2023 Texas State Football
Game #3
Texas State (1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) vs. Jackson State (2-1, 0-1 SWAC)
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023
Bobcat Stadium | San Marcos, Texas
Kickoff: 7:30 PM
Buy tickets today
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)
X/Twitter Updates: @TXSTATEFOOTBALL
 
 
SETTING THE TABLE
Texas State will open its 43rd season at Bobcat Stadium with a 7:30 pm contest against Jackson State on Saturday.
 
The Bobcats enter the first ever meeting against Jackson State with a 1-1 record. Texas State was outscored 10-3 in the second half of its narrow 20-13 loss at UTSA last weekend, but it is looking to win back-to-back home openers for the first time since 2017-18.
 
Texas State's defense has been the standout unit through the first two games this season. The Bobcats are currently third in the country in tackles for loss and ninth in sacks.
 
Jackson State, which is opening the season with four straight games away from home, is 2-1 and coming off a 27-14 win over Southern. The two-time defending SWAC champions pulled away from Southern in the fourth quarter after Andre Hunt had a 75-yard rushing touchdown that helped make it 27-14.
 
 
 
HOME OPENER

• Texas State opens its 43rd season in Bobcat Stadium with its 2023 home opener this Saturday against Jackson State.
• This year marks the latest home opener in a season for the Bobcats since 2016. That year, Texas State played Houston in its home opener on Sept. 24.
• The Bobcats are aiming to win back-to-back home openers for the first time since 2017-18. Last year, Texas State beat FIU 41-12 in the home opener on Sept. 10.
• Texas State beat HCU in the 2017 home opener (20-11 on Sept. 2, 2017) and then claimed a 36-20 victory over Texas Southern on Sept. 8, 2018 in that season's home opener.
• Texas State is 6-5 in its home openers as an FBS team (since 2012), 27-12 as a Division I team (FBS & FCS from 1984-current), and 59-27-1 since 1932.
• Texas State won 16 straight home openers from 1996 to 2011.

 
NONCONFERENCE AT HOME

• The Bobcats are 12-11 all-time in nonconference home games at the FBS level. Last year, they went 2-0 in nonconference home games to lift themselves to one of their best seasons at home in recent years.
• Texas State has won 4 of its last 6 home games entering this Saturday against Jackson State, a stretch that dates back to its 2022 home opener against FIU.
• The Bobcats went 4-2 at home in 2022 thanks to outscoring their opponents 84-49 in the first half (154-110 for the entire game).
• Last year, Texas State averaged 6.0 points allowed in its two nonconference home games (12 vs. FIU, 0 vs. HCU).
• Texas State held its opponents to 321.7 yards of total offense at home last season, helped by 81.0 rushing yards against. In all games, the Bobcats surrendered 361.1 yards of offense and 116.2 yards on the ground.

 
Texas State at Home in 2022
Record: 4-2
Stat                                  Home                Overall
Points/Game                   25.7                  21.1
Points Allowed/Game     18.3                  26.3
Total Offense                   367.3                325.2
Total Defense                  321.7                361.1
Rushing Offense              126.2                104.1
Rushing Defense              81.0                  116.2
Takeaways                       9                       20
Points Off Turnovers       23                     33
 
LOOKING FOR BEST IN A DECADE

• After a double-digit win at Baylor to start the season and a narrow loss to rival UTSA last weekend, the Bobcats are still aiming for their best start to a campaign in 10 years.
• If Texas State wins on Saturday against Jackson State, it would have its best 3-game start to a season since 2013 when it also went 2-1. The Bobcats finished a 6-6 record that year.
• In the last 9 instances in which Texas State won 2 of its first 3 games in a season, it went on to post a .500 or better record 4 times.

 
Texas State's 2-1 Starts Since 2001
Last 22 years, entering 2023
Year           Record in First 3 Games    Final Record
2013          2-1                                     6-6
2012          2-1                                     4-8
2010          2-1                                     4-7
2009          2-1                                     7-4
2008          2-1                                     8-5
2005          2-1                                     11-3
2004          2-1                                     5-6
2002          2-1                                     4-7
2001          2-1                                     4-7
 
TENACIOUS D

• Texas State's defense has proven tenacious this season as it had another double-digit day with TFLs last weekend at UTSA and is now top-3 in the country in that category.
• Texas State is currently 3rd in the nation in TFLs per game with 10.5.
• The Bobcats had 11.0 TFLs at UTSA, a week after having 10.0 TFLs at Baylor.
• The 11.0 TFLs against the Roadrunners were the most for the Bobcats in a single game since they had 12.0 against Southern Miss on Oct. 22, 2022.
• The 11.0 TFLs are also tied for the fourth-most in a single game during the program's FBS history (since 2012).
• It was the first time in Texas State's FBS history that it had back-to-back games of 10+ TFLs.

