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American college football season
The 2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represented
the conference championship, or the
College Football Playoff due to rules governing transitions from
FCS to
FBS .
[ 1] The Sam Houston Bearkats football team drew an average home attendance of 8,298 in 2023.
[ 2]
Offseason
Transfers
Outgoing
Player
Position
Destination
Kam Alexander
CB
UTSA
Erick Conley
DL
None
Incoming
[ 3]
Preseason
Conference USA media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Western Kentucky
(18)
2
Liberty
(4)
3
Middle Tennessee
4
Louisiana Tech
5
New Mexico State
6
UTEP
7
Jacksonville State
T8
FIU
Sam Houston
Source: [ 4]
Schedule
Sam Houston and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 2 9:15 p.m. at BYU * FS1 L 0–1459,006
September 9 7:00 p.m. vs. CBSSN
L 3–1325,121
September 23 6:00 p.m. at Houston * ESPN+ L 7–3835,044
7:00 p.m. Jacksonville State ESPNU L 28–35 OT 14,566
6:00 p.m. at Liberty CBSSN L 16–2117,100
8:00 p.m. at New Mexico State CBSSN L 13–2712,812
6:00 p.m. FIU Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX CBSSN L 27–33 2OT 7,543
7:00 p.m. UTEP Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX ESPN2 L 34–376,889
November 4 12:00 p.m. Kennesaw State * Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX ESPN+ W 24–217,143
November 11 2:00 p.m. at Louisiana Tech ESPN+ W 42–2715,080
November 18 2:30 p.m. at Western Kentucky ESPN+ L 23–2811,041
November 25 11:00 a.m. Middle Tennessee Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX ESPN+ W 23–205,349
[ 5]
Game summaries
at BYU
Game information
First quarter
(10:39) BYU – Kedon Slovis 5-yard run, Will Ferrin kick (BYU 7–0; Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 2:54 )
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
(14:49) BYU – Kedon Slovis 1-yard run, Will Ferrin kick (BYU 14–0; Drive: 11 plays, 55 yards, 4:56 )
Statistics
SHSU
BYU
First downs
11
12
Plays–yards
57–185
67–257
Rushes–yards
23–38
33–112
Passing yards
147
145
Passing: comp–att–int
18–33–3
20–33–0
Time of possession
28:27
31:33
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Sam Houston
Passing
Keegan Shoemaker
18/33, 147 yards, 3 INT
Rushing
John Gentry
8 rushes, 19 yards
Receiving
Noah Smith
3 receptions, 44 yards
BYU
Passing
Kedon Slovis
20/33, 145 yards
Rushing
LJ Martin
16 rushes, 91 yards
Receiving
Darius Lassiter
4 receptions, 43 yards
vs. Air Force
Air Force Falcons (1–0) vs. Sam Houston State Bearkats (0–1) – Game summary
at
Houston, Texas
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
(8:36) AFA – Matthew Dapore 42-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 5:03; Air Force 3–0 )
Third quarter
(6:03) SHSU – Colby Sessums 45-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 33 yards, 6:49; Tied 3–3 )
Fourth quarter
(13:41) AFA – Matthew Dapore 42-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 45 yards, 7:15; Air Force 6–3 )
(5:14) AFA – Owen Burk 5-yard run, Matthew Dapore kick (Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 6:20; Air Force 13–3 )
Statistics
AFA
SHSU
First downs
18
6
Total yards
258
80
Rushing yards
244
36
Passing yards
14
44
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
36:38
23:22
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Air Force
Passing
Zac Larrier
1/3, 14 yards
Rushing
Owen Burk
18 rushes, 75 yards, TD
Receiving
John Lee Eldridge III
1 reception, 14 yards
Sam Houston State
Passing
Keegan Shoemaker
8/14, 44 yards
Rushing
Zach Hrbacek
10 rushes, 29 yards
Receiving
Ife Adeyi
3 receptions, 20 yards
At Houston
Sam Houston State Bearkats at Houston Cougars – Game summary
at TDECU Stadium , Houston, Texas
Game information
First quarter
HOU – Jack Martin 23-yard field goal, 9:05. Cougars 3–0. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 5:55.
SHSU – Trapper Pannell 2-yard run (Colby Sessums kick), 6:02. Bearkats 7–3. Drive: 7 plays, 83 yards, 2:58.
HOU – Parker Jenkins 4-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 1:47. Cougars 10–7. Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 4:08.
Second quarter
HOU – Parker Jenkins 1-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 7:22. Cougars 17–7. Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards, 4:13.
