AUSTIN (KXAN) — The leap that Texas State football made in 2023 under first-year head coach GJ Kinne was massive. The Bobcats won eight games to not only reach their first bowl game ever, but win it.
Now comes expectations that the program has not seen since their move to FBS. The Sun Belt Conference released the preseason coaches poll Monday afternoon and the Bobcats are atop the West Division.
Texas State is eyeing its first appearance in the conference title game. Of the 14 coaches polled, nine picked the Bobcats to claim the division and qualify for the conference title game.
"We got a real opportunity," said Kinne at THSCA Coaching School and Convention. "I think that's one cool thing is we're the only Texas school [in the Sun Belt] so that was one of the reasons we should win the Sun Belt."
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Reigning Sun Belt offensive player of the year Jordan McCloud transferred from James Madison to Texas State. He was selected as a first-team quarterback along with Joey Aguilar from Appalachian State.
Ismail Mahdi ran for 1,331 yards and 10 touchdowns a season ago and is now selected on the first team along with McCloud. Wide receiver Joey Hobert is also on the first-team offense coming off a 76-catch season with 895 yards and eight touchdowns. Mahdi led the country in all-purpose yards per game last season, averaging 166.85.
Ben Bell is the lone Bobcat on the first team for defense. The linebacker from Cedar Park was on the second team last year.
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Kicker Mason Shipley is on the first team for special teams. Receiver Kole Wilson is on the second team along with defensive back Kaleb Culp.
"I think that's probably the best thing we did all offseason was keeping guys like Ben Bell," said Kinne. "Keeping Ismail Mahdi. We couldn't get anyone as good as those guys in the portal. We don't have enough money."
With Texas State picked to win its division, Appalachian State was picked to win the easy with 12 of a possible 14 votes. The Bobcats open the season at 7 p.m., Aug. 31, at home against Lamar.
