San Marcos, Texas – The Sun Belt Conference announced Saturday that Texas State will play home games against both of the two defending SBC co-champions and will make its first appearance on ESPN2 since the 2005 season.
"It is exciting to finally identify when we are going to play people and see the sequence of the schedule," said Texas State head coach
Dennis Franchione. "We have a midweek game at home and I am hoping that our student body will embrace it and show up in full force. I think that the weeknight games will be appealing to them."
Texas State opens its Sun Belt Conference schedule on Oct. 4 when the Bobcats play host to Idaho. It marks the third straight year that the Bobcats will play the Vandals and second time they have played conference games versus each other dating back to their days in the WAC.
Then, the Bobcats will be nationally featured at Bobcat Stadium on ESPN2 when they host defending SBC co-champion UL Lafayette at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
"This is a nationally televised game in Bobcat Stadium on ESPN2," said Texas State athletic director Larry Teis. "We have not had this opportunity since our 2005 FCS Playoff run. Yes, it is a Tuesday night and some may find it difficult to make it to Bobcat Stadium. Everyone involved needs to make every effort to show our Bobcat Pride on this Tuesday night so we show what our university is all about. A full stadium with a lot of pride, showing the nation we are proud Bobcats."
The Bobcats also host to the other defending SBC co-champion when they face Arkansas State on Nov. 22 at Bobcat Stadium.
"This is a great chance for our fans to see two of the elite teams in the Sun Belt Conference play in our stadium," said Franchione. "It is also good for us to play them with our crowd behind us."
The Bobcats play their first SBC road game on Oct. 25 when the Bobcats travel to UL Monroe. They also go to New Mexico State on Nov. 1 before returning home to play host to former FCS perennial powerhouse Georgia Southern on Nov. 8. Georgia Southern also had one of the biggest upsets in all of college football last year when it beat Florida at "The Swamp."
Texas State plays another SBC road game at South Alabama on Nov. 15 before closing out the regular season on Nov. 29 when it plays at Georgia State.
The Bobcats begin the 2014 season playing non-conference games against teams from the Big 10 Conference, Conference USA and Southwestern Athletic Conference. Texas State opens the season with a pair of home games against Arkansas-Pine Bluff of the SWAC on Aug. 30 before the first open date of the season precedes Texas State's battle against Navy on Sept. 13.
"Saturday, September 13, will be a special day at Bobcat Stadium," said Teis. "We already have a tremendous amount of interest in the game. Several years ago, we played Army in a NCAA Baseball Regional at Austin, and our student-athletes and fans enjoyed the experience. Two years ago, we traveled to Annapolis in what was a memorable experience for all of us. Two weeks ago, our baseball team played the Air Force Academy and our fans showed a tremendous amount of respect for their student-athletes. We are really looking forward to hosting these fine young men and everyone associated with the Armed Forces at Bobcat Stadium."
Texas State closes out its non-conference schedule with road games at Big 10 Conference member Illinois on Sept. 20 and at Tulsa of C-USA on Sept. 27.
"This is another great schedule for our fans," concluded Teis. "Each year, it is becoming more and more difficult to play six home football games which gives your players, coaches, students and alumni the opportunity to enjoy the games in Bobcat Stadium."