HOU – Parker Jenkins 2-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 0:49. Cougars 24–7. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 1:17.
Third quarter
HOU – Matthew Golden 6-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 2:59. Cougars 31–7. Drive: 15 plays, 86 yards, 8:42.
Fourth quarter
HOU – Stacy Sneed 58-yard pass from Ui Ale (Jack Martin kick), 10:06. Cougars 38–7. Drive: 1 play, 58 yards, 0:10.
Statistics
SHSU
HOU
First downs
8
27
Total yards
178
538
Rushing yards
52
186
Passing yards
126
352
Turnovers
2
0
Time of possession
25:05
34:55
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Sam Houston State
Passing
Grant Gunnell
14/22, 100 yards, INT
Rushing
Tobias Weaver
6 rushes, 18 yards
Receiving
John Gentry
5 receptions, 32 yards
Houston
Passing
Donovan Smith
31/40, 294 yards, TD
Rushing
Parker Jenkins
20 rushes, 105 yards, 3 TD
Receiving
Matthew Golden
9 receptions, 92 yards, TD
Jacksonville State
Game information
First quarter
JVST – Malik Jackson 26-yard run (Alen Karajic kick), 9:47. Gamecocks 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 86 yards, 0:51.
SHSU – John Gentry 56-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 8:10. Tied 7–7. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:37.
SHSU – Noah Smith 22-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 1:37. Bearkats 14–7. Drive: 3 plays, 38 yards, 1:02.
Second quarter
SHSU – Trapper Pannell 3-yard run (Colby Sessums kick), 10:20. Bearkats 21–7. Drive: 11 plays, 89 yards, 5:02.
Third quarter
JVST – Michael Pettway 31-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Alen Karajic kick), 8:32. Bearkats 21–14. Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 1:46.
Fourth quarter
JVST – Logan Smothers 16-yard run (kick failed), 8:44. Bearkats 21–20. Drive: 3 plays, 31 yards, 0:57.
SHSU – Trapper Pannell 1-yard run (Colby Sessums kick), 1:11. Bearkats 28–20. Drive: 7 plays, 20 yards, 0:46.
JVST – Perry Carter 28-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Logan Smothers pass to Quinton Lane), 0:13. Tied 28–28. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 0:58.
Overtime
JVST – Sean Brown 24-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Colby Sessums kick). Gamecocks 35–28. Drive: 2 plays, 25 yards.
Statistics
JVST
SHSU
First downs
20
25
Total yards
393
435
Rushing yards
196
136
Passing yards
197
299
Turnovers
3
1
Time of possession
17:36
42:24
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Jacksonville State
Passing
Logan Smothers
16/28, 197 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Malik Jackson
13 rushes, 129 yards, TD
Receiving
Michael Pettway
3 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Sam Houston State
Passing
Keegan Shoemaker
22/38, 285 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
John Gentry
30 rushes, 97 yards
Receiving
Noah Smith
10 receptions, 97 yards, TD
At Liberty
Game information
First quarter
LIB - Kaidon Salter 10-yard run (Nick Brown kick), 12:52. Flames 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 2:02.
SHSU - Al'Vonte Woodard 7-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 6:46. Tied 7-7. Drive: 12 plays, 85 yards, 6:00.
SHSU - Colby Sessums 33-yard field goal, 4:27. Bearkats 10-7. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:32.
Second quarter
LIB - Quinton Cooley 1-yard run (Nick Brown kick), 14:54. Flames 14-10. Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards, 4:26.
LIB - CJ Daniels 51-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick), 2:21. Flames 21-10. Drive: 4 plays, 62 yards, 1:15.
Third quarter
SHSU - Al'Vonte Woodard 20 yard-pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Keegan Shoemaker pass incomplete), 4:36. Flames 21-16. Drive: 6 plays, 68 yards, 2:48.
Fourth quarter
Statistics
SHSU
LU
First downs
19
19
Total yards
327
448
Rushing yards
72
191
Passing yards
255
257
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
27:24
32:36
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Sam Houston State
Passing
Keegan Shoemaker
27/41, 255 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Keegan Shoemaker
7 rushes, 52 yards
Receiving
Noah Smith
13 receptions, 97 yards
Liberty
Passing
Kaidon Salter
11/19, 257 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Quinton Cooley
17 rushes, 106 yards, TD
Receiving
CJ Daniels
5 receptions, 157 yards, TD
At New Mexico State
Game information
First quarter
NMSU – Diego Pavia 22-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick), 4:46. Aggies 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 87 yards, 6:39.
