Texas State Bobcats Stampede Over Rice Owls in Armed Forces Bowl Rout

Let’s be honest, folks: if you tuned into the Armed Forces Bowl expecting a nail-biter, you probably changed the channel by the third quarter. Friday afternoon in Fort Worth turned into a masterclass in domination as the Texas State Bobcats absolutely dismantled the Rice Owls, 41-10.

For the Bobcats, it was a coronation, a third straight bowl victory that cements their status as the kings of the “don’t bet against us in December” club. For Rice? Well, let’s just say it was the kind of afternoon that makes you want to delete the game tape, burn the stats sheet, and pretend the bus broke down on the way to the stadium.

A Slow Start That Quickly Spiraled

The first quarter was a defensive stalemate, a scoreless affair that felt less like a tactical chess match and more like two heavyweights trying to remember how to throw a punch. Fans in the stands at Amon G. Carter Stadium might have been checking their watches, wondering if anyone actually planned on scoring.

But then came the second quarter, and with it, disaster for the Owls. Rice quarterback Patrick Crayton Jr., looking to spark something, anything, tossed a pass on the second play of the quarter that found the wrong hands.

Texas State’s Jaden Rios, clearly possessing the kind of instincts defensive coordinators dream about, snatched the ball and took it 44 yards the other way. That interception was the spark that lit the powder keg. Moments later, Bobcats QB Brad Jackson punched it in from six yards out, and suddenly, the rout was on.

The Mirage of Hope for Rice

To their credit, the Owls didn’t fold to Texas State immediately. After falling behind 10-0 following a Tyler Robles field goal, Rice put together its one truly competent drive of the afternoon. Crayton, shaking off the earlier pick, engineered a 68-yard march down the field. With just nine seconds left in the half, he found Aaron Turner for a two-yard touchdown.

For a brief, fleeting moment at halftime, with the score 10-7, it looked like we had a ballgame. The Owls had momentum. They had hope. They had a chance to reset and come out swinging. Spoiler alert: They did not come out swinging.

The Second Half: A Bobcat Blitz

Whatever was said in the Texas State locker room at halftime needs to be bottled and sold. The Bobcats came out of the break looking like a completely different animal. It took them exactly three plays to shatter Rice’s dreams. Brad Jackson, who seemingly decided he was tired of close games, launched a 69-yard bomb to Beau Sparks. Touchdown.

Just like that, the air went out of the Rice sideline. And then, things got ugly. Crayton fumbled on the ensuing possession because when it rains, it pours, and two plays later, Jackson connected with Chris Dawn Jr. for another score.

In the span of a few minutes, a tight 10-7 contest had ballooned into a 24-7 beatdown. Rice’s offense, which had managed to claw its way back into the game, suddenly looked like it was running in quicksand. They were outgained 436 to 195 on the day, a stat line that tells you everything you need to know about who controlled the trenches.

Star Performances and Ugly Stats

Let’s talk about the heroes of the day. Texas State’s Brad Jackson was a dual-threat nightmare, accounting for four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing). His connection with Chris Dawn Jr. was electric, with Dawn hauling in 11 catches for 75 yards and two scores.

On the other side, Rice’s bright spots were few and far between. Aaron Turner fought valiantly, snagging 10 catches, but when your most extended play is a 54-yarder that essentially leads to nothing sustained, it’s hard to celebrate. Defensively, Tony Anyanwu was a beast for the Owls, racking up a career-high 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks, but one man can’t stop a stampede.

The most telling stat? Texas State’s defense held Rice to just 12 first downs. You can’t win football games if you can’t move the chains, and you certainly can’t win when you turn the ball over three times in your own territory.

What This Means for Both Programs

For Texas State, this win is huge. Finishing 7-6 secures their third straight winning season, a program record. Head coach GJ Kinne has built something special in San Marcos, proving that the Bobcats are no longer the little brother in Texas football conversations. They are 3-0 in bowl games, and they have undeniable swagger.

For Rice, it leaves a bad taste. Falling to 5-8 is tough, but losing in such a lopsided fashion to an in-state rival stings even more. They have pieces. Anyanwu is a stud, and Turner is a reliable weapon, but the consistency just wasn’t there.

As the confetti fell on the Texas State Bobcats, the message was clear: Texas State owns the Armed Forces Bowl this year, and Rice is left searching for answers. Football can be a cruel game, and on this Friday in Fort Worth, the Owls learned that lesson the hard way.