SAN MARCOS, Texas — Head coach Jake Spavital and the Texas State football program returns to the gridiron this weekend when the Bobcats host ULM on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. CT for the university's annual Homecoming game. 

The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ as Brant Freeman and Keith Moreland call the game's action. Koral Riggs will bring stories to light as the broadcast's sideline reporter. 
On the airwaves, Clint Shields and Geff Gandy will describe the contest's action on KTSW (89.9 FM in San Marcos) and the Varsity Network app. 

LOOKING AT THE BOBCATS

Under head coach Jake Spavital, Texas State is 1-1 in Homecoming games heading into this weekend. In Spavital's first season (2019), Texas State earned a 30-28 win over South Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 9 when quarterback Tyler Vitt threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns while also leading the team with 42 rushing yards. A year later, Louisiana bested the Bobcats, 44-34, during the program's 2020 edition of Homecoming despite a career-high 128 rushing yard and two touchdown evening from running back Brock Sturgis. 

First-year Bobcat student-athlete Troy Lefeged, Jr., is on the right path to earning postseason all-conference honors as, through eight games this season, the Utah State transfer is leading the team with 54.0 total tackles. Lefeged's 6.8 tackles per game rank seventh in the Sun Belt Conference and is 0.4 tackles ahead of senior inside linebacker Markeveon Coleman for the team lead. Lefeged, Jr., also has 2.0 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry, a pass breakup, and an interception. 

In two games against ULM under head coach Jake Spavital, quarterback Tyler Vitt is 17 of 29 for 328 yards and three touchdowns and an interception through the air. On the ground, Vitt has rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He's the only Bobcat to total 100-or-more rushing yards when combining statistics from the 2019 and 2020 contests. 

SCOUTING THE WARHAWKS

ULM comes into this weekend with a 4-4, 2-3 record. The Warhawks are looking for their first bowl appearance since finishing 6-6 in 2018. A winning record this season would be the first time ULM finished the season with a record over .500 since going 8-5 in 2012. The Warhawks already have conference wins over Troy and South Alabama this season. 

Like Texas State's opponent — Georgia State — two weeks ago, ULM has a reliable place kicker in Calum Sutherland. Sutherland ranks fifth in the conference with a 75.0 conversion rating and second in the league with 1.50 field goals per game. He's also fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in total points scored with 56 and fifth in the SBC in 7.0 points per game. 

ULM enters this weekend ranked first in the Sun Belt in fewest penalties (32), fewest penalties per game (4.0), fewest penalty yards (289) and fewest penalty yards per game (36.12). The quartet of statistics rank the Warhawks in the top 10 in each of those categories.  

SERIES HISTORY

Texas State will enter Saturday's game looking for its second set of back-to-back wins over ULM in series history. The Bobcats knocked off the Warhawks in 2014 and 2015. TXST is 1-2 all-time against ULM when the Bobcats won the previous season. 

ULM leads the all-time series 12-5, which includes a 6-2 record against Texas State in games played in San Marcos. The last time the Bobcats beat the Warhawks in San Marcos came on Oct. 19, 2015, when TXST won 16-3. 

Even though the series history dates back to Sept. 20, 1986, since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2013, ULM only leads the conference series history 5-3. 
Last season, Texas State won, 38-17, in Monroe, La., as quarterback Tyler Vitt passed for 256 yards and rushed for 82 more. 

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