Game #3
Texas State (1-1) at #17/#19 Baylor (1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022
McClane Stadium | Waco, TX
Kickoff: 11:03 AM CT
TV: FS1
            Eric Collins (Play-by-Play)
            Devin Gardner (Analyst)
Radio: KTSW 89.9 & Varsity Network (free app)
            Clint Shields (Play-by-play)
            Geff Gandy (analyst)
Twitter Updates: @TXSTATEFOOTBALL
 
 
SETTING THE TABLE
For the first time in nearly two years, Texas State will face a ranked team as the Bobcats will travel to Waco to face #17/#19 Baylor on Saturday at 11 a.m. on FS1.
 
The Bobcats bounced back in week two of the season with a 41-12 win over FIU, which was their largest margin of victory in nearly in almost six years. Behind a career-high 195 rushing yards by Calvin Hill on the offensive side and two interceptions from Kordell Rodgers to fuel the defense, the Bobcats earned their first home win over a nonconference opponent since 2018.
 
Baylor enters the matchup having lost to BYU -- which was the last ranked opponent Texas State has played, back in 2020 -- by a score of 26-20 in overtime.
 
This is the second year in a row Texas State and Baylor will face off as the Bears downed the Bobcats in San Marcos, 29-20, last season. The Bobcats pulled within one score late in the fourth quarter thanks to a rushing touchdown by Jahmyl Jeter with 1:19 left in the game. However, after getting the ball back with 15 seconds to play on their own 10-yard line, the Bobcats surrendered a safety on the game's final play. Texas State was outgained in the game, 386-235.
 
The Bobcats are aiming for their first win over a ranked FBS opponent in program history.
 
ALL THE SMALL THINGS

• The Texas State defense has powered the Bobcats so far this year as they rank 38th in the country in total defense
• Texas State is averaging 293.5 yards against per game.
• The Bobcats have allowed less than 315 yards in both games this year, which marks the first time they have held back-to-back opponents to 315 yards or less in the program's FBS era (since 2012).
• Last year, Texas State was 103rd in the nation in total defense.
• The Bobcats are also 35th in the country in team passing efficiency defense (105.5) and 34th in rushing defense (96.0 yards per game)
• The Bobcats have only allowed 31 first downs this year, which ranks them 32nd in the country in first down defense.
• Texas State has limited its opponents this year to 4.3 (Nevada) and 4.0 (FIU) yards per play, making it the first time the Bobcats have held back-to-back opponents to 4.3 yards or less per play in its FBS history.
• The Bobcats already have more games this year in which they have held opponents to 4.3 yards per play or less (2) than they did in the 2020 and 2021 seasons combined (1).

 
TRUE CARE

• Jarron Morris, who suffered an eventual season-ending injury in last year's against Baylor, is back to being healthy and is second on the team in tackles (17).
• Morris, who had not played since week 2 of last season before returning in the season opener at Nevada, has 17 tackles (12 solo) and 3.0 TFLs in 2 games this year.
• Morris had 11 tackles against FIU last week, his most tackles in a game since November 2020 vs. Georgia State (15).
• He is currently 5th among Sun Belt players in tackles this season.
• Morris is 5 tackles away from 200 in his career, a career that started in 2018.

 
TRUTH BRINGS

• Levi Bell was bringing the heat once again in week 2 against FIU, as the redshirt junior totaled 5 tackles, 0.5 sack, 1.5 TFLs and 2 quarterback hurries.
• The first-year transfer leads the team in TFLs, sacks, and quarterback hurries as well as tied for the lead in quarterback hurries.
• In PFF ratings, he is currently the top-rated defensive line in the FBS.
• Bell's 4.5 TFLs this season are the most by a Bobcat in the first 2 games of a season in the school's FBS era.
• Bell is one of 3 Bobcats with 3.0 or more TFLs this year: Jarron Morris (3.0) and Jordan Revels (3.0).

