This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/usffan on 2024-08-09 14:14:31+00:00.

You can find the start of this series with links to all teams here

Texas State sure looks to be an under-the-radar contender for the G5 CFP slot. After a significant coaching upgrade from Jake Spavital to G. J. Kinne, the Bobcats turned things around last year and finished in that logjam 2nd place in the Sun Belt West. They return 2/3 of their productivity from that team this season, and the only loss (QB T. J. Finley to Western Kentucky) looks on paper like an upgrade to former James Madison (and Arizona State, and USF) signal caller Jordan McCloud after a brief dalliance with Jayden De Laura. In fact, Texas State hit the transfer portal hard (30.61, tops in the SBC), bringing in 31 new players including 14 from P4 programs. Kinne is all in on the portal route, as evidenced by their below average (152.53) recruiting ratings. FPI (-4.7) has the Bobcats as the #2 team in the Sun Belt West, while Sagarin (64.29) has them third and the preseason media poll has them #1. Here’s their 2024 schedule:

8/31 LAMAR (W)

9/7 UTSA (W, coin toss)

9/12 ARIZONA STATE (W, coin toss)

9/21 BYE

9/28 at Sam Houston (W)

10/3 at Troy (L, coin toss)

10/12 ARKANSAS STATE (W)

10/19 at Old Dominion (W)

10/29 LOUISIANA (W, coin toss)

11/2 BYE

11/9 at Louisiana-Monroe (W)

11/16 SOUTHERN MISS (W)

11/23 GEORGIA STATE (W)

11/30 at South Alabama (W)

Outlook The Bobcats not only have the talent, but also have the schedule to make a run at the SBC West title and a chance at the G5 CFP berth. The only game that likely stands in their way is that road trip to Troy on a short week. If they win that game, they’re almost certainly taking on the winner of the tougher Sun Belt East in the championship game, and could very well be hosting it!

Sun Belt outlook If the SBC plays out the way I’ve picked things (which is sure not to be entirely the case), then the SBC championship will be Troy vs. Appalachian State in a rematch of last year’s title game, with both having an excellent chance at being in the first 12 team CFP field. But both division races are far from a certainty.