Game #8
Texas State (3-4, 1-2 Sun Belt) vs. Southern Miss (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022
Bobcat Stadium | San Marcos, Texas
Kickoff: 4 PM
TV: ESPN+
            Brant Freeman (Play-by-Play)
            Keith Moreland (Analyst)
            Koral Riggs (Sideline)
Radio: KTSW 89.9 & Varsity Network (free app)
            Clint Shields (Play-by-play)
            Geff Gandy (analyst)
Twitter Updates: @TXSTATEFOOTBALL
 
 
SETTING THE TABLE
Looking to defend its perfect record at home this season, Texas State will host new Sun Belt foe Southern Miss for Homecoming on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium. The 4 pm game pits Sun Belt West Division opponents against each other as both look to move into the top-three in the division.
 
The Bobcats lost last week at Troy in a 17-14 result. Despite the fewest points allowed to a conference opponent in more than two years, Texas State surrendered a fourth-quarter touchdown to see its lead disappear with 11 minutes remaining in the game.
 
Saturday's meeting will be the first between Texas State and Southern Miss since 2015. The two played in San Marcos that season, scoring a combined 106 points before the Golden Eagles pulled out a 56-50 victory in nonconference action. The two had their first meeting in 2013 in Hattiesburg, Miss., when the Bobcats downed Southern Miss, 22-15.
 
Southern Miss enters Saturday with a come-from-behind 20-19 win over Arkansas State in its homecoming game last weekend. The Golden Eagles scored 13 of their 20 points in the fourth quarter to secure their first Sun Belt Conference win.
 
The Golden Eagles, who are in their first season in the Sun Belt, are top-10 in the country in sacks and tackles for loss. Its team defense is ranked 58th in the country and 8th in the Sun Belt.
 
WELL, I TOOK A WALK

• Texas State holds a 3-0 record at home this year, its best start to a home schedule since 2011.
• The Bobcats are one of 38 FBS teams this year with an unblemished home record. They are one of 5 Sun Belt teams with that distinction (others: James Madison, South Alabama, Troy, Georgia Southern).
• Texas State's 3 home wins this season are its most in a campaign since 2019.
• The Bobcats are looking to start 4-0 at home for the first time since 2005.
• They have not had 4 home wins total in a season since 2013.
• In 2005, Texas State went 9-1 at home (7-0 in the regular season) on its way to a Southland Conference co-championship and appearance in the Division I-AA Semifinals. The only home loss in that season was to Northern Iowa in the Division I-AA semifinal game.
• Texas State has been 3-0 at home in a season 9 times in its Division I history: 1984, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2022.
• The Bobcats, meanwhile, have only gone 4-0 at home to start a season 2 times in its 39-year history at the Division I level: 1997 and 2005.

 
AROUND THE WORLD TO EASE MY TROUBLED MIND

• The juxtaposition of Texas State's home and road results tells the story of the Bobcat season so far.
• While Texas State is 3-0 at home and averaging 37.0 points per game, it is 0-4 on the road with 12.0 points scored.
• On average, the Bobcats are outscoring their opponents by a margin of 25.0 points at home. On the road, they are being outscored by a margin of 22.3 points.
• Texas State is outscoring its opponents 68-9 in the first half of home games (21-64 in the first half on the road).

 
Home           Stat                                         Road
3-0                Record                                     0-4
37.0              Points for/Game                     12.0
12.0              Points against/Game              34.3
132.0            Rushing Yds/Game                 68.8
421.7            Total Offense                          275.3
295.0            Total Defense                          410.3
49%              Third Down Conversion          31%
 
I LEFT MY BODY

• The Texas State defense limited Troy to 17 points last week, which were the fewest points allowed by the Bobcats in a conference game since Sept. 19, 2020 vs. ULM (W, 38-17).
• It was the first time Texas State allowed 17 points or less in a conference loss since Nov. 17, 2018 at Troy. In that game, the Trojans outlasted the Bobcats, 12-7. Troy kicked all field goals for its 12 points while Texas State scored a fourth-quarter touchdown for the final score of the game.
• In its FBS history, Texas State has allowed 17 points or less in 8 different conference games. It has a 5-3 record in those contests.

