In the age of the transfer portal and players sitting out the postseason to prepare for the NFL Draft, bowl games have become a prime opportunity for backups to show what they can do in the biggest game of their season.
From underclassmen getting extra development reps to seniors getting to shine in their final game, each season the bowl season is littered with examples of unsung heroes stepping into the spotlight—like Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo in the College Football Playoff last January.
While Skattebo is now in the NFL, this season, another running back who had a breakout performance in a bowl game is looking to carry that momentum into his senior season and become a household name—Texas State’s Lincoln Pare.
All eyes on 7️⃣#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/rZ6B2FoxUp
— Texas State Football (@TXSTATEFOOTBALL) August 5, 2025
Pare’s Emergence
Prior to the Bobcats’ 30-28 win against North Texas in the First Responder Bowl, Pare amassed just 74 carries for 411 yards and six touchdowns behind leading rusher Ismail Mahdi. Mahdi transferred to Arizona before the bowl game giving Pare the starting role, and he didn’t disappoint. For the game Pare had 21 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns, including a highlight 73-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to seal the Bobcats’ second consecutive bowl win.
Going, going, gooooone! @TXSTATEFOOTBALL to the HOUSE! Lincoln Pare flies down the field for the 73-yard score! pic.twitter.com/oeK7W7zTW0
— First Responder Bowl (@FRBowl) January 4, 2025
His performance earned him the First Responder Bowl MVP and although he is just one of two returning offensive starters for head coach GJ Kinne, Pare’s ability out of the backfield have the Bobcats thinking of a third-straight bowl win and others in college football are starting to take notice too.
More Sports News
On Aug. 5, Pare was named to the Doak Walker Award Watchlist, which is given out to the nation’s top running back in college football.
Early Road Tests
The Bobcats open the 2025 season at home against Eastern Michigan on Aug. 30 and then back-to-back spotlight road games when they take on I-35 rival UTSA in San Antonio on Sept. 6, and against defending Big 12 champion Arizona State on Sept. 13.
Last season Pare had 109 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns in a 49-10 win against the Roadrunners, but had just six carries for 22 yards in a 31-28 loss to the Sun Devils.
While Kinne did land former UNLV running back Greg Burrell (65 carries for 366 yards, three TDs in 2024) through the portal and will help shoulder some of the work, Pare will not only see his carries increase but also more touches in the passing game after catching just 12 passes in 2024.
With his ability to wow fans by dragging tacklers down the field or pull away from defenders in the open field and the willingness to put his team on his back, Pare has a golden opportunity to make an even bigger name for himself in 2025.
