Texas State travels farther and plays later in the Pac-12. Its answer: $1.5M in upgrades

Texas State head football coach GJ Kinne talks to a reporter during football practice at UFCU Stadium on Saturday, August. 8, 2026 in San Marcos, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman) When Texas State first accepted an invitation to join the Pac-12, excitement blossomed across the program. The future looked bright, but logistically, one particular issue needed to be addressed.Texas State is the only team in the conference located in the Central time zone. How would the Bobcats handle the increased travel costs, especially to the schools in the Pacific Northwest?UP NEXTTEXAS STATE VS. OREGON STATEWhen/where: 9:30 p.m. Saturday in Corvallis, Ore.TV: CW.Texas State football chief of staff Albert Boone told the American-Statesman earlier this season that he's been pushing for improved travel amenities since his hiring in 2024. His efforts paid off in 2026, as the administration invested nearly $1.5 million in transportation compared to last season.RELATED: Texas State basketball prepares for toughest season in program history"It's about getting the players comfortable. Letting them get their minds right," Boone said.Texas State President Kelly Damphouss said in late June that he, athletic director Don Coryell and their staff spent a lot of time discussing travel. It'll be key again this week as the Bobcats head out for a 1,700-mile trip to Corvallis, Ore. Here's how the athletic department is trying to make those longer journeys more manageable for players:The toll of Texas State's new travelTexas State's 2025 Sun Belt football road trips included Arkansas State, Marshall, Southern Miss and Louisiana-Lafayette. Despite one fewer away game in its Pac-12 debut - San Diego State, Boise State and Oregon State - Texas State is traveling more than an extra 1,000 miles.In addition, the Bobcats have to deal with a time change. Last year, Texas State had no games that started after 7:30 p.m. CT. Their games this season against San Diego State and Boise State started at 9:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. CT, respectively. Saturday's matchup against Oregon State also begins at 9:30 p.m.Texas State flew back the morning after losing to Boise State. Quarterback Brad Jackson said he got back to his apartment Sunday around 7 a.m. following a trip that spanned more than 1,300 miles."You kind of understand … we're gonna have to sacrifice some of these weeks," Jackson said.Boone said he strongly believes in "you get what you pay for." As the chief of staff, his job is to put the team in the best position to succeed, and subpar travel can impact that. Texas State president Kelly Damphousse greets band members on the field ahead of the game against Nicholls State at Texas State University on Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025 in San Marcos, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman) Boone recalled a story about Texas State taking a bus to face Louisiana-Lafayette in 2023, before he joined the staff. The supposedly six-hour trip grew to nine hours, the Bobcats lost 34-30, and Damphousse swore, "Never again.""You try to take all of the discomfort away from anything that could put them in a position where they're not at their best," Boone said.Putting their money where the miles areTexas State's first step was increasing funding. According to documents obtained by the Statesman, the athletic travel budget jumped from $3,671,441 in 2025 to $5,210,951 in 2026. The biggest investment has been the plane; the Bobcats switched to United Airlines, and head coach GJ Kinne said the difference is "night and day." Televisions are scattered throughout Texas State's new aircraft. Athletes have access to Wi-Fi; Boone saw them watching NFL games on the way back from San Diego. Wide receiver Beau Sparks said captains get to sit in first class and the linemen appreciate the extra space to stretch their legs."The level of service, the amenities, all of the above. That comes along with flying with that brand," Boone said.Although Texas State flew back from Boise right after the game, it spent an extra day in San Diego after falling to the Aztecs, Boone said. That meant accounting for another night in the hotel and extra food expenses. As a mid-major program, the Bobcats need to find ways to save money where they can; keeping the 2026 nonconference schedule in-state helped in that aspect. (The same is true for next season, when the Bobcats will travel to Texas A&M and UTSA and host UTGRV and Ohio.)Some of the amenities the Bobcats enjoy are likely common practice at the nation's most well-funded football programs. There are things Texas State's athletic department can't provide. But players, especially the veterans, notice and appreciate what's changed."I'm super thankful," Sparks said. "Those four-hour, three-hour flights can get long and taxing on your body, especially when you're doing back-to-back weeks."Texas State might not always have the best. But the effort is apparent as the Bobcats enter a new era."We're gonna give our best," Boone said.Sign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.This article originally published at Texas State travels farther and plays later in the Pac-12. Its answer: $1.5M in upgrades.