2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football
ConferenceConference USA
Record3–9 (2–6 C–USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrad Cornelsen (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Co-defensive coordinatorClayton Carlin (7th season)
Co-defensive coordinatorJoe Morris (3rd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumBowers Stadium
2023 Conference USA football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 25 Liberty y$  8 –0   13 –1  
New Mexico State y  7 –1   10 –5  
Jacksonville State*  6 –2   9 –4  
Western Kentucky  5 –3   8 –5  
Middle Tennessee  3 –5   4 –8  
UTEP  2 –6   3 –9  
Sam Houston*  2 –6   3 –9  
Louisiana Tech  2 –6   3 –9  
FIU  1 –7   4 –8  
Championship: Liberty 49, New Mexico State 35
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in Conference USA during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearkats were led by tenth-year head coach K. C. Keeler. They played their home games at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas. They were ineligible for a bowl game, the conference championship, or the College Football Playoff due to rules governing transitions from FCS to FBS.[1]

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player Position Destination
Kameryn Alexander CB UTSA
Erick Conley DL None

Incoming

Player Position Previous Team
Bobby Duncan DL SMU
Grant Gunnell QB North Texas
Rhett Larson OT SMU
Jaden Phillips EDGE New Mexico
Xavier Ward QB Washington State
John Gentry RB Utah State
Akeem Smith DL Georgia State

[2]

Preseason

Conference USA media poll

Conference USA media poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Western Kentucky(18)
2Liberty(4)
3Middle Tennessee
4Louisiana Tech
5New Mexico State
6UTEP
7Jacksonville State
T8FIU
Sam Houston
Source:[3]

Schedule

Sam Houston and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 29:15 p.m.at BYU*
FS1L 0–1459,006
September 97:00 p.m.vs. Air Force*
CBSSNL 3–1325,121
September 236:00 p.m.at Houston*
ESPN+L 7–3835,044
September 287:00 p.m.Jacksonville State
ESPNUL 28–35 OT14,566
October 56:00 p.m.at Liberty
CBSSNL 16–2117,100
October 118:00 p.m.at New Mexico State
CBSSNL 13–2712,812
October 186:00 p.m.FIU
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
CBSSNL 27–33 2OT7,543
October 257:00 p.m.UTEP
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
ESPN2L 34–376,889
November 412:00 p.m.Kennesaw State*dagger
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
ESPN+W 24–217,143
November 112:00 p.m.at Louisiana Tech
ESPN+W 42–2715,080
November 182:30 p.m.at Western Kentucky
ESPN+L 23–2811,041
November 2511:00 a.m.Middle Tennessee
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
ESPN+W 23–205,349

[4]

Game summaries

At BYU

Sam Houston State Bearkats at BYU Cougars – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 0 0 000
Cougars 7 0 0714

at LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah

Game information
First quarter
  • BYU – Kedon Slovis 5-yard run (Will Ferrin kick), 10:39. Cougars 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 2:54.

Second quarter

  • No scoring plays

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

  • BYU – Kedon Slovis 1-yard run (Will Ferrin kick), 14:49. Cougars 14–0. Drive: 11 plays, 55 yards, 4:56.
StatisticsSHSUBYU
First downs1012
Total yards185257
Rushing yards38112
Passing yards147145
Turnovers30
Time of possession28:2731:33
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Sam Houston StatePassingKeegan Shoemaker18/33, 147 yards, 3 INT
RushingJohn Gentry8 rushes, 19 yards
ReceivingNoah Smith3 receptions, 44 yards
BYUPassingKedon Slovis20/33, 145 yards
RushingL. J. Martin16 rushes, 91 yards
ReceivingDarius Lassiter4 receptions, 43 yards

Vs. Air Force

Air Force Falcons vs. Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 3 01013
Bearkats 0 0 303

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

  • AF – Matthew Dapore 42-yard field goal, 8:36. Falcons 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 5:03.

Third quarter

  • SHSU – Colby Sessums 45-yard field goal, 6:03. Tied 3–3. Drive: 13 plays, 33 yards, 6:49.

