Colton’s Corner: Despite not reaching lofty goals, 2024 is still successful

OP/ED

The 2024 season will go as one of the most roller- coaster football seasons in recent memory at Texas State.

There were the highest of highs – beating UTSA for the first time in the biggest blowout of the I-35 Rivalry, being featured on ESPN at home against future Big 12 champ Arizona State and beating long Sun Belt nemesises in Arkansas State and Troy.

Then there were the lowest of lows – going up three possessions twice against rival Sam Houston before losing to the Bearkats, being defeated by Old Dominion and Georgia State despite their losing records and falling to Louisiana to the Cajun curse and ending the Bobcats hopes of winning a Sun Belt West Division title.

Despite all of that, the season ended with a 3028 win over the North Texas Mean Green in the first meeting between the two teams in over 30 years. The Bobcats finished the season with eight wins marking the first time Texas State had back to back eight or more win seasons since the Jim Wacker era.

While the expectations of winning a conference championship and claiming a berth in the newly expanded College Football Playoff ultimately fell short, it’s hard not to call the 2024 season anything but a success for the football program.

Since 1984 when the Bobcats made the jump to Division 1, Texas State has struggled with winning at a consistent level.

Before 2023, Texas State has had only two instances where the Bobcats have had back to back records of over .500 – in 19901991 and 2008-2009 with the latter becoming the only one in the D1 era of consecutive seasons with seven or more wins.

The FBS era has been even more treacherous.

Between 2015-2022, the Bobcats won a total 23 games over seven seasons, averaging 3.2 wins per season.

Averaging just 3.2 wins to having back to back eight win seasons with two bowls is still a remarkable accomplishment for Texas State and the program.

Is it alright to be disappointed with aspects of the season? Most certainly.

But to call the entire season a disappointment is an injustice to the coaching staff and the administration for their work in pulling the football program from the smoldering crater it was left in.

As the old saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It took Steve Sarkisian two seasons of mediocity before the Longhorns could finally be on top of the pedestal once more. Nick Saban endured a couple of rough seasons before capturing the national championship in 2009, leading to the Alabama dynasty.

In order for Texas State to create a top tier Group of Five program that competes for conference titles and berths in the College Football Playoff, a foundation must be built first before a powerhouse can be created.

The foundation is being built at Texas State and the Bobcats are continuing to knock down significant milestones in the journey while being in lockstep with an administration that is progressive with athletics.

The lofty goals of winning a conference championship and a potential berth in the college football playoff will come sooner rather than later. But to reach those goals, patience is still required.

cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc