr.
RB

#36 Mason Shipley

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R-Jr.
K

#3 Jordan McCloud

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
R-Sr.
QB
Game Preview: Bobcats Welcome Arkansas State for Sun Belt Home Opener - Texas State Athletics (2024)

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