OP/ED
Football season has officially come to a close within the city limits of San Marcos as the Rattlers finished their postseason run while the Bobcats wrapped up their regular season and await their bowl fate.
Both the Rattlers and the Bobcats had rollercoaster seasons with both programs seeing their highest highs and lowest lows.
RATTLERS HISTORIC SEASON CLOSES OUT A THREE-YEAR SAGA
It was a historic season for the Rattlers, who made the regional semifinals for the first time since 2006 and just the third time in program history since the expansion for the playoffs in 1982.
But to get there was what can best be described as a rollercoaster ride.
First was the Rattlers snapping their 21-game losing streak, beating the Hutto Hippos in a thrilling season opener. Then came the lows including a blowout loss to Lake Travis and a controversial loss to East Central that featured a sidelines-clearing brawl, which nearly derailed the season only for San Marcos to come back, defeating Converse Judson on the road for the first time since 1975.
Finishing the season at 7-3, the Rattlers were second in district, their best finish since 2017, and were slated to host their first playoff game in eight years.
Since taking over the sports editor desk, I have heard the stories about the Rattlers and their home playoff football games that would see thousands of proud San Marcians show out to support the team.
From the late 1990s to the early 2000s to even the mid 2010s, I was told countless stories about what a different energy these home playoff games brought, that the hype was almost too much to believe.
But seeing the Rattlers not only host their Bi-District playoff game against Eagle Pass, but defeat the Eagles for their first playoff win in eight years, it was a moment that is firmly engrained in my memory.
Much has been said about the last three seasons of Rattlers, both good and bad. The controversy surrounding the allegations of recruiting that led to suspensions left a dark cloud over San Marcos that the Rattlers couldn’t seem to shake. Add on a long losing streak and you can see why morale was low.
So to see the Rattler players hoist up their Bi-District championship trophy and celebrate with their fellow students, it seemingly washed the bad taste out of everyone’s mouths that had lingered for the last two seasons.
Now the Rattlers can finally turn to a new chapter with realignment on the horizon.
If the Rattlers rollercoaster season wasn’t enough excitement, the Bobcats put that into overdrive.
BOBCATS SALVAGE SEASON TO GO BOWLING FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE SEASON
Everything had seemed perfect at Texas State. The Bobcats entered Sun Belt Conference play with a 3-1 overall record and seemingly the favorite to win the West Division. The highlight of non-conference play was the Bobcats defeating the Roadrunners for the first time inside of the Alamodome in front of 45,000+ fans.
Despite the momentum of the Texas State hype train gaining full steam ahead, the wheels didn’t just come off. The engine had imploded on itself.
Texas State dropped their next five conference games in agonizing fashion: four losses came within one possession.
The lowest point of the season came against the hated Cajuns, where Texas State not only dropped their 13th game against the border rivals, but then were involved in a fight after the game that saw 13 total players get suspended.
With the Bobcats bowl hopes on life support as Texas State headed on the road to Southern Miss, the West Division leaders, it was as bleak as things have been in San Marcos.
But then something happened, multiple things in fact.
The Bobcat defense, which had given up over 40 points in their last four games, found their vigor. Texas State held Southern Miss to just 14 points while the Bobcat offense continued to roll leading to a 41-14 win over the Golden Eagles.
Texas State then defeated both Louisiana Monroe and South Alabama to salvage the season that was on death’s door to now being bowl bound for the third consecutive season.
Without a doubt, this was one of the best coaching jobs G.J. Kinne has pulled off in his tenure at Texas State.
As some would tell you, many Bobcat teams of years past have folded under the same pressure. The 2025 season could have easily been a 3-9 finish with the Bobcats limping into the Pac-12.
But credit to Kinne, his staff and the players. The Bobcats refused to bow down and succumb to extreme adversity, coming out with the program’s third consecutive trip to a bowl game.
Now everything points to the future and the Pac-12. The Bobcats have a potential Bobcat legend in freshman Brad Jackson with a slew of offensive weapons and a cohesive offensive line. In addition, the Bobcats also are coming in with one of the highest-rated recruiting classes in the history of the program. If the defense can make a jump in improvement, Texas State can run the table in the Pac-12.