 
LYING SOMEWHERE IN THE SANDS OF TIME

• Texas State enters this week against Southern Miss ranked 58th in the country in scoring defense with 24.7 points allowed per game. It is 7th among Sun Belt teams.
• The Bobcats have dropped their points allowed week-to-week in Sun Belt play so far, going from 40 points at JMU to 24 points vs. App State to 17 at Troy.
• Texas State's 81 points allowed in its first 3 conference games are its fewest to start a conference season since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2013.
• The previous low for fewest points allowed in the first 3 games of a Sun Belt slate by Texas State was 82 in 2014.
• In 2012, as a member of the WAC, Texas State surrendered 76 points in its first 3 conference games.
• Texas State is 8th in the Sun Belt with 27.0 points allowed per conference game. Southern Miss is 4th (23.0 points/conference game).

 
BUT I WATCHED THE WORLD

• Texas State's defense had a standout game in many ways at Troy last weekend, including forcing 5 three-and-outs and 7 punts.
• The 5 three-and-outs matched the most generated by the Bobcat defense this year (other: at James Madison, Oct. 1).
• The 7 punts forced marked the 4th time this year Texas State has gotten its opponent to punt 7+ times in a game but first in a Sun Belt contest.
• The last time Texas State forced a conference opponent into 7 or more punts in a game was Oct. 26, 2019 vs. Arkansas State (L, 14-38).
• The Bobcats had 2 combined games of 7+ punts in the previous 2 seasons and 5 combined over the 3 previous seasons.
• Texas State only allowed Troy past the Texas State 47-yard line once in the second half: when the Trojans scored the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
• The Bobcats limited the Trojans to less than 40 yards on 8 of their 13 drives.

 
FLOAT TO THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

• In the last 2 weeks, Texas State is averaging 20.5 points against and 421 yards of total defense – but it has limited opponents to 2.7 yards per rush.
• The Bobcat defense limited App State to 41 rushing yards and Troy to 107 on a combined 55 rushing attempts.
• Texas State has not allowed a rush longer than 16 yards in the last 2 games and only one over 10 yards.
• For the season, Texas State is holding opponents to 3.9 yards per attempt and 125.0 yards per game.
• The Bobcats have the 40th-best rushing defense this season (6th in the Sun Belt).

 
I FEEL THERE'S NOTHING

• The Bobcats had 3.0 sacks against Troy last week, its third game of 3.0+ sacks this year.
• Texas State had 2 games last season with 3.0+ sacks.
• The last time Texas State had 4 games in a season with 3.0+ sacks was in 2014 (4). That year, the team finished with a school FBS record 28.0 sacks.
• The Bobcats are 2 sacks shy of matching the output from all of last season (18.0).

 
Most Sacks in a Season, Team
Texas State FBS History
1.     28.0              2014
2.     20.0              2017
3.     18.0              2021
4.     17.0              2013
5.     16.0              2022
        16.0              2015
 
I CAN DO, YEAH

• When it comes to turnovers and takeaways, Texas State has improved upon its performance from its season opener at Nevada.
• The Bobcats had no turnovers in the game at Troy last week, which marked the first time since the 2021 season finale against Arkansas State in which it did not turn the ball over in a game.
• The Bobcats have less than 2 turnovers in 4 different games this year (2-2 record).
• Last year, Texas State was 3-2 in games in which it did not turn the ball over.
• The Bobcats also won the turnover margin against Troy last weekend, which was the third time that has happened this season. The Bobcats are 1-2 in games in which it wins the turnover margin (other loss: at Baylor, Sept. 17; win: vs. App State, Oct. 8).
• In the last 5 games, Texas State has a +2 turnover margin.
• For the season, the Bobcats have a -1 turnover margin (81st in the country).
• However, Texas State is 28th in the nation in takeaways this season (12).

 
I WATCHED THE WORLD

• Texas State did not surrender a sack in the game at Troy last weekend, a first since Nov. 6, 2021 at ULM.
• The Bobcats were averaging 2.5 sacks allowed per game until the game against Troy.
• The Trojans are still among the nation's leader in sacks, averaging 3.14 per game (13th in the nation).
• Southern Miss, meanwhile, is 6th in the nation in sacks per game with 3.67.

