Texas State Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson (8) scores a touchdown as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats wide receiver Mavin Anderson (3) evades defenders as he runs down the field as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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The Bobcats celebrate an interception in the first quarter as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson (8) slides to advance the ball as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats running back Greg Burrell (9) advances the ball as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson (8) advances the ball as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats wide receiver Beau Sparks (11) advances the ball as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats linebacker Donterry Russell (15) celebrates a tackle as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats linebacker Treylin Payne (29) tackles James Madison Dukes running back Wayne Knight (3) as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats cornerback Khamari Terrell (4) tackles James Madison Dukes wide receiver Landon Ellis (13) as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats wide receiver Mavin Anderson (3) evades defenders as he runs down the field as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats wide receiver Kylen Evans (2) advances the ball as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State head coach GJ Kinne questions referees as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Shirtless fans cheer in the fourth quarter as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats wide receiver Mavin Anderson (3) celebrates a play as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson (8) throws to a teammate as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson (8) celebrates his touch down as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats linebacker Michael Boudoin III (3) takes down James Madison Dukes quarterback Matthew Sluka (9) as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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The Bobcats kneel as Texas State Bobcats safety Bobby Crosby (1) is cared for by EMS as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats safety Bobby Crosby (1) is cared for by EMS as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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The Bobcats kneel as Texas State Bobcats safety Bobby Crosby (1) is cared for by EMS as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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The Bobcats stand for Texas State Bobcats safety Bobby Crosby (1) as he is cared for by EMS as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats running back Jaylen Jenkins (5) returns a punt as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats running back Jaylen Jenkins (5) returns a punt as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats safety Ryan Nolan (7) takes down James Madison Dukes running back Jordan Fuller (23) as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State defense piles on James Madison Dukes running back Jordan Fuller as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson (8) prepares to throw to a teammate as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats defensive lineman Ta’Derius Collins (35) attempts to tackle James Madison Dukes quarterback JC Evans (1) as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats safety Chase Davis (26) takes down James Madison Dukes quarterback JC Evans (1) as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Texas State Bobcats quarterback Holden Geriner (13) carries the ball as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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A shirtless fan cheers in the fourth quarter as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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It can be argued that Texas State football should’ve won each of its past three losses against Arkansas State, Troy and Marshall.
That wasn’t the case Tuesday night against JMU. The Bobcats suffered a 52-20 beatdown at the hands of perhaps the best team in the Sun Belt. And while Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson certainly didn’t help things with his three interceptions, there’s no question he wasn’t the problem. Not when the defense allowed the Dukes to rack up 511 total yards of offense and has looked completely outmatched against every offense it’s faced during conference play.
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The brutal truth after eight games is that there isn’t much that can be done to fix this year’s Texas State defense.
“We do have four games left, so I don’t think it’s wholesale changes right now,” Texas State head coach GJ Kinne said.
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With Kinne’s explosive offense, the thought has been that Texas State can win games if it simply fields a mediocre defense. But defensive coordinator Dexter McCoil’s unit hasn’t been able to come close to that bar.
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Before facing JMU, Texas State ranked 98th in the country in passing yards allowed (242.1), 114th in turnover margin (-.71), 115th in scoring defense (31.29) and 101st in total yards allowed per game (404.9), according to the NCAA. Those marks will surely get worse once its stats from the JMU loss are incorporated.
Texas State defenders take down James Madison Dukes wide receiver Jaylan Sanchez (0) as Texas State plays James Madison at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
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Kinne hasn’t been twiddling his thumbs, hoping things would eventually get better. He said they’ve changed things as the seasons progressed, attempting to mend some of its issues. However, Kinne said that JMU noticed those adjustments and took advantage of them on offense.
“They had some time to see what we were doing new and they exposed us,” Kinne said.
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Kinne is primarily an offensive head coach, but the extent of the defense’s struggles forced him to step in and try to help figure out the issues, he said. That’s led to other problems elsewhere, as there’s only so much the head coach can do without compromising on his other responsibilities.
In the end, it’s McCoil’s job to get the most out of his players. Kinne promoted his former Tulsa teammate in 2024 after McCoil served as the safeties coach in 2023. A fiery personality, he preaches player responsibility and built a room of long, fast defensive backs in the offseason. Kinne went so far as to say in the summer that the cornerbacks were one of the team’s strongest positions.
Khamari Terrell has developed into the Bobcats’ No. 1 corner, but they’re search for someone opposite him has been a struggle. Despite the preseason belief and Kinne’s continued faith in the unit, the results haven’t been there.
“It’s frustrating. We do have good players, good enough players to win and finish the right way, finish and get to that bowl game,” Kinne said. “But at the same time, we got to put them in better situations.”
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Kinne’s insistence on no “wholesale changes” means that McCoil will likely hold his job through the rest of the year. Besides, it would do Texas State no favors to undergo such a drastic shift when players have spent the entire season learning and attempting to implement McCoil’s scheme. Also, the defense has had its bright spots this year.
But the product Texas State has fielded the past two seasons under McCoil has not been good enough to match the program’s lofty ambitions. The Bobcats saw firsthand how an elite defense raises a team’s floor while facing the Dukes. And if Kinne truly believes the players aren’t the problem, there’s only one other person who’s to blame for the defense’s shortcomings
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