American college football season
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[edit]
Transfers[edit]
Outgoing[edit]
Player | Position | Destination |
Kam Alexander | CB | UTSA |
Erick Conley | DL | None |
Incoming[edit]
[2]
Preseason[edit]
Conference USA media poll[edit]
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:[3]
Schedule[edit]
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 0–14 | 59,006 |
September 9 | 7:00 p.m. | vs. Air Force* | | CBSSN | L 3–13 | 25,121 |
September 23 | 6:00 p.m. | at Houston* | | ESPN+ | L 7–38 | 35,044 |
| 7:00 p.m. | Jacksonville State | | ESPNU | L 28–35 OT | 14,566 |
| 6:00 p.m. | at Liberty | | CBSSN | L 16–21 | 17,100 |
| 8:00 p.m. | at New Mexico State | | CBSSN | L 13–27 | 12,812 |
| 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 34–37 | 6,889 |
November 4 | 12:00 p.m. | Kennesaw State* | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX
| ESPN+ | W 24–21 | 7,143 |
November 11 | 2:00 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | | ESPN+ | W 42–27 | 15,080 |
November 18 | 2:30 p.m. | at Western Kentucky | | ESPN+ | L 23–28 | 11,041 |
November 25 | 11:00 a.m. | Middle Tennessee | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX
| ESPN+ | W 23–20 | 5,349 |
|
[4]
Game summaries[edit]
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 Third quarter Fourth quarter - BYU – Kedon Slovis 1-yard run (Will Ferrin kick), 14:49. Cougars 14–0. Drive: 11 plays, 55 yards, 4:56.
|
Statistics | SHSU | BYU |
First downs | 10 | 12 |
Total yards | 185 | 257 |
Rushing yards | 38 | 112 |
Passing yards | 147 | 145 |
Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
Time of possession | 28:27 | 31:33 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Sam Houston State | 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 | L. J. Martin | 16 rushes, 91 yards |
Receiving | Darius Lassiter | 4 receptions, 43 yards |
Vs. Air Force[edit]
Air Force Falcons vs. Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Falcons | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
Bearkats | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Game information |
First quarter 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.
|
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[edit]
Sam Houston State Bearkats at Houston Cougars – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bearkats | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Cougars | 10 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
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[edit]
Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Gamecocks | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
Bearkats | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
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.
|
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[edit]
Sam Houston State Bearkats at Liberty Flames – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bearkats | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
Flames | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
at Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Virginia
- Date:
- 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 |
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[edit]
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 Panthers at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bearkats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas
- Date:
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 7,543
- TV: 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 Miners at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Miners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bearkats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas
- Date:
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- TV: 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[edit]
Kennesaw State Owls at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Owls | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Bearkats | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
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.
|
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[edit]
Sam Houston State Bearkats at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bearkats | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
Bulldogs | 3 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 27 |
at Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, Louisiana
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 62 °F (17 °C), SW 8 mph
- Game attendance: 15,080
- Referee: Garrett Dickerson
- TV: 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[edit]
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[edit]
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Blue Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bearkats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas
- Date: November 25
- Game 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[edit]
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |