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Texas State football is basically a blank canvas right now as a start-up team with 2016’s leadership and identity virtually gone. But judging from last year’s results maybe that’s not a bad thing.
It’s been drilled into every story online (including mine) involving Texas State since their season finale versus Arkansas State. Texas State turned in their worst season in school history last year at 2-10 and competing with Rutgers and Fresno State at various outlets’ rankings as dead last in the nation. But who cares? Texas State has the best incoming recruiting class in the Sun Belt (with cornerbacks coach Jules Montinar being named Sun Belt recruiter of the year), Mississippi transfer quarterback Damien Williams giving the ‘Cats an answer for their signal-caller conundrum, and a plethora of young talent ready to be molded into coach Everett Wither’s vision for winning. That’s optimistic, r-right?
Where the veterans and recruits will stack up in the depth chart for 2017 is a different story but the opponents for next season is a certainty. Where the Bobcats will land in the Sun Belt have been meticulously predicted and the story for those number are right here:
The times and dates for Sun Belt play have not been released yet but conference opponents and the non-conference schedule has been set. So let’s see what we’re working with.
2017 Texas State Non-Conference Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time/TV/Radio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time/TV/Radio |
| September 2 | vs. Houston Baptist | Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, TX | TBA |
| September 9 | @Colorado | Folsom Field, Boulder, CO | TBA |
| September 23 | vs. UTSA | Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, TX | TBA |
| September 30 | @Wyoming | War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY | TBA |
Hi, my name is Texas State. Nice to meet you.
We start off the season on September 2nd at Bobcat Stadium with a first-time opponent in the visiting Huskies of Houston Baptist University of Texas State’s former FCS conference the Southland. Houston Baptist first fielded a team in 2013 and 2017 will mark their fourth full year of football. This should be a warm up game (hopefully) but if they lose the stadium should riot. It should also be noted that the Bobcats have outscored their last three FCS opponents 156-27.
The next week on September 9th is a trip to Folsom Field in beautiful Boulder, Colorado for another first-time opponent in the Colorado Buffaloes, who played in the Pac-12 championship game last season and finished 15th in the Coaches Poll and 13th in the AP Poll. This should be a warm up game (hopefully not) as the Buffs will be hyped up off their season opener against the Colorado State Rams in the Rocky Mountain Showdown.
Whatda we got here? A couple a haters?
The last half of the non-conference schedule comprises of two opponents Texas State is familiar with. Texas State gets a week off before a September 23rd showdown with the University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners at Bobcat Stadium in their I-35 Rivalry. Even though this rivalry dates back to 1991 the football teams have only met once in 2012. The fans have been salivating for this one and the ticket prices are higher for this game much like when Texas State hosted Houston last year. Despite UTSA coming off their first bowl game last season and Texas State pretty much trying to erase 2016 the tensions are high in this one.
Wyoming closes out the non-conference schedule on September 30th in Laramie where the ‘Cats play in their third meeting (series tied 1-1) with the Cowboys and first meeting since 2013. Wyoming themselves are coming off a 8-6 season which saw them play in the Mountain West Championship game and play in the Poinsettia Bowl in a 24-12 loss to San Diego State.
OOC Outlook
A win versus Houston Baptist is a pretty good possibility and a great opportunity for the Bobcat coaches to get some real evaluation in real game action. Colorado will be highly favored I’m sure and a win on the road against a Pac-12 team is very low and the same goes for the Wyoming game. The UTSA rivalry game will hotly contested as neither school likes each other as seen by the 2012 game and constant online banter between fans on social media. Texas State would be lucky to escape non-conference play at 2-2.
Fun Belt
The Bobcat’s Sun Belt match ups are the same teams as last year’s schedule with the exception of Idaho. Home games will be against Appalachian State, Georgia State, New Mexico State and Louisiana-Monroe. Conference away games will pit Texas State against Arkansas State, newcomer Coastal Carolina, Troy and Louisiana-Lafayette.
Texas State will have its hands full as they went a dreadful 0-8 in conference play last year. The Sun Belt is on the rise and as each team develops their squads for 2017 it’s too early to pit each team’s assets this early in the year and also their Sun Belt schedules have not been released just yet. Stay tuned for in depth coverage of these games as they will be dissected as the spring goes on.