A dark time is upon the Texas State football program as it lost its third consecutive game at Marshall on Saturday. This is the first time under coach G.J. Kinne that the Bobcats have lost three in a row.
The three losses all have a consistent theme: the offense starts off hot, cools down, and then the defense can’t get a stop down the stretch. Sprinkle in some special teams errors and questionable coaching decisions, and that’s the formula for three straight conference losses.
Kinne is now 9-10 against the Sun Belt and 4-7 in October at Texas State. Obviously, there is something about these Sun Belt teams that give him fits, and the middle-of-the-season stretch has not been kind to him in his three seasons at Texas State. Going forward with five games remaining, something has to change — whether it’s a personnel adjustment or a scheme shift.
Three losses in a row, yet three weeks where the offense has compiled more than 500 total yards. Make that make sense. Generally, when you have a No. 1-ranked offense — Texas State being the best offense in the conference — you win games. But not quite with this team. The defense just can’t seem to get a stop down the stretch. It started with Arkansas State, then at Troy last week we saw the same collapse in overtime, and this week was no different. It’s almost like the same game being played with different opponents and locations. It’s maddening, and the coaches are on the hot seat right now, particularly defensive coordinator Dexter McCoil.
Many pundits online are speculating about and advocating for his removal. Whether these comments are too harsh is hard to determine after three straight losses where the defense has not played particularly well down the stretch.
Ultimately, everything falls on coach Kinne, which he pointed out to the media following the loss to Marshall. Kinne is known for his aggressive approach on offense, and while he’s an excellent offensive mind, he’s been too aggressive during this three-game skid — opting to go for it on fourth down instead of taking the points with a field goal. Hindsight is 20/20, but had he chosen to be a bit more analytical in those moments, the Bobcats would likely be in a much better position.
It’s unfortunate for the players and the fan base to endure this rough patch, especially considering Texas State was picked to finish No. 2 in the Sun Belt West Division in the preseason. Now, the Bobcats sit at the bottom of the standings. It almost feels like a waste of such a talented offense, but it goes to show the importance of complementary football.
It’s a tough situation because the defense has shown signs of growth. In the Arkansas State game, the Bobcats recorded five sacks and eight tackles for loss. Against Troy, they delivered a solid first half defensively, and at Marshall, they came away with an interception. It’s not as if they’re giving up — they’re clearly trying to get things right but have just come up short. But at this point, Texas State can’t afford these lapses. It’s a slap in the face when the offense is performing at such a high level. Defensive coordinator Dexter McCoil’s seat grows hotter with each loss, but with he and coach Kinne being such good friends, don’t expect any changes until after the season.
So the season is all but tarnished. It’s going to be hard to overcome this, even if the Bobcats win the rest of their games — which they likely will not. However, Texas State has a loaded recruiting class coming in next season, so there’s still hope. Not all is lost, especially with the upcoming transition to the Pac-12. For the remaining five games, there needs to be significant improvement on the defensive side of the ball. Nobody wants to see anyone lose their job, but if push comes to shove, it may be necessary. The Bobcats will host James Madison (6-1) on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in San Marcos.
