How can one describe the past three weeks for Texas State football?
The Bobcats have dropped three straight one-score games in impressive fashion. Their latest piece of work? A 40-36 double overtime loss to Marshall, where Texas State once again outgained its opponents in total yardage, 558 to 446.
Although the Bobcats’ defense let them down in previous weeks, the unit played well enough against the Thundering Herd. There were a few unlucky plays that contributed to Texas State’s recent skid, and if things had gone a little differently, GJ Kinne’s team might be standing at 6-1.
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Unfortunately, the Football Gods can be cruel.
Texas State vs Marshall final score: Bobcats lose 3rd straight in double OT thriller
“It doesn’t matter. They don’t care at the end if it was close or what; you win, or you lose,” Kinne said. “And we’ve really found a way to lose three in a row.”
When Marshall wide receiver Demarcus Lacey rushed into the endzone for a 2-point conversion that gave his team a 27-24 lead in the fourth quarter, Texas State was given a chance to reverse its fortunes. Marshall had scored too quickly. After two weeks of heartbreak, Texas State had a minute and fourteen seconds to earn a walk-off win.
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Quarterback Brad Jackson began moving the ball. He completed a few passes to running back Lincoln Pare. After taking a sack, he hit wide receiver Beau Sparks 20 yards down the field to put the team on Marshall’s 23-yard line.
Jackson then took an awful nine-yard sack that forced him to spike the ball with three seconds remaining. Texas State kicker Tyler Robles missed the initial field goal attempt, but Marshall coach Tony Gibson gave him a mulligan with a timeout. Robles nailed the next attempt to send it to overtime.
Of course, it can be argued that Texas State should’ve never even gotten to that point. Up 24-16 in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats faked a punt on their own 26-yard line. Punter David Nunez got to the marker before fumbling the ball, allowing Marshall to cut into the lead with a field goal.
Texas State head coach GJ Kinne walks the field ahead of the game against Eastern Michigan at Texas State University on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.
Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman
“Wanted to be aggressive,” Kinne said.
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Texas State might not have made such a risky decision if it hadn’t botched another in the third quarter. On fourth-and-2 at the Marshall seven-yard line, Kinne decided to go for it instead of taking the field goal and extending the Bobcats’ 17-13 lead.
Jackson dropped back and faced pressure immediately. His desperate heave turned into an interception, and Marshall kicked a field goal on the following drive. In a game that was decided by three points, Texas State’s constant risk-taking came back to bite them over and over again.
“Hindsight, you can always second-guess yourself, but the book had it as a go and we wanted to put the ball in our offense’s hands there, try to make a statement,” Kinne said.
And yet, with an opportunity to win the game at the end of the first overtime with a two-point conversion, Texas State kicked the extra point. The Bobcats had, to that point, shown a willingness to take chances. But under pressure, their earlier boldness dissipated.
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Texas State hasn’t played terribly during its losing streak. It has, however, shown an inability to finish games. The defense, despite playing well until late in the fourth quarter, did not have answers in overtime for the second straight week. The offense has impressive numbers — Jackson finished with 444 passing yards and two touchdowns — but only mustered 10 points in the second half of regulation.
James Madison will be Texas State’s toughest test of the year. It’s a chance to make a statement against the current Sun Belt East leaders. It also could be the Bobcats’ fourth straight loss. The sky is falling for Texas State right now, but there are five games left. And if Kinne and his team have learned one thing recently, it’s this:
“We gotta be able to finish,” Kinne said.
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