TXST FOOTBALL
Texas State will open up the 2025 season at home against the Eastern Michigan Eagles as the Bobcats begin their final year in the Sun Belt Conference before moving to the Pac-12 in July of next year.
The Bobcats enter the year following an 8-5 season, including their second straight win in the First Responder Bowl game.
The Eagles are coming off a 5-7 season despite starting the year with a 52 record. Eastern Michigan averaged 25.9 points per game while allowing 27.9 points per game.
“They’re really well coached [and] they got my full attention,” Head Coach G.J. Kinne said. “This is a really good team. Personnel wise, you don’t know exactly what you’re going to get. They’re very similar to us … They’re going to be tough, and they’re going to be physical.
“They’re going to have a great culture. It’s going to be hard-nose football for four quarters. They are wired very similarly to us. Offensively, very similar mindsets, defensively, very similar mindsets. We just do it a little bit differently on each side of the ball and on special teams.”
Kinne also gave his flowers to Eastern Michigan Head Coach Chris Creighton and his work turning around a program that had not made a bowl game since 1987 prior to his arrival in 2014.
“You don’t keep that job that long if you’re not damn good,” Kinne said. “He’s damn good at what he does. So they got my full attention, my full respect, and we’re working like crazy to go out there and be able to execute and play at a high level.”
On offense, Eastern Michigan is led by wide receiver Terry Lockett Jr. Lockett, who caught 46 passes for 660 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Eagles. Against Buffalo, Lockett caught eight passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite returning their leading wide receiver, the Eagles need to replace their starting quarterback and running back. Maryland transfer Cameron Edge looks to be the front runner for the Eagles, passing for 67 yards and one touchdown for the Terps last season. Also looking to make an impact in Liberty is transfer James Jointer Jr., who rushed for 61 yards on 12 carries last season for the Flames.
On defense, defensive end Jefferson Adam and defensive back Barry Manning will look to help the Eagles after their struggles last season.
This will be the secondever meeting between Texas State and Eastern Michigan, with the Bobcats and the Eagles first meeting in 2021.
Eastern Michigan won the previous meeting between the two teams, with the Eagles scoring 31 unanswered points in the second half to seal a 59-21 win over the Bobcats.
Kickoff for Texas State-Eastern Michigan is set for Saturday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. with the game being broadcast on ESPN+.
