Texas State earned a 20-17 victory over Utah State on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Texas, driven by a scoring surge in the final periods. The Bobcats moved to a 4-3 record with the win, while the Aggies fell to 2-5.
Aggies Rely on Field Goals
The game, which began at 6:33 PM and concluded at 10:01 PM, saw a total of 18,587 spectators in attendance. While Utah State relied heavily on the foot of Kian Afrookhteh to build an early lead, Texas State utilized a diverse scoring attack to overcome the Aggies.
Early Aggie Scoring
Utah State established an early presence on the scoreboard through Kian Afrookhteh. Afrookhteh converted a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter following an eight-play, 50-yard drive. He followed that performance with a 48-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 27-yard field goal later in the same period, giving the Aggies a 9-7 advantage heading into the third quarter.
Bobcats Respond
Texas State responded with significant plays that shifted the momentum of the contest. In the first quarter, Jaylen Jenkins opened the scoring for the Bobcats with a 100-yard kickoff return, assisted by a Jacob Bonilla kick. This play was part of a sequence that saw the Bobcats take a 7-3 lead early in the game.
Late Game Momentum
The third quarter saw Texas State extend its lead when Brad Jackson scored on a 3-yard run following a 12-play, 66-yard drive. This touchdown, also assisted by a Jacob Bonilla kick, brought the Bobcats ahead 14-9. Utah State attempted to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Garcia to Kaina Watson, which was set up by a 75-yard drive and a pass from Javen Jacobs. That score brought the Aggies to 17 points.
Texas State Secures Win
Texas State secured the victory in the final minutes of the game. Jacob Bonilla converted a 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to extend the lead, and then added a 37-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the game to finalize the 20-17 score. The game lasted a total duration of 3:28.
Season Implications
The outcome leaves Utah State with a 2-5 overall record and a 1-2 conference record. Texas State improves to a 4-3 overall record and a 2-1 conference record. The game was played under sunny weather conditions.
Individual Statistics
Individual performances for Utah State included significant yardage from Grady Brosterhous (206), Javen Jacobs (42), and Anthony Garcia (87). For Texas State, key contributions came from Brad Jackson (167), Torrance Burgess Jr. (51), and Chris Dawn, Jr. (48).
