SAN MARCOS– The revamped Bobcats are riding a three-game win streak and are bowl-eligible for the third straight season under head coach GJ Kinne. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a team that had lost five straight. Texas State has pivoted and found its stride, finishing the regular season with a 6–6 record.
Saturday afternoon’s victory against the South Alabama Jaguars ends a 12-year chapter, concluding Texas State’s participation in the Sun Belt Conference. Bring on the Pac-12 Conference and the chilly waters of the San Marcos River. It is tradition here: when the Bobcats are bowl-eligible, the players, coaches and even members of the administration jump into the river. It’s a celebration unlike any other and adds to the argument that San Marcos is one of the best college towns in the country.
“It’s always fun, jumping in that river. It means we are bowl-eligible for the third year in a row. Backs against the wall, all the odds stacked against us, but we found a way,” Kinnie said. “It’s been a really fun three years, man, it really has. Opportunities like this to go celebrate are always special, so this might be my favorite one.”
Jumping in the river they did. Kinne stepped to the edge of the river with his two sons and was about to jump in with both of them, one in either hand, but at the last second the youngest, Cooper, pulled away. Kinne and his eldest made a big splash, and the president of the university, Kelly Damphousse, followed suit, jumping in behind them.
This led to an avalanche of cannonballs and backflips as the whole team dove into the San Marcos River. A few moments later, Kinne persuaded his youngest to join, and together they jumped in. A full-circle moment for Kinne as his wife was watching above.
“Lincoln got in first — he’s done that now three times. Cooper, this was his first time to jump in,” Kinne said. “These moments are special. It’s hard to win in college football. It’s super hard. Look around the country. What we’ve done here is special, and I always want them to remember that. This is the first year they’ve kind of started to understand things. They don’t like Arkansas State. They don’t like Louisiana-Lafayette. Anytime I can share those experiences with my family — my wife, too — she didn’t jump in today. But a coach’s wife goes through the ups and downs of football. She’s my biggest supporter. I’m just super thankful for her.”
If Texas State fans learned anything this year, it’s that Brad Jackson is a keeper. When his career is all said and done in San Marcos, he will be among the best to ever put on a Texas State jersey — if not the best.
His playmaking decisions and poise in the pocket as a freshman are truly commendable, and if Texas State can retain him for next season, the Bobcats will be in good stead heading into a new conference. It’s not just his presence in the pocket as a passer; it’s Jackson’s running ability that makes him so dangerous. He led the entire Sun Belt in rushing touchdowns (16) as a quarterback.
Jackson threw for over 3,000 yards this season, becoming the 4th member of the 3K passing yards club, joining Barrick Nealy (twice), Bradley George, TJ Finley and Jordan McCloud. Kinne has produced a 3,000-yard passer each of his three seasons at the helm.
“Everyone thought he couldn’t throw before the season,” Kinne said. “Obviously he proved he can throw, but he also proved he can run, too. Sometimes when you are a freshman and you are carrying the team, those losses can affect you. The dude (Brad Jackson) didn’t blink. He’s a warrior and he is going to go down as the greatest Bobcat of all time.”
Likewise, the retention of wide receivers Chris Dawn Jr. and Beau Sparks is imperative. In today’s NIL landscape, money talks, so it will be interesting to see what kind of package the administration offers these key players to persuade them to return for another season in maroon and gold. Kinne confirmed his own timeline in San Marcos, eliminating any rumors about him going elsewhere, rumors that have been on fire ever since the job openings at North Texas and Oklahoma State.
“I’m super happy where I’m at,” Kinne said. “I signed that contract extension, I’m going to be here, and we’ve got a bunch of really good guys coming back next year. That’s really been on my mind more than anything else — how do we keep our best players at Texas State? Winning games like this and going to bowl games, that momentum is huge.”
When asked about Brad Jackson returning next year, Kinne responded confidently, indicating a sophomore season for freshman phenom Brad Jackson. Additionally, when asked if he believes the team will receive an offer to participate in a bowl game once again, he responded very assuredly: “We score too many points; they’ll let us in.”
Today’s victory is the epitome of a feel-good win, and it’s what the players, coaches, and fan base needed. This win is the perfect statement victory to validate this team’s legitimacy and boost its chances of earning a bowl invitation. Bowl game invitations are normally sent out in early December, so if the Texas State Bobcats receive an invite, which they likely will, it will be within the next couple of days.
“I’m just super excited that we got to this point,” Kinne said. “I’m excited to see where we go.”
