By Michael Adams 
Austin Sports Journal 

Texas State didn’t just leave Fort Worth with a trophy. It left with a message. 

In a dominant 41–10 win over Rice Friday in the Armed Forces Bowl, the Bobcats offered a clear preview of what the Pac-12 is about to inherit in July: an explosive offense, a fan base willing to travel and a head coach who has re-energized a program in a remarkably short time. 

“This game was important for us as a program,” Texas State coach G.J. Kinne said. “A ton of momentum. To come out here and get another win, that matters.” 

The performance felt bigger than a single bowl game.  

Texas State scored 31 unanswered points after halftime, overwhelmed Rice with pace and power and did so in front of a crowd of more than 28,000 that included a heavy maroon-and-gold presence, serving as a reminder that Bobcat fans show up to support their team. 

And it starts with what Kinne has done in such a short time to ignite a program that was not used to winning.  

Since moving to the FBS in 2012, Texas State has a record of 59-100 (.365) with only five winning seasons. Three of those winning seasons have been under Kinne’s leadership.  

“That’s huge,” Kinne said of the fan support. “It’s one of those things you kind of take for granted. We know we’re going to show up; we’re not like other teams where fans don’t show up for these bowl games. We pack it out. They’re excited, and hopefully, we continue to win and they show up.”  

On the field, the identity was unmistakable.  

Texas State leaned into what it does best: attacking vertically, running with authority and forcing opponents to defend every inch of the field.  

The Bobcats finished the season with a 3,000-yard passer (Brad Jackson), a 1,000-yard rusher (Lincoln Pare) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn Jr.). That shows a level of balance and explosiveness that has become the foundation of Kinne’s rebuild. 

“It’s a blessing,” receiver Beau Sparks said. “It starts with Coach Kinne believing in us and Brad getting us the ball. It was really a team effort.” 

That belief has translated into sustained success.  

With Thursday’s win, Texas State secured its third straight bowl victory and third straight winning season, something the program hadn’t accomplished since the 1980s.  

In an era defined by roster churn and instant turnarounds, the consistency has become a trademark in Kinne’s short tenure. 

Kinne pointed to that continuity after the game, particularly as players announced early returns for next season. 

“Chris (Dawn Jr.) has three bowl wins and three rings with an opportunity to get four next year,” Kinne said. “In college football now, that is hard. I am going to take care of those guys that do the right things on and off the field. They are so unselfish. We have a lot of opportunities to improve this offseason. We have a chance to really make some noise next year.” 

The second half surge against Rice underscored the maturity Kinne believes defines his locker room. After a slow start following a month-long layoff, the Bobcats stayed composed and trusted their system. 

“We had to settle down a little bit,” Kinne said. “The message was to calm down. We get the ball to start the second half. We just had to adjust a little bit. We are built on explosive plays, and some teams have bottled us up this season.” 

Defensively, Texas State showed another trait that should translate well to its new conference home: discipline.  

Against Rice’s option-heavy attack, the Bobcats forced turnovers, limited explosive plays and wore the Owls down as the game progressed. 

“It talks to the type of men we have in that locker room,” Kinne said. “I am proud of the way we finished the season. Going to the Pac-12 with the momentum, we have so much firepower coming back. The sky is the limit.” 

Rice coach Scott Abell agreed, crediting Texas State for creating pressure that compounded his team’s mistakes. 

“Texas State had momentum and we couldn’t find a rhythm,” Abell said. “We put our defense in bad situations and it kind of took the air out of it. They may have been a part of some of that.” 

For Texas State, that was the point. 

The Bobcats no longer look like a program hoping to belong. They look like one arriving with purpose.  

If Friday was a preview, the Pac-12 has been put on notice.