 
TO THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

• Texas State had 2 "big" plays at Troy: the 64-yard touchdown reception by Lincoln Pare and a 24-yard reception by Titus Lyons. Troy, meanwhile, had 6 plays of 20+ yards.
• Texas State created 88 total yards through its "big" plays and finished with 301 total yards of offense.
• The Bobcats averaged 44.0 yards on "big" plays and 3.7 yards/play on the other 58 plays.
• Of Troy's 406 total yards, 209 were on the 6 "big" plays (average: 34.8 yards/play). The Trojans averaged 3.5 yards/play on the other 56 plays it ran last weekend.
• Troy completed 6-of-13 attempts on pass plays of 15 or more yards while Texas State was 1-of-7.

 
AFTER ALL I KNEW

• Since having 11 penalties in the season opener at Nevada, Texas State has gone week-by-week in improving in that category.
• The Bobcats are averaging 4.8 penalties per game in the last 6 contests. They have had 5 or fewer penalties in 3 of those 6 games.
• The Bobcats had a season-low 2 penalties at Troy last weekend, their fewest in a game since it had one at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 20, 2021.
• Texas State has had 2 or fewer penalties in 10 different games during its FBS history. It is 0-10 in those games.

 
IT HAD TO BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOU

• After slow starts in the third quarter in the first 5 games of the season, the Bobcats have turned around their third quarter performance in the last 2 contests.
• In the last 2 games, Texas State is outscoring its opponents 16-7 in the third quarter.
• In the first 5 games of the year, the Bobcats were outscored 38-10 in the third quarter.
• In conference games, Texas State is being outgained 380-233 in the third quarter. It has 10 first downs to their Sun Belt opponents' 16 in the period.

 
I REALLY DON'T MIND

• Jordan Revels is coming off a career-high day at Troy as he totaled personal-bests in sacks (2.0) and tackles (9).
• Revels, who moved from defensive line to outside linebacker this season, is second on the team with 3.5 sacks this season and tied for 3rd in tackles.
• The 9 tackles at Troy surpassed his previous career-high of 8 set on Oct. 16, 2021 also against Troy.
• In addition to his career-high 3.5 sacks this year, Revels has 7 quarterback hurries. He has 17 quarterback hurries in his career, which is 9th-most in program history.

 
WHAT HAPPENS NOW AND THEN

• Last week, defensive lineman Levi Bell was added to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, which is the award given to the nation's top defensive player.
• In his first season as a Bobcat, Bell is 24th in the nation in TFLs/game with 1.3.
• Bell is tied for 15th in the country with 5.0 sacks.
• Bell has 40 tackles, 5.0 sacks and 9.0 TFLs in 7 games this year. He also has 4 quarterback hurries.
• He is one of 3 players in the country with 40+ tackles and 5.0+ sacks this season.

 
AS LONG AS YOU'LL BE MY FRIEND AT THE END

• The Texas State defense is filled with veteran players, and 3 are on the school's FBS top-10 for career tackles.
• Jarron Morris (4th), Sione Tupou (8th), and Nico Ezidore (10th) are among the program's top tacklers in its FBS history.
• Jordan Revels (13th) and Kordell Rodgers (14th) are also among some of the career tackles leaders in the school's FBS era.

 
Most Career Tackles
Texas State, FBS History
1.      Bryan London              460                  2016-19
2.      David Mayo                 284                  2012-14
3.      Nikolas Daniels           236                  2016-19
4.      Jarron Morris              213                  2018-Current
5.      Ishmael Davis              190                  2015-19
6.      Frankie Griffin             187                  2016-19
7.      Gabe Loyd                   184                  2016-17
8.      Sione Tupou               181                  2020-Current
9.      Caeveon Patton          179                  2017-21
10.    Nico Ezidore               176                  2018-Current
 
IF I GO CRAZY

• Ashtyn Hawkins had 6 receptions for 42 yards at Troy as he continues to lead the Bobcat receivers.
• The sophomore leads the team with 49 catches – which are 31 more than the next closest Bobcat – and 479 yards.
• He is tied for 7th in the nation for receptions this year.
• He is also tied for 14th in the country in receiving touchdowns.
• In the Sun Belt, Hawkins leads the conference in receptions, is tied for 11th in receiving yards, and is tied for 2nd in receiving touchdowns.
• Marcell Barbee, in 2020, was the last Bobcat to finish in the Sun Belt's top-10 in total receptions. He had 40 that season.

 
THEN WILL YOU STILL CALL ME SUPERMAN?

