San Marcos, Texas- Athletic director Larry Teis and head coach Dennis Franchione announced that the Texas State football team will play non-conference home games against Big 12 Conference member Texas Tech and nationally-ranked Nevada when the Bobcats begin their first season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference in 2012.
“This was our first schedule as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision and we are very pleased that we have six home games for the 2012 season,” said Teis. “We always strive to construct a schedule that features balance in terms of home and away games. The fact that we have home games scheduled against teams from the Big 12 and Mountain West Conferences in our first year as a FBS school is very exciting.”
Texas State opens the season with a road game at the University of Houston on September 1 before returning home to play host to Texas Tech on Sept. 8.
“This is certainly a bonafide FBS schedule,” said Franchione. “Our fans will have the opportunity to see some good, quality teams here at home.”
The Red Raiders will be the first football team to play at Texas State after renovations are scheduled to be completed at the Bobcat Stadium. These renovations include adding a North End Zone Complex that nearly doubles the seating capacity for the stadium from 16,000 to just under 30,000. It also marks the first time a team from the Big XII Conference will play in Bobcat Stadium.
“It will be a tremendous home opener to have Texas Tech play here after the stadium renovation is complete,” added Franchione. “We will have a great crowd, and it will be part of magnificent day and time for our program.”
Following the historic game against Texas Tech, the Bobcats have an open date before playing host to intrastate rival and Southland Conference member Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 22.
Texas State also plays host to Nevada on September 29 in the first of two straight games against teams from the Mountain West Conference.
In the second contest on Oct. 6, the Bobcats travel to New Mexico, which is where Franchione served as head coach from 1992-98.
“I have fond memories of my time there so it will be a little nostalgic and a bit emotional day for me,” said Franchione. “It is a good game for us to play.”
Texas State also plays its final non-conference regular season game on Nov. 17 when the Bobcats travel to Navy.
“I have coached in Annapolis before, and it is a special place to go with the flyovers and history there,” added Franchione. “It will be a great trip for our fans. Their program is playing at a high level now and going to bowl games every year. They are very efficient at running that offense and we will be playing a good football team,”
The Western Athletic Conference has not released the dates for the league's 2012 schedule, but the Bobcats will play conference home games against Louisiana Tech, Idaho and New Mexico State. Texas State will play WAC road games at UTSA, Utah State and San Jose State.
“It's great that we will be part of the Western Athletic Conference,” concluded Franchione. “We are bringing a lot of good teams to San Marcos and are giving our fans a taste of what it is like to be a FBS program.”
Bobcat fans are encouraged to get their season tickets for the 2011 season today so they will have the first opportunity to purchase the best seats for the 2012 campaign. Season Tickets can be purchased on-line by logging onto www.txstatebobcats.com/tickets or by calling 512-245-2272.
2012 Texas State Football Schedule
Non-Conference Games
Sept. 1 at Houston
Sept. 8 Texas Tech
Sept. 22 Stephen F. Austin
Sept. 29 Nevada
Oct. 6 at New Mexico
Nov. 17 at Navy
Western Athletic Conference Games
Home
Louisiana Tech
Idaho
New Mexico State
Road
San Jose State
UTSA
Utah State
