What Is 2017 Texas State Bobcats football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 Texas State Bobcats football team represented Texas State University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 7-6 record under head coach Everett Withers. They competed in the Sun Belt Conference and earned a berth in the New Mexico Bowl, where they lost to New Mexico 23-20.

Key Facts

Texas State finished the 2017 season with a 7-6 overall record
Head coach Everett Withers was in his second season
The team played in the Sun Belt Conference
They qualified for the New Mexico Bowl on December 16, 2017
Texas State lost the bowl game to New Mexico 23-20 in Albuquerque

Overview

The 2017 Texas State Bobcats football season marked the program's 97th year of competition and its fifth as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. Led by head coach Everett Withers in his second year, the team achieved a winning record for the first time since 2011, finishing with a 7-6 overall mark.

The Bobcats showed significant improvement from their 2016 campaign, which ended with a 3-9 record. Their performance earned them a spot in the New Mexico Bowl, their first bowl appearance since 2013, highlighting a step forward in the program's rebuilding phase.

Record: The team finished with a 7-6 overall record, including a 5-3 mark in Sun Belt Conference play, a notable improvement from the previous season.
Bowl Appearance: Texas State qualified for the New Mexico Bowl on December 16, 2017, facing the University of New Mexico Lobos in Albuquerque.
Head Coach:Everett Withers served as head coach, implementing a defense-focused strategy that helped stabilize the program during his tenure.
Home Stadium: The Bobcats played their home games at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas, which has a seating capacity of approximately 30,000.
Key Player: Quarterback Marcus McMillan emerged as a dual-threat leader, throwing for 1,224 yards and rushing for 482 yards during the season.

Season Performance

The 2017 campaign featured a mix of close wins and narrow losses, reflecting the team's competitive but inconsistent nature. Texas State opened the season with a tough loss to No. 12 TCU but responded with a strong mid-season run.

Opening Game: The Bobcats lost to TCU 59-14 on September 2, setting a challenging tone for non-conference play.
Conference Success: They won five of eight Sun Belt games, defeating teams like Louisiana-Lafayette and Georgia State.
Offensive Output: The team averaged 24.5 points per game, relying heavily on a balanced rushing attack led by Logan Firkser and McMillan.
Defensive Stats: Texas State allowed 28.2 points per game, showing improvement over 2016 but still vulnerable in key moments.
Win Streak: They won four games in a row from October 14 to November 11, including victories over ULM and South Alabama.
Bowl Game Result: In the New Mexico Bowl, the Bobcats fell 23-20 to the Lobos, missing a chance to secure their first 8-win season since 2011.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2017 season compares to recent years in key performance metrics:

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Bowl Game	Head Coach
2017	7-6	5-3	New Mexico Bowl (L)	Everett Withers
2016	3-9	2-6	No bowl	Everett Withers
2015	3-9	2-6	No bowl	Danny Gonzales (interim)
2014	7-6	5-3	Armed Forces Bowl (W)	Danny Gonzales
2013	6-6	4-4	GoDaddy Bowl (L)	Danny Gonzales

The 2017 season mirrored the 2014 campaign in record and conference performance, but the outcome of the bowl game was a disappointment. While the team returned to bowl eligibility, they failed to secure a victory, unlike in 2014 when they beat Navy. The consistency shown in Sun Belt play suggested progress, but closing out tight games remained a challenge.

Why It Matters

The 2017 season was a pivotal moment in the trajectory of Texas State football, signaling potential for sustained improvement after years of subpar records. Though the bowl loss was a setback, the season rekindled fan interest and provided momentum for future recruiting.

Program Momentum: Achieving a winning record helped boost recruiting efforts and morale within the athletic department.
Conference Standing: A 5-3 conference record placed Texas State in the middle of the Sun Belt West Division, competitive but not dominant.
Player Development: Quarterback Marcus McMillan and linebacker Jaylon Thomas emerged as leaders, setting the foundation for 2018.
Bowl Exposure: National television coverage during the New Mexico Bowl increased visibility for the university.
Coaching Evaluation: Withers' second season was seen as a step forward, though questions remained about offensive consistency.
Future Outlook: The season laid the groundwork for future success, though Withers was ultimately fired after 2018 due to lack of further progress.

The 2017 Texas State Bobcats season stands as a transitional year—marked by modest success, renewed hope, and the ongoing challenge of building a consistent winner in a competitive FBS conference.