• Ashtyn Hawkins' 49 catches this year are the most by a Bobcat since Hutch White had 67 in 2019.
• Hawkins is averaging 7.0 catches per game this year; White, who holds the school FBS record for receptions in a season, finished the 2019 campaign with 5.6 receptions per game.
• Hawkins needs 7 more catches to crack Texas State's all-time top-10 for receptions in a season.
• He is currently 5th on the school's FBS all-time top-10, trailing Keenen Brown (51) for the 4th spot.
• Hawkins has 6 or more catches in 5 of the 7 games this year and in each of the last 2.

 
Most Receptions, Single-Season
Texas State, FBS Era (Since 2012)
1.     Hutch White                67            2019
2.     C.J. Best                       58            2015
3.     Elijah King                    52            2017
4.     Keenen Brown            51            2018
5.     Ashtyn Hawkins          49            2022
 
IF I'M ALIVE AND WELL

• Lincoln Pare totaled 140 all-purpose yards and 2 touchdowns in the narrow loss at Troy.
• Pare scored the only two Texas State touchdowns: a 64-yard reception to start the second half and 3-yard rush to end the first half.
• The 64-yard touchdown reception was the second-longest of his career.
• He averaged 6.7 yards per play from scrimmage.
• Pare, who has all 3 of his touchdowns in the last 2 games, has matched his career-high for touchdowns in a season.

 
WILL YOU BE THERE AND HOLDING MY HAND?

• Javen Banks had 2 catches for 22 yards in the loss at Troy, moving him up the Texas State all-time career lists.
• Banks, a fifth-year senior, enters this weekend 6th in program history in career receiving yards.
• He needs 4 yards to pass Daren Dillard (2008-10) for 5th on the all-time list.
• Banks is also tied for 3rd in program history for career touchdown catches.
• He needs 2 touchdown catches to match Johnny Parker (1969-71) for 2nd on the career list.

 
Most Career Receiving Yards
Texas State, All-Time
1.     2479          Johnny Parker                 1969-71
2.     2431          Cameron Luke                 2006-08
3.     2110          David Vela                       1979-82
4.     1990          Da'Marcus Griggs            2007-10
5.     1586          Daren Dillard                   2008-10
6.     1582          Javen Banks                    2018-Current
7.     1565          Billy Dunk                        1977-80
 
I'LL KEEP YOU BY MY SIDE

• Marcell Barbee is also climbing the Texas State career charts as he is approaching the top-10 for career receiving yards.
• Barbee has 98 career catches for 1,332 yards in 31 games at Texas State.
• He needs 43 receiving yards to tie K.R. Carpenter for 10th on the program's all-time career list. Carpenter had 1,375 yards on 98 catches from 2003 to 2005.
• If Barbee gets 68 more receiving yards, he could become only the 9th different receiver in Texas State history to have 1,400 career receiving yards.

 
WITH MY SUPERMANHUMAN MIGHT

• In his first season as a Bobcat, quarterback Layne Hatcher is putting his name in the Texas State record books.
• The redshirt junior has thrown for 1,695 yards with 160 completions. He also has 14 passing touchdowns.
• In last week's game at Troy, he moved into a four-way tie for 10th on Texas State's top-10 for passing touchdowns in a season with 14.
• Hatcher needs one more touchdown pass to enter into a tie for 9th on the program's single-season list.
• Hatcher needs 404 more passing yards to crack the top-10 for most passing yards in a single-season in a Bobcat uniform.
• He needs 26 more completions to enter the top-10 for most completions in a single-season.
• In the nation, Hatcher is 31st in passing yards and 29th in passing touchdowns.

 
Most Passing Touchdowns, Single-Season
Texas State History
1.     26         Bradley George             2008
…
6.     18         David Williams              1995
7.     17         Brady McBride              2020
8.     16         Bradley George             2007
9.     15         Shaun Rutherford         2012
10.   14         Layne Hatcher              2022
        14         Tyler Jones                    2015
        14         Spergon Wynn              1999
        14         Mike Miller                   1981
 
KRYPTONITE

• Texas State is hosting Homecoming this weekend and will be wearing special throwback helmets for the game.
• The Bobcats are 48-35-1 all-time in Homecoming games in program history.
• They won Homecoming last year, a 27-19 victory over ULM on Nov. 6, 2021.
• Texas State is 5-5 in its FBS history in Homecoming games.
• The Bobcats have scored 27+ points in 8 of the last 10 Homecoming games. Opponents have scored 27+ points 7 times.