 
I'LL TAKE

• Kordell Rodgers is coming off a big game against FIU, intercepting two passes – including one for a touchdown – as well as logging a TFL in the 42-14 win.
• His interception return for a 60-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter was the first INT returned for a touchdown by a Bobcat since September 2020.
• It was also his second career two-interception game and only the first Bobcat to have 2 career games of 2+ INTs in the school's FBS era.
• In 3 targets in his direction, he did not allow a reception.
• It was the first game he had an interception since Sept. 5, 2020 vs. SMU.
• Rated as the 8th-best cornerback in FBS in Week 2 according to PFF grades.

 
ONE LIFT

• Calvin Hill ran for a career-high 195 yards on 28 attempts with one rushing touchdown last week against FIU.
• The rushing yards by Hill were the most by a Bobcat since Robert Lowe literally ran for 248 yards on 30 attempts against South Alabama on Oct. 24, 2015.
• Hill's 195 rushing yards are the fourth-most by a Bobcat in the program's FBS era (since 2012).
• It was the most rushing yards by a Sun Belt player since Nov. 26, 2021 (Shermari Jones at South Alabama, 211 yards).
• Hill is only the 4th Sun Belt player to have 195+ rushing yards in a game since the start of the 2021 season.
• Hill's 195 yards are the third-most rushing yards in a game this season by any FBS player.
• He entered this week 25th in the country in rushing yards this season (205 yards) and 16th in rushing yards per game (102.5).
• First player this FBS season to average 7.0 yards per rush with a minimum of 25 attempts.
• Only the 11th Sun Belt player to average 7.0 yards or more with 25 or more attempts in the last 10 seasons and first since Oct. 26, 2019 (Tra Barnett, Georgia State).
• Hill rushed for 108 yards on nine carries in the fourth quarter, buoyed by three runs of 20+ yards.
• Dating back to last season, Hill has three 100-yard games in the last four contests.
• In Hill's last five games, he is averaging 6.6 yards per carry (471 yards, 71 attempts).
• Also dating back to last season, Hill has a rushing touchdown in four of his last five games.

 
YOUR RIDE

• Lifted by Hill, Texas State totaled 226 yards on the ground last week, its most rushing yards in a game under head coach Jake Spavital.
• The last time the Bobcats rushed for 225+ yards in a game was Nov. 24, 2018 vs. Arkansas State (242 yards, 40 attempts).
• In the program's FBS era (11 seasons), the Bobcats have rushed for 225+ yards 23 times – but only five times in the last seven years.
• Texas State is 19-4 since 2012 when it rushes for 225+ yards in a game.

 
BEST TRIP

• Texas State had two scoring plays of 50+ yards in the win over FIU: a 67-yard touchdown reception by Charles Brown in the first quarter and a 52-yard touchdown reception by Javen Banks in the second quarter.
• It is the first Texas State had two scoring plays of 50+ yards in the same game since Nov. 4, 2017 vs. New Mexico State (76-yd rushing TD and 69-yd receiving TD).
• Last year, Texas State had three scoring plays of 50+ yards all season – and did not have its first until the fifth game of the year (vs. South Alabama).
• For Banks, it was his eighth touchdown catch of his career of 40+ yards. His career-long is 75 yards, which he has done twice (last: Oct. 16, 2021 at Troy).
• For Brown, he now has three catches in a Bobcat uniform – and two of them are for 46 or more yards. He had a 46-yard catch at Nevada on Sept. 3.
• In one playing season at Montana State in 2021, Brown had two catches for 16 yards

 
ALWAYS, I KNOW

• Ashtyn Hawkins continued to be the favorite target of quarterback Layne Hatcher last week, receiving nine targets among Hatcher's 30 attempts.
• Hawkins finished the game with four catches for 41 yards and one touchdown.
• The sophomore has been targeted by Hatcher 23 times in two games this year, and he has a team-high 15 catches.
• Hawkins is 14th in the nation in receptions per game this year (7.5 rec/game).
• In his last eight games, Hawkins has 41 receptions (5.1 rec/game).
• Hawkins is only the second Bobcat in the program's FBS era to have 15 or more receptions in the first two games of the season. The only other was Hutch White in 2019 (17 receptions, 156 yards).

