SAN MARCOS, Texas — The Texas State football team (1-5, 1-2 in the Sun Belt) will conclude its non-conference schedule when the Bobcats travel to Provo, Utah, to battle nationally-ranked BYU (5-0) on Saturday, Oct. 24. Kickoff is slated for 9:15 p.m. (CT) and can be seen on ESPN and heard on KTSW (89.9 FM in San Marcos) or the TuneIn App. This game will be the first time that BYU has played a home game with fans in the stands.
LOOKING AT THE BOBCATS
Saturday's game at BYU marks the first time Texas State has played a ranked opponent since traveling to Boone, N.C., to play then-No. 24 Appalachian State on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. The Cougars are the highest-ranked team the Bobcats have played since opening the 2019 season at then-No. 11 Texas A&M.
Texas State is ranked eighth nationally in offensive first downs and 38th in passing offense. The Bobcats are ranked 11th nationally in defensive touchdowns, 37th in turnovers gained, 28th in interceptions, and 37th in fumbles recovered. Texas State leads the nation in punt returns and is ranked sixth in blocked kicks and 13th in kick return defense.
Jarron Morris enters Saturday's game ranked eighth in the country (second among Sun Belt Conference players) in total interceptions as Morris has picked off two passes in six games this season.
Seamus O'Kelly has been booming kicks this season and is averaging 40.2 yards per punt. He enters the BYU game ranked second among Sun Belt players and 35th in the nation. O'Kelly had a career-long 65-yard punt in the middle of a hurricane when the Bobcats played at Troy on Oct. 10.
Jah'Marae Sheread comes into Saturday's contest as the Sun Belt's leader in combined kick return yardage after accumulating 328 kick return yards through six games this season. Sheread's return total places him third in the nation.
Marcell Barbee is flirting with a spot in the top 10 among FBS players in touchdown receptions as his four TD catches places him 11th nationally and among the top four leaders in the Sun Belt.
Calvin Hill leads Texas State in rushing with 325 yards, yards per carry with 5.24, and rushing yards per game with 54.2. He is tied with
Brock Sturges for the team lead with three TD runs. He ranks among the Sun Belt's top five leaders in each of those categories.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
BYU's 5-0 start to the 2020 season marks the first time the Cougars have started a season with a 5-0 record since the 2008 campaign. The Cougars are ranked No. 11 in the Amway Coaches Poll and No. 12 in The Associated Press Top 25.
BYU enters Saturday's contest against Texas State with a 5-0 record after knocking off Navy (55-3), Troy (48-7), Louisiana Tech (45-14), UTSA (27-20), and Houston (43-26). Saturday's game is the fourth time the Cougars have played on ESPN this season.
So far this season, BYU quarterback Zach Wilson has completed 107 of 136 pass attempts for 1,641 yards and 12 touchdowns while throwing only one interception. He is averaging 328.2 passing yards a game with a passing efficiency of 207.68. Wilson has also accounted for 100 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Wilson enters Saturday's game ranked in the top five in the FBS in completion percentage (1; 78.7), passing efficiency (2; 207.7), passing yards (3; 1,641), points responsible for (3; 110), and yards per pass attempt (2; 12.07).
Kicker Jake Oldroyd leads BYU in scoring as the kicker has recorded a team-high 39 points after connecting on five field goals and making all 24 extra-point attempts. Wilson ranks second on the team with 36 points.
Isaiah Kaufusi and Keenan Pili have combined to record 64 total tackles (32 each, respectively) to pace the Cougar defense. Troy Warner leads BYU with two interceptions, while Max Tooley has one other interception.
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game will mark the first time Texas State and BYU will meet on the gridiron.
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