- Head coach: G.J. Kinne (second season)
- 2023 record: 8-5 (won First Responder Bowl)
- PFF power ranking: 77th
- Chance to win the Sun Belt: 11%
- Strength of schedule: 117th
- Projected win total: 8.2
- FanDuel win total: 8.5
- 2024 recruiting rank (On3): No. 89 nationally, No. 5 in the Sun Belt
G.J. Kinne was immensely successful in his first year as Texas State’s head coach. The Bobcats' 8-5 record was their best finish as an FBS program, also marking their first winning season in nine years. They played in and won their first bowl game, beating Rice in the First Responder Bowl.
Now, Texas State is expected to be one of the top contenders for the Sun Belt Championship due to an offense with a ton of potential and a defense that returns superstar pass-rusher Ben Bell. The Bobcats do need to get better along the offensive line to reach their ceiling.
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Biggest Strength: High-upside offense
Texas State improved at quarterback by bringing in Jordan McCloud from James Madison. The program also returned star running back Ismail Mahdi and five of its top-six pass catchers from last season.
Biggest Weakness: Will the offensive line hold them back?
The Bobcats finished just 95th among FBS schools in offensive line grade (61.8) last season and lost their highest-graded starter from the front-five.
Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions
- QB Jordan McCloud (James Madison): 84.0 PFF grade
- LB Treylin Payne (Houston): 69.1 PFF grade
- LB Mannie Nunnery (Florida): 60.7 PFF grade
Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses
- QB T.J. Finley (Western Kentucky): 75.4 PFF grade
- WR Ashtyn Hawkins (Baylor): 68.6 PFF grade
- RB Donerio Davenport (Louisiana Tech): 72.0 PFF grade
2023 Team Overview
Offense |
||||
| EPA per play | Yards per play | Successful play rate | Explosive run play rate | Explosive pass play rate |
| 0.077 | 6.3 | 40.9% | 17.9% | 15.2% |
| 36th | 32nd | 10th | 29th | 57th |
Defense |
||||
| EPA allowed per play | Yards allowed per play | Successful play rate allowed | Explosive run rate allowed | Explosive pass rate allowed |
| 0.041 | 5.9 | 35.9% | 20.1% | 15.0% |
| 95th | T-86th | 90th | 133rd | 90th |
Quarterback Spotlight: Jordan McCloud
2023 Grade: 84.0
Key Stat: 92.0 clean-pocket grade (second in Group of Five, 14th in FBS)
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