 
MOST TFLs PER GAME IN THE NATION
Through Week 2
Rk        Total    Team
1.         12.5     Tennessee
2.         11.5     Michigan State
3.         10.5     Texas State
            10.5     Arkansas
 
MOST TFLs in a game, PROGRAM FBS HISTORY
Since 2012
Rk       Total              Date                              Opponent
1.        13.0               Dec. 1, 2012                  New Mexico State
2.        12.0               Oct. 22, 2022                Southern Miss
           12.0               Oct. 15, 2016                ULM
4.        11.0               Sept. 9, 2023                UTSA
           11.0               Sept. 12, 2015              Prairie View A&M
6.        10.0               Sept. 2, 2023                Baylor
           10.0               Sept. 10, 2022              FIU
 
SACK ATTACK

• Tackles for loss are the not the only thing the Bobcats are among the nation's leader in it after Week 2 of the season. Texas State is also top-10 in the country in sacks.
• The Bobcats are 9th in the nation in sacks per game with 4.0.
• After 3.0 sacks at Baylor, Texas State had 5.0 sacks against UTSA last weekend.
• The 5.0 sacks against the Roadrunners were the most by the Bobcats in a single game since Nov. 27, 2021 against Arkansas State (5.0).
• The 5.0 sacks were also tied for the 4th-most in a single game in program history.
• Prior to last week at UTSA when Texas State had 11.0 TFLs and 5.0 sacks, the last time the Bobcats turned in double-digit TFLs and 5.0+ sacks in a game was Dec. 1, 2012 against New Mexico State (13.0 TFLs, 6.0 sacks).

 
MOST SACKS in a game, PROGRAM FBS HISTORY
Since 2012
Rk     Total           Date                         Opponent
1.      8.0               Oct. 4, 2014             Idaho
2.      6.0               Sept. 2, 2017            HCU
         6.0               Dec. 1, 2012             New Mexico State
4.      5.0               Sept. 9, 2023            UTSA
         5.0               Nov. 27, 2021           Arkansas State
 
HOLLYWOOD HOLLOWAY

• Linebacker Brian Holloway led the Texas State defense against UTSA as he tallied a career-high 16 tackles (5 solo, 11 assisted).
• The 16 tackles by the redshirt senior were the most by a Bobcat since Brendon Luper had 16 on Nov. 21, 2020 against Arkansas State.
• Holloway finished with 16 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 0.5 sack, 2 quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
• He is 7th in the nation in tackles per game with 12.0.
• His previous career-high in tackles in a single-game was 9 on Nov. 5, 2022 at ULM.
• Holloway has 104 tackles (53 solo) in 38 career games. He played 3 seasons at SMU before transferring to Texas State prior to last season.
• Holloway has 73 career tackles in 13 games as a Bobcat.

 
APPROACHING 200

• Defensive end Jordan Revels is approaching a milestone in career tackles after he had 8 at UTSA last weekend.
• Revels, who has played his entire career at Texas State since 2019, needs 3 tackles to reach 200 in his career.
• Entering this week's game against Jackson State, Revels has 197 tackles in 45 career games.
• Revels had a career-high 70 tackles last season and was a preseason All-Sun Belt selection by coaches this year.
• He also has 24.0 TFLs and 7.5 sacks in his Bobcat career.

 
THE DON HAS SPOKEN

• Safety Shawn Holton forced another turnover last week against UTSA as he has now produced 3 takeaways so far this season.
• Holton, in his first year at Texas State after transferring from UIW, had a forced fumble early in the 4th quarter against UTSA.
• All 3 of Holton's forced turnovers this season have been in the 4th quarter. He had an interception and forced fumble on the final 2 Baylor drives in the season opener on Sept. 2.
• In his combined career at UIW and Texas State, Holton has 5 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles in 43 career games.
• With Holton's help, Texas State enters this week 46th in the country in turnovers gained with 3.
• Dating back to last season, Texas State has forced a turnover in 11 of its last 13 games.

 
RING THE BELL

• Ben Bell had another disruptive weekend last week at UTSA as he had 2.0 sacks and 6 tackles.
• Bell only had one tackle in the first game of the season at Baylor but he found himself putting pressure on the quarterback throughout the game.
• The 2.0 sacks were a career-high for Bell.
• Bell is 21st in the country with an average of 1.0 sack per game this year.
• He is tied for 23rd in the country in total sacks (2.0).
• According to PFF, Bell is tied for 4th in the country in total pressures (sacks, hits, hurries) with 14.

 
LATE ARRIVING NEWCOMER

• In his first career game as a Bobcat, Chance Main had a career-high 9 tackles on 49 snaps played last week against UTSA.
• Main, who transferred to Texas State on the day prior to the semester starting on August 21, did not play in the season opener at Baylor.
• The 9 tackles by Main bested his previous career-high of 8 set on Nov. 9, 2019 vs. Stephen F. Austin when he played for UIW.
• In 29 career games with UIW, Colorado and Texas State, Main has 86 tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss.

 
DEFENSIVE BATTLE

• Despite being on the field for 92 plays, Texas State's defense limited UTSA to 4.0 yards per play last weekend.
• The Bobcats surrendered a total of 372 yards at UTSA.
• On the ground, the Texas State defense limited UTSA to 2.9 yards per carry on 54 rushing attempts (158 total rushing yards).
• This season, Texas State has held its opponents to 3.1 yards per rush and 5.3 yards per play.
• The 92 plays by the Roadrunners were the most by a Texas State opponent since Nov. 6, 2021 when ULM had 98 plays.
• Texas State opponents are averaging 84 plays per game this year, which is the second-highest average in the country entering this week.