Fourth quarter

  • AFA – Matthew Dapore 42-yard field goal, 13:41. Falcons 6–3. Drive: 13 plays, 45 yards, 7:15.
  • AFA – Owen Burk 5-yard run (Matthew Dapore kick), 5:14. Falcons 13–3. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 6:20.
StatisticsAFASHSU
First downs186
Total yards25880
Rushing yards24436
Passing yards1444
Turnovers10
Time of possession36:3823:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Air ForcePassingZac Larrier1/3, 14 yards
RushingOwen Burk18 rushes, 75 yards, TD
ReceivingJohn Lee Eldridge III1 reception, 14 yards
Sam Houston StatePassingKeegan Shoemaker8/14, 44 yards
RushingZach Hrbacek10 rushes, 29 yards
ReceivingIfe Adeyi3 receptions, 20 yards

At Houston

Sam Houston State Bearkats at Houston Cougars – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 7 0 007
Cougars 10 14 7738

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.
StatisticsSHSUHOU
First downs827
Total yards178538
Rushing yards52186
Passing yards126352
Turnovers20
Time of possession25:0534:55
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Sam Houston StatePassingGrant Gunnell14/22, 100 yards, INT
RushingTobias Weaver6 rushes, 18 yards
ReceivingJohn Gentry5 receptions, 32 yards
HoustonPassingDonovan Smith31/40, 294 yards, TD
RushingParker Jenkins20 rushes, 105 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingMatthew Golden9 receptions, 92 yards, TD

Jacksonville State

Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Gamecocks 7 0 714735
Bearkats 14 7 07028

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

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.
StatisticsJVSTSHSU
First downs2025
Total yards393435
Rushing yards196136
Passing yards197299
Turnovers31
Time of possession17:3642:24
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Jacksonville StatePassingLogan Smothers16/28, 197 yards, 3 TD
RushingMalik Jackson13 rushes, 129 yards, TD
ReceivingMichael Pettway3 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Sam Houston StatePassingKeegan Shoemaker22/38, 285 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingJohn Gentry30 rushes, 97 yards
ReceivingNoah Smith10 receptions, 97 yards, TD

At Liberty

Sam Houston State Bearkats at Liberty Flames – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 10 0 6016
Flames 7 14 0021

at Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Virginia

  • Date: October 5
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT/7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 68 °F (20 °C)
  • Game attendance: 17,100
  • Referee: Rory Brenard
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Chick Hernandez and Robert Turbin
  • Box score, Recap
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

  • No scoring plays
StatisticsSHSULU
First downs1919
Total yards327448
Rushing yards72191
Passing yards255257
Turnovers11
Time of possession27:2432:36
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Sam Houston StatePassingKeegan Shoemaker27/41, 255 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingKeegan Shoemaker7 rushes, 52 yards
ReceivingNoah Smith13 receptions, 97 yards
LibertyPassingKaidon Salter11/19, 257 yards, TD, INT
RushingQuinton Cooley17 rushes, 106 yards, TD
ReceivingCJ Daniels5 receptions, 157 yards, TD

At New Mexico State

Sam Houston State Bearkats at New Mexico State Aggies – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 0 0 6713
Aggies 14 13 0027

at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT/7:00 p.m. MDT
  • TV: CBSSN
StatisticsSHSUNMS
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Sam Houston StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
New Mexico StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

FIU

FIU Panthers at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Bearkats 0 0 000

at Bowers Stadium

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • TV: CBSSN
StatisticsFIUSHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
FIUPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Sam Houston StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

UTEP

UTEP Miners at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Miners 0 0 000
Bearkats 0 0 000

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • TV: ESPN2
StatisticsUTEPSHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UTEPPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Sam Houston StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

Kennesaw State

Kennesaw State Owls at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Owls 14 7 0021
Bearkats 0 7 71024

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

  • Date: November 4
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 7,143
  • Referee: Joe Lehring
  • TV: 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.
StatisticsKSUSHSU
First downs927
Total yards291347
Rushing yards247105
Passing yards44242
Turnovers13
Time of possession24:0635:54
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kennesaw StatePassingJohnathan Murphy8/14, 44 yards, INT
RushingMicheal Benefield11 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingRowan Darnell2 receptions, 18 yards
Sam Houston StatePassingKeegan Shoemaker30/38, 242 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingZach Hrbacek18 rushes, 50 yards
ReceivingNoah Smith7 receptions, 78 yards, TD

At Louisiana Tech

Sam Houston State Bearkats at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 0 0 000
Bulldogs 0 0 000

at Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, Louisiana

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
StatisticsSHSULT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Sam Houston StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Louisiana TechPassing
Rushing
Receiving

At Western Kentucky

Sam Houston State Bearkats at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 0 0 000
Hilltoppers 0 0 000

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: November 18
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
StatisticsSHSUWKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Sam Houston StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Western KentuckyPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Middle Tennessee

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Blue Raiders 0 0 000
Bearkats 0 0 000

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

  • Date: November 25
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
StatisticsMTSUSHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Middle TennesseePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Sam Houston StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. ↑ Becton, Stan (October 24, 2022). "Making sense of FCS conference realignment". NCAA.com. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  2. ↑ "2023 Sam Houston State Bearkats Football Transfers". on3.com. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ "FB: CUSA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish". July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ "2023 Sam Houston Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
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