The Texas State Bobcats, having surprised everybody with their eight-win streak last season, find themselves perched high with expectations as they enter the 2022 football season. Coaches from the Sun Belt Conference have spoken, and they're betting on Texas State to lead the pack in the West Division, as reported by KXAN. Out of 14, nine coaches foresee the Bobcats clawing their way to the division title—and why not? They've got reigning Sun Belt offensive player of the year Jordan McCloud onboard, leading a team flush with talent.
Hero Sports is laying out the numbers, with the Bobcats' Over/Under for wins at 8.5 for this upcoming season. Some might want to crunch the numbers before putting down the cash, but the buzz is real — the bookies are feeling pretty bullish. "There’s a legitimate chance the Bobcats are favored in every game this season," per Hero Sports.
McCloud's got quite the supporting cast; we're talking wide receiver Joey Hobert and running back Ismail Mahdi, who blasted through last season with 1,331 yards and 10 touchdowns. These stats aren't just numbers on paper; according to KXAN, Mahdi led the country in all-purpose yards per game in 2023, averaging a mind-boggling 166.85. And can we talk about that defense? Linebacker Ben Bell, who KXAN notes made the jump from second team to first team this year, is gonna be key in keeping those Bobcats in strong contention.
As for those landmark games that might keep fans on the edge of their seats — the Bobcats’ Week 2 face-off against UTSA could very well carry major College Football Playoff implications. Hero Sports predicts that this matchup could become "the most important game on its schedule." But as always, the devil's in the details, or in this case, the defense. "I don’t see the Bobcats losing more than three regular season games this season, despite playing in the Sun Belt," Hero Sports suggests, adding, "The most likely game they lose is vs. UTSA, and I think it will be dictated by how well the Bobcats’ defense plays." All eyes will be on Bell and the rest of the defensive lineup to see if they can hold the fort.
If things go their way, the Bobcats might find themselves not just rewriting their own history but shaking up the wider college football narrative. Watch this space—Texas State is definitely not here to play second fiddle anymore.