 
MOST DEFENSIVE PLAYS PER GAME IN THE NATION
Through Week 2
Rk        Total    Team
1.         87.0     Colorado State
2.         84.0     Texas State
3.         83.3     FIU
 
TALKING THAT ISH

• Ismail Mahdi has emerged as a playmaker for the Bobcats, including his 142 all-purpose yards at UTSA last weekend.
• The 142 all-purpose yards were the most by a Bobcat this season.
• Of Mahdi's 142 all-purpose yards, 119 were generated on 4 kickoff returns.
• It was the most kick return yards in a game by a Bobcat since Donnovan Moorer had 121 on 5 returns on Sept. 25, 2021 at Eastern Michigan.
• He has also scored 2 touchdowns - one rushing and one receiving - to go with his 235 all-purpose yards (106 rushing, 10 receiving, 119 kick return).
• In his career - which includes last season at HCU - Mahdi has 1,136 all-purpose yards.
• Mahdi enters this week ranked 8th in the country in kickoff return average of 29.8 yards.
• He is also 53rd in the country in all-purpose yards per game (117.5).
• Texas State has not had a kickoff returned for a touchdown since Nov. 14, 2020 when Jeremiah Haydel returned a kick 97 yards for a score.
• The Bobcats have yet to start a drive in the opponent's territory this season and have an average starting field position of their own 26-yard line.

 
MILESTONE WATCH

• Wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins had 3 receptions for 41 yards last week at UTSA, helping him approach a couple milestones in his career.
• Hawkins enters this weekend against UTSA needing 30 receiving yards for 1,000 in his career.
• The junior also needs 6 receptions for 100 in his career.
• Hawkins would become the 14th receiver in program history to have 100 career receptions and first since his former teammates Marcell Barbee (2020-22) and Javen Banks (2018-22) had 101.
• Texas State currently features 2 players with 1,000 career receiving yards: Joey Hobert (1,592) and Beau Corrales (1,247).
• In 23 career games as a Bobcat -- since 2021 -- Hawkins has 94 catches for 970 yards. He is averaging 4.1 receptions and 42.2 yards per game.

 
100-RECEPTION BOBCATS, FBS ERA
List of Texas State players with 100+ career receptions since 2012
Player                         Career Receptions           Years
Hutch White              116                                  2016-19
Brandon Smith          112                                  2012-15
Tyler Watts                102                                  2015-18
Marcell Barbee          101                                  2020-22
Javen Banks               101                                  2018-22
 
LIGHTNING STRIKE

• Drew Donley broke out for 5 receptions for 79 yards last week at UTSA. He was targeted by TJ Finley 9 times in the game.
• Donley led the Bobcats in receptions and receiving yards in the game.
• Of his 5 receptions, 2 were for 20+ yards.
• The first-year transfer from Cincinnati entered this season with no career catches.
• The redshirt sophomore has 6 catches this season and at least one in each game so far.
• Donley is one 7 Bobcats this season who have a reception and are in their first season at Texas State. There are 9 total Bobcats this year with at least one reception.

 
BIG PLAY TRACKER

• Texas State has 12 plays of 20+ yards this season, including 4 last week at UTSA.
• Of the 12 "big plays" for Texas State this year, 11 are on pass plays.
• The 12 plays of 20+ yards are tied for the 32nd-most in the country this year.
• The Bobcats finished last year with 37 plays of 20+ yards and averaged 3.1 per game.
• Texas State also has 2 plays of 50+ yards -- a 65-yard rush by Ismail Mahdi against Baylor and a 55-yard reception by Kole Wilson at UTSA.
• The Bobcats are one of 42 teams in FBS with 2 or more plays of 50+ yards.
• Last year, Texas State had 6 plays of 50+ yards.

 
A RECEIVING THREAT

• Wide receiver Kole Wilson's 55-yard reception against UTSA was a career-long.
• The sophomore finished the game against the Roadrunners with 4 receptions for 69 yards.
• Wilson, a first-year transfer from UIW, is the team's leading receiver with 9 receptions and 134 receiving yards.
• He is one of 2 Bobcats with 100 receiving yards this season (other: Joey Hobert, 111 yards).
• Wilson is averaging 14.9 yards per catch.
• In his career, including last season at UIW, Wilson is averaging 15.4 yards per catch on 27 receptions.

 
IN THE RED ZONE

• Texas State scored on all 3 of its trips to the red zone last week, keeping its red zone offense at 100 percent for the season.
• The Bobcats have 5 total trips to the red zone this year, scoring 4 touchdowns (3 rushing, 1 passing) and one field goal.
• They are one of 34 teams in the country entering Week 3 of the season with a 100 percent red zone scoring offense.
• Of those 34 teams, 4 are from the Sun Belt (ODU, South Alabama, Troy and Texas State).