Texas State were dealt a tough hand against the No. 5 Texas Longhorns, losing 59-7 in their Pac-12 era opener on Sept. 5. However, there was plenty to take away from this game ahead of a massive I-35 showdown in San Marcos against UTSA.
1. Brad Jackson hasn’t missed a beat since last season
Texas State sophomore quarterback Brad Jackson (8) looks to pass, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. The Bobcats lost to the Texas Longhorns 59-7. (Ayden Oredson)
The statline at the end of the game against UT wasn’t pretty for the redshirt sophomore quarterback, as he turned over the ball twice, one interception and one fumble, while generating 150 yards in the air. However, he also generated 27 yards on the ground in only three attempts and completed 65.2% of his passes, a solid rate against any opponent, not just Texas. His pocket awareness was good as well, only taking one sack the entire game. Opposing defenses will have a tough time locking him up for the rest of the season.
2. The offense can still move the ball down the field
Brad Jackson wasn’t the only offensive player who showed positive characteristics. In fact, the rushing attack as a whole showed promise. As a team, the Bobcats generated 161 yards of rushing offense, just a little bit more than Texas’ 156 while averaging 3.9 yards per carry. A big question entering the season for the Bobcats was how they were going to replace the productivity of Lincoln Pare and Greg Burrell in the backfield; while it’s too early to say who will come out of the current RB competition as the starter, freshman Davian Jackson, the Mississippi State transfer, impressed as he scored TXST’s only touchdown and redshirt senior Jaylen Jenkins was the most efficient running back out of the position.
3. How will the defense stack up against similar competition?
Texas State’s defense last season was a major talking point, as their inability to get consistent stops contributed to the Bobcats’ five straight losses in the middle of the last
campaign. New defensive coordinator Will Windham did little to dispel doubts, giving up 59 points to the Longhorns as well as 360 passing yards. The Bobcats had one shining moment when senior DB Ryan Nolan picked off Arch
Manning at the end of the second half; Texas State’s first interception last season came in Week 4 against Nicholls. The defense will have to show it can both force turnovers and get stops in the following games, or else it’ll feel like a rerun of last season for a unit that struggled immensely.
Texas State senior defensive back Ryan Nolan (7) snags an interception against No. 5 Texas, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Ayden Oredson)
4. What will Texas State do at kicker?
Texas State’s special teams department had a subpar start to the season, with junior Dylan Cunanan missing two field goals inside the 40-yard line. The Bobcats released their depth chart for the UTSA game, and Cunanan is still the
number one choice for field goals. Whether his performance against UT was a one-off or a sign of a bigger problem remains to be seen.
5. These games against UTSA and UNT could be vital for the Pac-12.
The new-look Pac-12 and the American conferences sit in a league of their own as the two best non-autonomy conferences while also not being quite at the level of the Big 12 or ACC. The fight for the lone Group of Six College Football Playoff spot will likely be between the AC and the Pac-12; while Texas State’s chances took a hit with their heavy loss to UT, winning their next two games against G6 contenders could do wonders for the rest of the Pac-12 as they try to solidify their case as the fifth-best conference in college football.
The biggest game out of the two will be the I-35 rivalry against the UTSA Roadrunners at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at UFCU Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the CW.