TXST FOOTBALL
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF
The Countdown to Kickoff series takes a look at the upcoming season for the Texas State Bobcats as the team looks to be bowl eligible for the third consecutive and enter the race for the Sun Belt Conference Championship.
This week will preview the Bobcats Week 4 showdown as they make the trip out to Tempe to battle the Arizona State Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils are coming off one of their best seasons in program history, finishing the regular season 10-2 overall record. Arizona State clinched a bid to the Big 12 Championship Game where they defeated Iowa State to capture their first conference title since 2007 and earn an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff.
The Sun Devils were selected to play in the Peach Bowl where they met the Texas Longhorns. In one of the most thrilling games of the season, Arizona State fell to Texas 39-31 in double overtime.
At the end of the season, the Arizona State offense averaged 32.9 points per game while the Sun Devil defense allowed 22.6 points per game.
Returning to lead the Arizona State offense is quarterback Sam Leavitt. Leavitt passed for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns while becoming the returning lead rusher from last season, rushing for 443 yards on 110 carries and five touchdowns.
Leading wide receiver Jordyn Tyson also returns for Arizona State, catching 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. Joing Tyson in the passing game is tight end Chamon Metayer who caught 32 passes for 306 yards and five touchdowns.
Looking to head up the rushing game is running back Kyson Brown. Brown rushed for 351 yards on 73 carries and two touchdowns.
Defensive back Xavion Alford will look to lead the defense, returning as the lead tackler with 85 total tackles, 40 solo tackles and two interceptions.
This will be the Bobcats second ever meeting against Arizona State with both teams playing for the first time last season.
In their Week 3 showdown that was broadcast on ESPN, the Sun Devils escaped with a 31-28 victory after kicking the game winning field goal with over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter while also forcing two critical turnovers in the period.
Since making the jump to Division I in 1984, Texas State has faced 13 different Power conferences from the ACC, Big Ten, Big Twelve, SEC, and SWC.
The Bobcats first ever win against a member of a power conference came during the 1986 season when Texas State defeated Rice 31-6. The Bobcats jumped out to a 21-0 lead over the Owls before running away with the win.
Texas State’s most memorable win over a member of a power conference came in the season opener of the 2023 season against the Baylor Bears.
Quarterback T.J. Finley passed for 298 yards and three touchdowns while scoring one touchdown on the ground as the Bobcats defeated the Bears 42-31 in their first ever win against Baylor.
Kickoff for Texas State-Arizona State is set for 9:30 p.m. Saturday Sep. 13 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The game will be broadcast on TNT.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
