SAN MARCOS — Coming off an emotional victory, the Texas State Bobcats face a quick turnaround as Big 12 opponent Arizona State visits on Thursday.
This matchup marks the first meeting between the programs and will be televised on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. Both teams enter the contest undefeated (2-0). Texas State is riding high after its recent victory last Saturday over longtime rival UTSA, while Arizona State defeated Mississippi State.
“I love the challenge. A Big 12 opponent coming to Texas,” Texas State head coach GJ Kinne said. “They’re going to be fired up. It’s a big game for them.”
Indeed, it will be a challenge for the Bobcats to stop the Arizona State offense. Last week, ASU running back Cameron Skattebo rushed for a career-high 262 yards on 33 carries, earning AP Player of the Week honors. This is the FBS single-game high so far this season.
“It’s my second time playing him. He was at Sacramento State. We played them when I was at UIW,” Kinne said. “As soon as he entered the portal, I offered him. I had to have been his first offer. I think the world of that guy and the way he plays the game.”
In addition to the Sun Devils’ impressive running back, their quarterback, Sam Leavitt, will be challenging to stop. Leavitt is a dual-threat quarterback, able to scramble and run just as well as he can throw downfield. Kinne admits that Leavitt will be the best quarterback they face all season.
It is safe to say that the Bobcats will have their hands full on Thursday night, but the same can be said for Arizona State. The Sun Devils are led by head coach Kenny Dillingham. Interestingly, he and Kinne are among the youngest coaches in college football.
It is no secret that Dillingham likes to recruit in Texas; in fact, this ASU team has the most Texas recruits it has ever had. Following their game against Texas State, they will travel to Lubbock to face Texas Tech in a Big 12 matchup.
“I think it’s great for us to have more Texas kids on the roster than we’ve ever had,” Dillingham said. “Now we play back-to-back games there, so it’s awesome for those guys to get to go back home.”
Coming off an impressive victory against Mississippi State, Dillingham knows the threat that awaits them Thursday evening, giving high praise to the Bobcats.
“This is the best football team we’ve played. These guys play hard. You watch their tape; these guys play with passion and with a chip. They’re explosive. We have to be fresh; we have to be healthy, and we have to be fundamentally sound.”
Conversely, the Sun Devils will be the toughest opponent Texas State has faced this season and potentially for the entire season. However, I wouldn’t want to play Texas State right now, coming off the biggest win in program history. There is a lot of buzz around this Texas State program, and they will get to showcase their capabilities to the country on national television Thursday night.
Texas State’s potential this year is no longer a secret after they trampled UTSA last Saturday. With that being said, the Bobcats cannot afford to celebrate the victory for too long with the Sun Devils coming to town.
Coach Kinne has completely changed the narrative of Texas State football in a very short time. Last year, the program had its best season ever, winning eight games and its first bowl game. The success has continued with a strong offseason and the first two games of this year. Coach Kinne’s impact on this program is evident, and Coach Dillingham has noticed.
“He’s one of the youngest coaches in college football. I think he’s put together an incredible football team, and I think people should talk more about the job he’s done,” Dillingham said. “He’s going to be on most of the head coaches’ watch lists to be a head coach at the Power Four level. This is a football team that is a Power Four team, in my opinion.”
This is a big-time opportunity for Texas State and Coach Kinne to gain national recognition. It’s an intriguing matchup, especially with ASU running back earning AP Player of the Week honors. The Texas State defense will need to step up.
If the Bobcats weather the storm of the ASU offensive attack with their weapons and keep them in check, it sets up the offense to do what it does best: score quickly with McCloud leading the charge. All things considered; it will be a great opportunity for both programs to showcase their abilities on national television.