NMSU – Trent Hudson 78-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 1:42. Aggies 14–0. Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:52.
Second quarter
NMSU – Ethan Albertson 22-yard field goal, 10:39. Aggies 17–0. Drive: 9 plays, 66 yards, 4:07.
NMSU – Ethan Albertson 39-yard field goal, 4:18. Aggies 20–0. Drive: 7 plays, 31 yards, 2:29.
NMSU – Trent Hudson 12-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 0:27. Aggies 27–0. Drive: 11 plays, 89 yards, 1:42.
Third quarter
SHSU – Noah Smith 16-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (pass failed), 5:55. Aggies 27–6. Drive: 2 plays, 18 yards, 0:34.
Fourth quarter
SHSU – Noah Smith 6-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 12:01. Aggies 27–13. Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 2:44.
Statistics
SHSU
NMS
First downs
19
20
Total yards
367
458
Rushing yards
82
172
Passing yards
285
286
Turnovers
0
0
Time of possession
27:50
32:10
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Sam Houston State
Passing
Keegan Shoemaker
32/48, 285 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Keegan Shoemaker
7 rushes, 42 yards
Receiving
Malik Phillips
10 receptions, 118 yards
New Mexico State
Passing
Diego Pavia
20/36, 286 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Diego Pavia
15 rushes, 115 yards, TD
Receiving
Trent Hudson
3 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD
FIU
FIU Panthers at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas
Date : Game time : 6:00 p.m. CDTGame attendance : 7,543TV : CBSSN
Statistics
FIU
SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
FIU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sam Houston State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UTEP
UTEP Miners at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas
Date : Game time : 7:00 p.m. CDTTV : ESPN2
Statistics
UTEP
SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
UTEP
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sam Houston State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State Owls at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas
Date : November 4Game time : 12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : SunnyGame attendance : 7,143Referee : Joe LehringTV : ESPN+Box score , Recap
Game information
First quarter
KENN - Michael Benefield 75-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 11:00. Owls 0-7. Drive: 3 plays, 83 yards, 1:03.
KENN - Micheal Benefield 3-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 2:13. Owls 0-14. Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:57.
Second quarter
SHSU - Noah Smith 24-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 7:18. Owls 7-14. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:35.
KENN - Jonathan Murphy 57-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 4:58. Owls 21-7. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:20.
Third quarter
SHSU - Elijah Sohn 5-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 0:33. Owls 14-21. Drive: 13 plays, 74 yards, 5:08.
Fourth quarter
SHSU - Jay Rockwell 2-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 3:49. Tied 21-21. Drive: 16 plays, 80 yards, 9:24.
SHSU - Colby Sessums 35-yard field goal, 0:00. Bearkats 24-21. Drive: 9 plays, 36 yards, 2:59.
Statistics
KSU
SHSU
First downs
9
27
Total yards
291
347
Rushing yards
247
105
Passing yards
44
242
Turnovers
1
3
Time of possession
24:06
35:54
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kennesaw State
Passing
Johnathan Murphy
8/14, 44 yards, INT
Rushing
Micheal Benefield
11 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Rowan Darnell
2 receptions, 18 yards
Sam Houston State
Passing
Keegan Shoemaker
30/38, 242 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing
Zach Hrbacek
18 rushes, 50 yards
Receiving
Noah Smith
7 receptions, 78 yards, TD
At Louisiana Tech
Sam Houston State Bearkats at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – Game summary
at Joe Aillet Stadium , Ruston, Louisiana
Date : November 11Game time : 2:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Cloudy, 62 °F (17 °C), SW 8 mphGame attendance : 15,080Referee : Garrett DickersonTV : ESPN+
Statistics
SHSU
LT
First downs
19
20
Total yards
413
524
Rushing yards
144
105
Passing yards
269
419
Turnovers
0
4
Time of possession
28:37
31:23
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Sam Houston State
Passing
Keegan Shoemaker
18/28, 269 yards, TD
Rushing
Adrian Murdaugh
9 carries, 67 yards, TD
Receiving
Noah Smith
6 receptions, 115 yards
Louisiana Tech
Passing
Hank Bachmeier
29/42, 384 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Charvis Thornton
2 carries, 48 yards
Receiving
Cyrus Allen
7 receptions, 170 yards, TD
At Western Kentucky
Statistics
SHSU
WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Sam Houston State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas
Date : November 25Game time : 11:00 a.m. CST
Statistics
MTSU
SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Middle Tennessee
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sam Houston State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
References
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold