Texas State returns home to host the Nicholls Colonels
As a Division II program from 1978 to 1983, Texas State started 3-0 in five of those six seasons, winning four Lone Star Conference titles and two national championships. That final season in Division II also the last time the Bobcats opened a season with three straight wins.
Despite a fourth-quarter comeback attempt, Texas State’s streak of failing to start a the season 3-0 now stretches to 32 seasons, as Arizona State defeated the Bobcats 34-15. The loss also marked the end of the program’s longest stretch of road games to start a season since 1988. Texas State wrapped up the trip 2-1, falling 29-7 at ULM in the Southland Conference opener.
Now, the Bobcats hoped history does not repeat itself. That 1988 squad finished 2-6 over its final eight games, ending the season 4-7 overall (1-5 in conference play). Standing in their way this week is a familiar foe — former Southland Conference rival Nicholls, who visits San Marcos aiming to snap an 11-game losing streak against FBS programs.
Texas State
While temperatures hovered in the 90s, Texas State opened its matchup against Arizona State as cold as the opening scene of Ice Age. The Bobcats failed to generate any momentum until their third drive of the game — a 13-play, 54-yard series that ended with a 39-yard field goal by Tyler Robles.
From there, Arizona State took over, scoring 24 unanswered points. Texas State finally got back on the board with 2:29 left in the third quarter, when quarterback Brad Jackson ran in a 7-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 27-9.
Head coach G.J. Kinne reflected on the loss during the “Eat ‘Em Up Radio Show with GJ Kinne.”
“I think just embracing the environment and you know, anytime you can face a really good opponent that’s really well coached that very athletic and disciplined,” Kinne said. “It’s a great learning moment and that’s really why you play those type of games in nonconference is to get better and get you better for the conference.”
Back 2 work#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/VBijdtd5Mv
— Texas State Football (@TXSTATEFOOTBALL) September 16, 2025
Jackson added a three-yard touchdown pass to Kylan Evans with under six minutes remaining. But that was the Bobcats’ final possession, as Arizona State ran out the clock and knelt the game out after the two-minute timeout.
Kinne said that after playing on the road in hostile environments, he was looking forward to some home cooking.
“Super excited and, you know, I know it’s going to be a great crowd,” Kinne said. “We have to come back out here and execute at a high level and get the momentum going into that bye week.”
Nicholls
Nicholls began its season with one of the biggest upsets in the FCS ranks, defeating preseason No. 4 Incarnate Word 20-6 during Week 0. The Colonels did not score an offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter, but a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ty Marsh gave them the lead early.
Ranked in the No. 22 spot in the coaches poll following that win, Nicholls was on the receiving end of an upset two weeks later. West Georgia, in just its second FCS season, held the Colonels to 180 total yards in a 34-10 loss.
Deuce Hogan threw Nicholls’ only touchdown of that game — a 44-yard strike to Jackson Dufrene with just over eight minutes remaining. West Georgia than ran out the clock with a 14-play, 69-yard drive that ended at the Nicholls 1-yard line.
2nd career TD catch for Jackson Dufrene ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/nPQ81UQEcK
— Nicholls Football 🏈 (@Nicholls_FB) September 7, 2025
This will be Nicholls’ second matchup against an FBS program this season. The Colonels led Troy 17-10 heading into the fourth quarter on Aug. 30, but the Trojans exploded for 28 unanswered points to win 38-20.
While Nicholls has been a FCS program since its inception in 1972, it has notched several wins over FBS programs. The Colonels’ first FBS victory came in 2001 against Arkansas State in a game rescheduled following the September 11th attacks. Their biggest FBS win came in 2018 — after an 8-4 season in 2017 and a first-round FCS playoff loss to No. 16 South Dakota.
Facing Kansas, which was coming an 1-11 season and its ninth consecutive losing campaign, Nicholls pulled off a 23-20 overtime win.
Nicholls at Texas State
Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 20 at 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: ESPN+
Radio: : KTSW 89.9 (also streaming on the Varsity Network app)
Click here for information on tickets. Texas State fans can also purchase tickets by contacting the ticket office at (512) 245-2272 in person at the Texas State Athletics Ticket Office. Fans can email the ticket office at gametickets@txstate.edu with any additional questions.
About The Author
