Troy Hosts Texas State for Thursday-Night Showdown

TROY, Ala. – Troy wraps a three-game homestand by hosting Texas State on Thursday night at The Vet in a nationally televised game on ESPN2. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Fans can purchase $5 general admission tickets through noon on Thursday by visiting TroyTrojans.com/promo with the code OneTROYNight. Additionally, it will be a four-quarter party for Troy students with different promotions and giveaways in the student section throughout the game.

The two preseason favorites in the Sun Belt West are both looking to get their footing still in 2024. Troy (1-4, 0-1 SBC) dropped its Sun Belt opener last week to ULM after losing starting quarterback Goose Crowder in the first quarter, while Texas State (2-2, 0-0) has dropped two straight after opening the season with consecutive wins.

Troy's defense kept it in the game last week, as the Trojans held the Warhawks to 247 yards of total offense and 13 points, Troy's 21^st opponent out of its last 33 held to 19 points or fewer.

The Warhawks completed just six passes in the game, the fewest in a Troy loss since 2015, and the Trojans increased their tackle for loss total to 20 over the last three games. The Troy defense has surrendered an average of just 295 yards and 12.5 points the last two weeks.

Offensively, Tucker Kilcrease took over for Crowder and rushed for 55 yards, the most by a Troy quarterback since 2018, while Gerald Green topped the 100-yard mark for the fifth time in his career and the first time as a Trojan.

The Bobcats jumped out to a 22-0 lead at Sam Houston State last weekend and led 39-21 early in the third quarter before surrendering an 11-play, 72-yard drive that resulted in a game-winning 24-yard field goal for Sam Houston in a 40-39 victory.

Texas State is led by transfer quarterback Jordan McCloud, who earned Sun Belt Player of the Year honors last season at James Madison. McCloud has completed 69 percent of his passes for 1,141 yards and 12 touchdowns through four games this season.

Notable
• Two drives this season in which Troy has not allowed a big play (12-plus yard run, 15-plus yard pass) that has resulted in points (2-for-25); conversely, Troy has allowed points on 20-of-26 drives when allowing a big play.

• Troy has won the coin toss nine out of the last 33 games (2022-pr.) ... the Trojans are 1-4 this season.

• Troy has won 12 straight games over Texas State for Troy entering Thursday night; Troy's longest winning streak over any opponent in program history.

• Troy has 20 tackles for loss by the Trojans the last three games; Troy had nine TFLs in the first two games.

• Troy has held 21 opponents since 2022 to 19 points or fewer, fourth most in the country.

• Tucker Kilcrease rushed for 55 yards against ULM, the most by a Troy QB since Kaleb Barker (111 yards) and Sawyer Smith (56 yards) against Georgia State in 2018.

• Devonte Ross became the first player in Troy's DI history to record a pair of 60-plus yard catches in the same game.

• All of Troy's defensive coaches have served as a DC at the college level - Chris Boone, Nathan Burton, Justin Manning, Travis Pearson.

• Troy has forced 192 turnovers since the start of the 2016 season, which is the second most in the country.

• Troy's games in 2024 have averaged just 117.2 combined plays, the second fewest in the country (Kentucky, 112.6).

• Negative plays have been the key to Troy's success on defense ... the Trojans have not allowed points on any drive this season in which they record a sack (0-for-2) or if the first play went for a loss (0-for-4).

• Devonte Ross became the first Troy player with multiple touchdown receptions in consecutive games since Eric Thomas had two against North Texas and Florida Atlantic in 2011. Ross had two touchdown receptions at Iowa and had three against Florida A&M.

• Damien Taylor ranks 20th nationally with five rushes of 20-plus yards and ranks ninth nationally among running backs with at least 50 carries, averaging 4.75 yards after contact.

• Troy has scored on 90.9 percent of its drives this season, which have covered 10 or more plays (10-of-11).

Troy Hosts Texas State for Thursday-Night Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Goose Crowder

Gerald Green

Tucker Kilcrease

Devonte Ross

Damien Taylor

Troy University Athletics