SAN MARCOS, Texas – A rivalry that dates back to 1915, Texas State will face off against Sam Houston once again as the Bobcats and Bearkats are set for a matchup on September 28, 2024 at NRG Stadium in Houston, the two schools jointly announced on Tuesday.
 
The game will feature Texas State as the visiting team and Sam Houston as the home. NRG Stadium is the 72,220-seat retractable roof stadium that serves as the home of the NFL's Houston Texans.
 
"This is a great opportunity to reignite a longstanding rivalry in Houston, where thousands of our Bobcat alumni call home," said Texas State Director of Athletics Don Coryell. "It is important for us to build nonconference schedules that create excitement for our fans, and this matchup against the Bearkats in an NFL stadium like NRG will do just that. Our 2024 nonconference schedule is now one of the most thrilling in recent memory since it features a home game against a Power 5 opponent and three games against in-state rivals."
 
The Sam Houston game completes the nonconference portion for the 2024 Texas State schedule. The Bobcats will host Lamar (Aug. 31), UTSA (Sept. 7) and Arizona State (Sept. 14) before the neutral-site contest against Sam Houston.
 
"What a great way to face a rival school after more than a decade," said Texas State head football coach GJ Kinne. "To play an in-state rival in an NFL stadium in the state of Texas will be special for our players, coaches, staff, and most importantly, all of Bobcat Nation. We look forward to the Bobcats versus the Bearkats in 2024 at NRG and filling the place with maroon and gold."
 
Former conference rivals, Texas State and Sam Houston were charter members of the Lone Star Conference in 1931 before both moving to the Gulf Star Conference (1984-86) and then the Southland Conference (1987-2010). The last meeting between the two schools was in 2011 when Texas State was an independent FCS member and transitioning to the FBS level. Sam Houston is moving to the FBS level and will join Conference USA starting on July 1.
 
For 94 seasons from 1915 to 2011, the two schools met 91 times. Texas State leads the all-time series, 50-36-5.
 
Texas State and Sam Houston are two of the three universities in the Texas State University System that sponsor Division I football teams (other: Lamar).
 
The matchup against Sam Houston also marks another nonconference opponent from the state of Texas for the Bobcats in future schedules. Other future in-state opponents that have been announced include Baylor (2023), UTSA (2023-31), Lamar (2024), Texas (2026), North Texas (2026, 2030) and UTEP (2028, 2031).
 
Texas State's 2023 season gets started on Sept. 2 at Baylor. The home opener is on Sept. 16 against Jackson State.
 
Season tickets for the six-game home schedule in 2023 are on sale now.