Texas State romps past Rice at Armed Forces Bowl

Field Level Media|published: Fri 2nd January, 17:02 2026

Texas State Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson (8) looks to pass against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg,Miss, on Nov. 15, 2025.

Brad Jackson threw for 173 yards and accounted for four touchdowns as Texas State walloped Rice 41-10 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Jackson completed 17 of 24 passes with three scores for the Bobcats (7-6), who finished the season with a four-game winning streak. He added 52 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, and Lincoln Pare rushed 11 times for 106 yards and a score as Texas State outgained the Owls 436-196.

Rice (5-8), which got the bowl bid after several other schools turned down invitations to play in a bowl game, used three different quarterbacks in an attempt to spark the offense. Patrick Crayton Jr. was 4 of 9 for 70 yards with a score and an interception, while Lucas Scheerhorn hit 6 of 9 attempts for 19 yards and Quinton Jackson was 3 of 3 for 8 yards.

Crayton's 2-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Turner with nine seconds left in the first half helped the Owls crawl within 10-7 at halftime. But the Bobcats dominated the second half, beginning with Jackson's 69-yard scoring strike to Beau Sparks 53 seconds into the third quarter.

Jackson made it 24-7 with 8:36 left in the third quarter on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Chris Dawn Jr. It came two plays after Kalil Alexander strip-sacked Crayton and Tymere Jackson recovered the fumble at the Rice 11.

Crayton fumbled on the first play after the ensuing kickoff and Tyler Robles cashed in the mistake with a 29-yard field goal at the 6:53 mark for a 27-7 advantage.

Texas State turned the game into a rout with Pare's 63-yard scoring jaunt 19 seconds into the fourth quarter. Jackson added a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dawn with 9:10 remaining.

Rice capped the scoring on Enock Gota's 28-yard field goal at the 5:32 mark.

The Bobcats opened the scoring with 10:31 left in the first half on Jackson's 6-yard run that capped a 38-yard drive. It came eight plays after Jaden Rios intercepted Crayton and lugged it 44 yards.

Robles made it 10-0 with a 30-yard field goal at the 6:17 mark.

--Field Level Media