By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
SAN MARCOS — A once-promising season for Texas State has taken a sharp turn.
The Bobcats fell 52–20 to James Madison on Tuesday night at UFCU Stadium, their fourth straight loss after a 3–1 start. For much of the first half, Texas State matched the Sun Belt’s top team punch for punch, trailing just 28–20 at halftime.
But the Dukes took control after the break, forcing three third-quarter interceptions and turning a close game into another long night for the home crowd. Here are five thoughts from the loss.
1. This is the tipping point
Texas State fans have had enough, and much of the frustration is aimed squarely at defensive coordinator Dexter McCoil. The Bobcats have been gashed for big plays week after week, and Tuesday was no different as James Madison rolled up 511 yards of offense, including 247 on the ground.
Head coach GJ Kinne said after the game he didn’t anticipate “wholesale changes,” but admitted adjustments are needed. “We have good players,” Kinne said. “But we have to make changes.” Whether that means schematic tweaks or staff accountability remains to be seen, but the pressure is has reached its boiling point.
2. Bowl hopes are now on life support
At 3–5 overall and winless in Sun Belt play, Texas State’s postseason path is almost gone. To become bowl eligible, the Bobcats must win out — a tall task with road trips to Louisiana and Southern Miss still ahead.
“We have to find a way to steal one of those games,” Kinne said. “That’s two really good teams we’re going play, and it starts with Louisiana. We hve to put together a really good game plan, we have to get healthy and get back in here and find our confidence.”
The Golden Eagles, rebuilt around much of the 2024 Marshall roster that won the conference, have surged lately. Even with two home games left, Texas State no longer has any margin for error. What once looked like a breakthrough season now feels like a fight for survival.
3. Momentum shift in the second half
For a brief moment, it looked like Texas State might be ready to swing the upset. A late first-half field goal pulled the Bobcats within eight, and they entered the locker room with momentum and confidence. Then, less than a minute into the third quarter, James Madison hit a 76-yard touchdown strike, and the game was effectively over. The Dukes outscored Texas State 24–0 after halftime, capitalizing on every mistake. “They’ve been doing that all year,” Kinne said.
4. Promising season has been derailed
A month ago, Texas State was 3–1 and talked about competing for a conference title. Now, the Bobcats have lost four straight and are searching for answers. The offense has shown flashes but continues to be undone by turnovers and missed opportunities. Defensively, Texas State has surrendered an average of 44 points during the losing streak. The challenge for Kinne and his staff over the final four games is to stop the free fall before the season – and locker room morale – completely collapses.
5. Fan support is falling
Announced attendance was 17,363, but by the fourth quarter only a few hundred remained in the stands. The Tuesday night kickoff and late finish didn’t help, yet the exodus reflected a fan base losing faith. The student section brought energy early, but as James Madison’s lead grew, the crowd thinned.
For a program working to build sustained excitement as it prepares to join the Pac-12, the sight of an empty stadium in the closing minutes was another sobering reminder of how quickly momentum on and off the field can vanish.
