SAN MARCOS, Texas — The Texas State football program will look to bounce back from last weekend's game against Troy when the Bobcats travel to Atlanta, Ga., to play the Georgia State Panthers at 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 23. 

Matt Steward and Sam Crenshaw will call the game's action on ESPN+. On the airwaves, Clint Shields and Geff Gandy can be heard on KTSW (89.9 FM in San Marcos) and The Varsity Network. 

LOOKING AT THE BOBCATS

Georgia State holds a special place in Texas State head coach Jake Spavital's heart as he earned the first victory of his head coaching career over the Panthers on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. The win over the Panthers in San Marcos was the first for Texas State in the 2019 season and was the first home conference win for the Bobcats — at the time — since beating ULM, 16-3, on Nov. 19, 2015. 

Despite not having one against Troy last weekend, freshman linebacker Issiah Nixon still leads the nation with a 0.67 forced fumbles per game clip. In six games played this season, Nixon has been credited with a team-high four forced fumbles. 

After throwing for three scores against Troy last weekend, Texas State sophomore quarterback Brady McBride extended his consecutive games played with a passing touchdown streak to 15 in a row. McBride, since appearing in his first game as a Bobcat against SMU to open the 2020 season on Sept. 5, 2020, has thrown at least one touchdown in every game of his Texas State career. McBride enters this weekend's game with 29 career passing touchdowns, which is good enough for sixth on the program's career passing touchdown list.  

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS

Georgia State heads into this weekend's football contest with a 2-4, 1-1 record to this point of the season. The Panthers have knocked off Charlotte (20-9) in non-conference action, before taking down ULM, 55-21, two weeks ago. GSU's lone additional conference action this season was a 45-16 defeat against Appalachian State on Oct. 2. 

The offensive line is a consistent strength for Georgia State has the five starters have combined for 165 career starts with left guard Shamarious Gilmore leading the way with 52 starts. Right guard Pat Bartlett and center Malik Sumter have started 35 and 34 games, respectively, with left tackle Travis Glover finding his name among the starters 29 times. Right tackle Johnathan Bass has drawn a starting assignment 15 times. 

Another position of strength for Georgia State is place kicker as Noel Ruiz is one of the best in the nation. Ruiz enters Saturday's contest ranked fifth on the active FBS career points leader board with 356. He's connected on 56 career field goal attempts and 188 career point after touchdown conversions. 

SERIES HISTORY

Texas State leads the all-time series against Georgia State with a 4-3 mark. The Bobcats are currently riding a two-game winning streak over the Panthers. 

The last time the Texas State and Georgia State football programs met on the gridiron, the Bobcats knocked off the Panthers, 37-34, in triple overtime in San Marcos on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. Running back Caleb Twyford shinned throughout the contest as he finished with 137 rushing yards on 27 attempts. 

Saturday's contest will mark the first time Texas State has played at Center Parc Stadium under head coach Jake Spavital.  

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