Texas State and North Texas had only shared the field once as FBS opponents. It was the 2024 First Responder Bowl when the two teams combined for 999 yards in a 30-28 Texas State victory.
Two years later, many of the players changed, as did the North Texas coaching staff, but both programs still retained their explosive offensive identities. It was clear the Lone Star State opponents were gearing up for a full-on fireworks show Saturday in San Marcos. But the question remained — which offense would outscore the other in the shootout?
This time, the Bobcats and Mean Green combined for 1,170 yards of offense, and once again, Texas State prevailed. GJ Kinne’s team started the season 0-2 and with its backs against the wall, his Bobcats defended homefield in a statement 49-35 victory, toppling a North Texas team which had all the momentum heading into Saturday.
SAN MARCOS, TX – SEPTEMBER 19: Texas State Bobcats WR Kylen Evans (2) gets tackled by North Texas Mean Green DB Brandon Jones (right) during game featuring the North Texas Mean Green and the Texas State Bobcats on September 19, 2026 at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
605 of the 1,170 yards belonged to the home team. This was nothing new to Texas State, which moved the ball well in its first two losses, but on Saturday, the Bobcats avoided the turnovers and red zone miscues that plagued them against Texas and UTSA. Torrance Burgess Jr., one of the remnants of Texas State’s First Responder Bowl win, shattered his career-high with 214 rushing yards. Meanwhile, his partner-in-crime Davian Jackson added 77 yards and three rushing touchdowns for a Bobcat rushing attack which managed 337 yards on a 6.9 average.
That was merely just a portion of Texas State’s offense on Saturday.
Brad Jackson added 268 passing yards and four touchdowns on an efficient 16-of-22 showing. Wide receiver Chris Dawn Jr. served as his No. 1 target, securing the first two touchdowns of the afternoon to hand Texas State a 14-0 lead. While North Texas matched the Bobcats at 21-21 and 28-28, the Mean Green never held an advantage on the scoreboard, and Dawn’s early contributions were pivotal to that outcome.
North Texas trailed 21-7 at the end of the first quarter, but the Mean Green responded with an offensive clinic. Tayven Jackson threw for a career-high 483 yards and three touchdowns, and four North Texas receivers eclipsed 70 yards in the shootout. Justin Stevenson led the way with 122 yards on 10 receptions, while UAB transfer Corri Milliner added 80 yards on seven catches. Jackson’s first half dominance allowed the Mean Green to enter halftime knotted 28-28.
In the third quarter, North Texas controlled the ball twice with the game deadlocked. However, the offense couldn’t capitalize on either opportunity, fumbling once and turning it over on downs. Texas State recaptured a 35-28 lead in the early fourth, and once again, the Mean Green responded with a turnover on downs. This one was originally ruled a first down, but the replay booth overturned the call, and the overturn was consequential. But an even more costly call was a controversial pass interference on 3rd-and-6, when North Texas seemingly stopped the Bobcats at midfield. Texas State scored seven plays after the penalty to establish a 42-28 advantage with 8:14 remaining.
SAN MARCOS, TX – SEPTEMBER 19: North Texas Mean Green WR Justin Stevenson (13) is tackled by Texas State Bobcats DE Jo’Laison Landry (6) during game featuring the North Texas Mean Green and the Texas State Bobcats on September 19, 2026 at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
North Texas had no problem scoring in response, flying down the field in under three minutes and trimming the deficit to seven on a Jackson to Jahiem White 18-yard connection. However, getting the stop against this explosive Texas State offense was the tricky part. And it didn’t get the job done, as Davian Jackson — one of many Jacksons starring in this matchup — broke free for a 57-yard sealing touchdown with roughly three minutes to go.
North Texas (1-2, 0-0 American) has been on a roller coaster to start the Neal Brown era. The Mean Green dropped their opener to defending national champion Indiana, obliterated UNLV at home, and then lost a heartbreaker to Texas State in a matchup which could shift the reputations of the American and Pac-12 Conferences.
Texas State (1-2, 0-0 Pac-12) is finally on board after a difficult start to its season. The Bobcats responded to a last-minute loss to arch rival UTSA with their best offensive performance of the season, never trailing North Texas in an offensive masterclass.
After enduring some of the nation’s more difficult schedules out of the gate, both Texas-based programs host FCS competition in Week 4, looking to improve to 2-2.