2006 Texas State Football Schedule

March 1, 2006

SAN MARCOS - Six home dates and the university's first game against a Southeastern Conference opponent highlights Texas State's 2006 football schedule released on Wednesday.

"We are excited about the 2006 schedule," said Texas State football coach David Bailiff. "Again, we have six home dates for our fans. I think there is more parity in the Southland Conference than at any time in the history of the league and we have put together a competitive schedule that will challenge us weekly."

The Bobcats open the year Sept. 2 against Tarleton State. The game will mark the first meeting between the two former Lone Star Conference rivals since 1975. Last year Tarleton State posted a 7-3 record and was a win away from winning its third LSC championship in five years.

Following the season opener, Texas State travels to Kentucky to take on an SEC opponent for the first time. The game will mark the home opener for the Wildcats who were 3-8 in 2005. The Kentucky game also means Texas State will run its streak of playing at least one NCAA Division I-A. opponent to eight straight years.

Texas State will play host to two other nonconference games. Northern Colorado travels to San Marcos Sept. 16 while the Bobcats fill a late-season open date in its Southland Conference schedule with a Nov. 11 game against Texas Southern. Texas State also travels to Southern Utah on Sept. 23 to wrap up a home-and-home series with the Thunderbirds.

After a late September open date, Texas State begins defense of its 2005 Southland Conference championship when the Bobcats play host to Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 7. Texas State will also take on Southeastern Louisiana (Oct. 21) and 2005 co-champion Nicholls State (Nov. 4) at Bobcat Stadium.

Texas State will play league games on the road at three schools who between them have been to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs nine times since 2000.

The Bobcats will be on the road for SLC games against McNeese State (Oct. 14), Northwestern State (Oct. 28) and Sam Houston State (Nov. 18).

Texas State posted an 11-3 record last year, winning a share of its first Southland Conference championships and advancing to the NCAA Division I-AA semifinals.

"We believe we have assembled another fan-friendly schedule that includes three opponents from the state of Texas," said Texas State athletics director Dr. Larry Teis. "Six home games provides plenty of opportunities for us to continue the momentum we established last season, and we hope our fan base continues to expand in 2006."