 
YOU'LL BE AT MY SHOW

• Layne Hatcher has produced since taking center stage as Texas State's quarterback, throwing for 519 yards and 5 touchdowns in the first 2 games of the season.
• Hatcher is the first Texas State quarterback with 5 touchdown passes in the first 2 games of the season since Tyler Jones in 2014, who also had 5 TDs.
• Hatcher enters this week 22nd in the nation in passing touchdowns (5), 41st in passing yards (519), and 38th in passing yards per game (259.5).
• Hatcher needs 54 passing yards to surpass 8,000 career passing yards. He threw for 7,427 in 3 seasons at Arkansas State (2019-21).
• He is also one of five active FBS quarterbacks with 70+ career touchdown passes.

 
WATCHING, WAITING

• This week Texas State will be playing a ranked opponent for the first time since the 2020 season finale.
• In its FBS era, Texas State is 0-7 against top-25 teams, including 0-5 on the road.
• Under head coach Jake Spavital, the Bobcats are 0-4 against ranked teams (0-3 on the road).
• This season, Sun Belt teams are 2-3 against top-25 teams.

 
COMMISERATING

• Texas State and Baylor are two of the most penalized teams this season, as the Bobcats are averaging 9.0 penalties per game which is tied for the 16th-most in FBS this year.
• Baylor is tied for the most penalties per game (11.0) with Houston.
• Texas State had 11 penalties in its season opener and 7 penalties against FIU.
• The Bobcats have 167 yards in penalties this year (83.5 per game), which is the 15th-most in FBS.
• Last year, Texas State averaged 5.8 penalties and 58.75 penalty yards per game

 
SAY IT AIN'T SO

• Texas State is coming off its largest margin of victory in nearly six years, beating FIU on Sept. 10 by a score of 41-12.
• The 29-point win was the Bobcats' largest margin of victory since Oct. 1, 2016 when they beat UIW by 31 points (W, 48-17) .
• The FIU win was the largest margin of victory against an FBS opponent for the Bobcats since Dec. 1, 2012 when they won by 38 points vs. New Mexico State (W, 66-28).
• Texas State has six wins in its FBS history (since 2012) of 29 points or more.
• The Bobcats' first two games of this season have been decided by 24+ points, making it the first time since November 2019 they had back-to-back games decided by 24 or more points.
• Texas State has not had three games in a row decided by 24+ points since the end of the 2016 season.

 
I WILL NOT GO

• Texas State has flipped its third-down conversation rate from a year ago as it ranks in the top-50 in the country in that category.
• Last week against FIU, the Bobcats finished the game 8-for-16 in third down conversions, raising their season average to 44.4 percent (16-for-36).
• Texas State is 49th in the country in third down conversion percentage.
• Last year, the Bobcats were 108th in the country in third down conversions (34.1 percent).

 
TURN THE LIGHTS OFF

• On the flip side, the Bobcat defense has been able to shut off drives by the opponents by holding them to a 28.1 percent third down conversion rate.
• Texas State is 32nd in the country in third down conversion defense and fourth among Sun Belt teams.
• Last year, the Bobcats finished the season 121st in third down conversion defense (46.4 percent)
• In both games this season, Texas State has forced its opponents to eight three-and-out drives and 15 punts in 30 total drives.
• Texas State did not have eight total three-and-outs generated to start the 2021 season until the fourth game of the year

 
CARRY ME HOME

• Running for 226 yards on 43 rushing attempts helped the Bobcats average 5.3 yards per carry against FIU last week.
• Dating back to last season, Texas State has averaged 5.3 or more yards per carry in a game in four of the last six games.
• The Bobcats are 3-1 in those four games when they average 5.3 or more yards per carry.
• Baylor has not allowed a team to run for 5.0 or more yards per carry since Nov. 20, 2021 vs. Kansas State (5.0 yards per carry) and only twice since the start of the 2021 season (other: Iowa State on Sept. 25, 2021, 5.4 yards per carry).