• Football
  • Texas State Heads to Troy With a Shot at Taking Control of the Sun Belt West Division

Texas State Heads to Troy With a Shot at Taking Control of the Sun Belt West Division

Details
Football

Coming off a double-digit victory over App State, Texas State will be aiming for a win that could put it in first place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division as the Bobcats will travel to Troy to take on the Trojans on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Bobcats beat App State, 36-24, last weekend thanks to a defensive effort that limited the Mountaineers to 10 points in the first 3 quarters and an all-around performance that saw the Bobcats lead by as much as 27 points early in third quarter. The Bobcats were up 24-3 at halftime and a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown by Tory Spears put them up 30-3 with 25 minutes remaining in the game.

Texas State and Troy have faced each other every year since 2016, with the Trojans winning each of those matchups and carrying a 10-game winning streak in the series into Saturday's contest.

Saturday features two defenses in the top-half of the Sun Belt in total defense. Texas State is averaging 353.3 yards against this season, good for 6th in the Sun Belt and 49th in the country. Troy, meanwhile, has surrendered 349.0 yards per game, which is 5th best in the Sun Belt and 43rd in the nation.

The Bobcats and Trojans are also third and second, respectively, in the Sun Belt Conference West Division as both are aiming to potentially move into first place with a win on Saturday and a loss by South Alabama.

WELL I MOVED INTO THIS ROOM

  • Halfway through the season, Texas State has its best record to this point of a season since 2014.
  • Prior to this year, the Bobcats have not been 3-3 since 2014. That year, they finished the season 7-5.
  • The last time the Bobcats have been 4-3 in a season was also 2014. They went on to go 5-3 before splitting the final 4 games of the season.

IF YOU COULD CALL IT THAT, A WEEK AGO

  • Texas State played in another double-digit game last weekend, making it all 6 games this season in which the Bobcats have either won or lost by 10+ points.
  • The 12-point victory was Texas State's largest in a conference home game since Sept. 19, 2020 vs. ULM (38-17 in Monroe, La.).
  • All 3 of Texas State's wins this season have been by double digits.

I NEVER DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO

  • Texas State led by as much as 27 points last Saturday against App State, which was its biggest lead in a Sun Belt game since 2014.
  • The Bobcats led by as much as 34-3 in a 54-31 win over Georgia State on Nov. 29, 2014.
  • Texas State was up by double-digits for 44:20 of the game against App State.

I HARDLY EVEN KNOW

  • Texas State's 36 points against App State last weekend were its most in a conference game since Nov. 21, 2020 vs. Arkansas State (47).
  • The Bobcats have scored 34 or more points in all 3 of their wins this year.
  • Texas State is averaging 37.0 points per game in its 3 wins (11.3 in its 3 losses).
  • In all games, the Bobcats are averaging 24.2 points per game.

MY NAME ANYMORE

  • Last weekend, Texas State surrendered 395 passing yards, which marked only the 3rd time in the program's FBS history it had allowed 395+ passing yards and won.
  • The last time it happened was Nov. 21, 2020 vs. Arkansas State. The Bobcats allowed 462 passing yards in a 47-45 win.
  • The only other time Texas State allowed 395+ passing yards in a win was Nov. 1, 2014 at New Mexico State (404 passing yards; W, 37-29).

WHEN NO ONE CALLS IT OUT

  • Texas State held App State to 41 rushing yards last weekend, which was the second-fewest allowed by the Bobcats this season and lowest against an FBS opponent.
  • Texas State limited HCU to 33 rushing yards on Sept. 24 earlier this season, which was the fewest allowed by the Bobcats since 2013.
  • The 41 rushing yards allowed were the fewest surrendered by Texas State in a Sun Belt game since Oct. 28, 2017 at Coastal Carolina (34 rushing yards allowed).
  • Texas State is 45th in the country in rush defense and 7th in the Sun Belt.
  • The Bobcats are 3-0 this year when they hold opponents to less than 100 yards rushing.

PROBABLY NEVER MADE

  • For the 4th time this season, Texas State forced multiple turnovers in a game as it generated 2 takeaways last weekend against App State.
  • The Bobcats have 11 takeaways this year – after not creating any takeaways in the season opener at Nevada.
  • Texas State is tied for 28th in the country in takeaways this year.
  • It has already matched its entire takeaways total from last year (11). In 2021, the Bobcats finished 118th in the country in takeaways.
  • Last season, Texas State had 3 games of multiple takeaways and only one in Sun Belt play.
  • The last time Texas State had 12 or more turnovers gained in a season was 2020 when it had 15.