SAN MARCOS– Another season of Texas State football is upon us, and all eyes are on the Bobcats as they prepare for a future in the Pac 12. With reports swirling that Texas State will soon leave the Sun Belt Conference for a league featuring larger schools and bigger budgets, the move could give the program a much needed national spotlight.
Despite a mixed 2024 campaign, there is plenty to be optimistic about. Casual fans would call last season a success with back-to-back wins in the First Responder Bowl and historic victories over North Texas in a bowl game and UTSA for the first time in program history. But the die-hard Bobcat faithful will tell you it was also a bit of a letdown given all the preseason hype.
After all, some were even whispering about a possible College Football Playoff run before the year began. The Bobcats roared out to one of the best starts in program history, blowing out archrival UTSA in front of a raucous crowd at UFCU Stadium. It was a signature win for GJ Kinne and his staff — one that will go down as one of the greatest nights in Texas State football history. But the party did not last forever.
Fans sobered up quickly after a heartbreaking collapse at NRG Stadium against Sam Houston State. The Bobcats held a commanding lead but watched it slip away as the Bearkats surged back and stole the game on a last second field goal. From there, Texas State’s season had its ups and downs. The team showed flashes of brilliance in Sun Belt play but never quite recaptured its early momentum. Fortunately, a strong finish earned them another trip to the First Responder Bowl, where they capped the season by beating North Texas.
That puts GJ Kinne at 16-10 overall after two years, with two bowl appearances and two bowl wins. Not bad at all. But as every Bobcat fan knows, this program is hungry for more. After so many tough years, supporters deserve to see Texas State contend at the top of the conference.
The 2025 season shapes up as an intriguing and maybe even mysterious one. The hype surrounding this year’s team is much quieter compared to last season, which featured a veteran core and Sun Belt Player of the Year Jordan McCloud. This time around, there are more new faces and inexperienced players. That could actually work in Texas State’s favor.
Last season’s hype created sky high expectations that the team ultimately could not meet. This year, with less fanfare and less pressure, there is room for the Bobcats to surprise, and maybe even exceed expectations. Sometimes, a team plays its best ball as an underdog.
And do not forget, this is only Kinne’s third season in San Marcos. He is one of the youngest head coaches in the game, and with each passing year, he and his staff grow more experienced and more focused. With less noise and fewer distractions this offseason, look for a hungrier, more disciplined Bobcat squad this fall, one that might just embrace its underdog role and make some serious noise on the way to a new chapter in the Pac 12.
Along with this new era of conference realignment comes some exciting changes to the Texas State football coaching staff. Landon Keopple has been promoted to offensive coordinator after serving as the team’s assistant quarterbacks coach and director of recruiting. Keopple is no stranger to Bobcats head coach GJ Kinne. The two previously worked together at Incarnate Word and Hawaii. Tanner Burns joins the program as the new special team’s coordinator. Burns, who coached at Auburn before arriving in San Marcos, also brings a wealth of experience from his time with Kinne at Arkansas.
Dane Evans, Tulsa’s all-time passing leader, takes over as quarterbacks coach for TXST. Randy Martinez returns as the wide receivers coach, further solidifying a strong core of offensive leadership. In a historic move for the program, Justin Owens, known affectionately as “Coach O,” has been named the first general manager in Texas State football history. Owens comes to TXST from North Texas, where he served as director of recruiting since 2022. This groundbreaking hire reflects Texas State’s commitment to making a competitive push in the FBS ranks.
Likewise, the Bobcats welcome Cole Johnson to the staff as an offensive analyst. Johnson, who previously served in the same capacity at Cal, brings valuable expertise to the team. With these additions, Texas State Football enters this new chapter with renewed energy and a bold vision to compete at the highest level.
The 2025 season schedule looks promising, starting with a home opener on Aug. 30 against Eastern Michigan. Things heat up quickly as the Bobcats travel to the Alamodome in Week 2 to face UTSA on Sept. 6 at 2:30 p.m. After the butt-whooping the Roadrunners received last year, you can bet they’ll come into this matchup with revenge on their minds, making this an intriguing early-season test.
Next up is a trip to face Arizona State, just like last season, only this time on the road. The Bobcats put up an impressive performance last year on national television, nearly upsetting the Sun Devils, who went on to make a deep College Football Playoff run. This is another great opportunity for Texas State to take that next big step and gain national recognition.
Following back-to-back road games, the Bobcats return home on Sept. 20 to host Nicholls for Family Weekend in a themed “Battle for the Paddle” game under the lights at 7 p.m. Nicholls went 2-5 last year and 1-6 on the road, so this looks like a good chance for Texas State to protect its home turf.
From then on, all of Texas State’s opponents will be Sun Belt foes, starting with Arkansas State on the road Oct. 4. Last season, the Bobcats rolled the Red Wolves 41-9. If this matchup looks anything like last year’s, Texas State will come out on top.
Next up is Homecoming on Oct. 11 against Troy. The Bobcats handled Troy well last year, winning 38-17 on the road after a collapse against Sam Houston. Back at home this time, Texas State will look to do it again. The Bobcats hit the road the following week for a tough trip to Marshall. The Thundering Herd went 10-3 last year and were undefeated at home (6-0). These two teams did not meet last season, and it’s never easy to go on the road to Huntington. I see this one going in Marshall’s favor.
Then it’s back home for Blackout Night at UFCU Stadium as Texas State hosts James Madison on Oct. 25 for a prime-time game on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. The Dukes went 9-4 last season and 3-3 on the road. This one feels like a toss-up. Given the Bobcats’ electric home-field atmosphere, I’ll give Texas State a slight edge in what should be another thrilling Blackout game.
On Nov. 8, the Bobcats hit the road to take on Louisiana. The Ragin’ Cajuns went 10-4 last year and 6-0 on the road. Last season, they handed Texas State a deflating loss at home, but they were only 4-3 at home themselves. This time, I like Texas State to go on the road and return the favor in Lafayette.
Next up is a trip to Southern Miss on Nov. 15. Last year the Bobcats absolutely annihilated the Golden Eagles 58-3. I expect a similarly lopsided result this time around. Finally, the regular season wraps up on Senior Night, Nov. 29, at home against South Alabama. Last year, Texas State earned a tight 45-38 win in Mobile, and this time they’ll have the home-field edge. Give me the Bobcats to close the regular season with a win.
That puts my optimistic record at 8-4, with projected wins over Eastern Michigan, Nicholls, Arkansas State, Troy, James Madison, Louisiana, Southern Miss, and South Alabama. I see tough road losses at Arizona State and Marshall. Additionally, Louisiana is always tricky and UTSA is the real wild card.
While part of me is ready to declare this the era of Bobcat dominance in this I-35 rivalry, UTSA and its staff have had a long offseason to prepare, and they’ll come out with something to prove after last year’s defeat. Meanwhile, GJ Kinne and the crew will need to make sure they don’t grow complacent after tasting success. It’s always a charged atmosphere when these two teams meet, and my conservative call is that the Bobcats fall just short this time around in a tight one at the Alamodome.
Nonetheless, these are just my predictions. It would be great if Texas State could finally get over the hump and knock off UTSA once again, then go on the road and steal wins at Marshall and Arizona State. Something has to give after back-to-back 8-5 seasons. The Bobcat fan base is ready for more. Eat ’Em Up, Cats!
