American college football season
The 2017 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bearkats were led by fourth-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium. They were a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 12–2, 8–1 in Southland play to finish in second place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs where they defeated South Dakota in the first round and Kennesaw State in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to North Dakota State.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|
| [a] | 6:00 p.m. | No. 7 Richmond* | No. 3 | | ESPN3 | W 48–34 | 8,048 |
| 6:30 p.m. | at Prairie View A&M* | No. 3 | | ESPNU | W 44–31 | 8,465 |
| September 23 | 6:00 p.m. | Nicholls State | No. 3 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX
| ESPN3 | W 66–17 | 12,863 |
| September 30 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 11 Central Arkansas | No. 3 | | ESPN3 | L 30–41 | 11,347 |
| October 7 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. Stephen F. Austin | No. 9 | | ESPN3 | W 27–16 | 26,792 |
| October 14 | 3:45 p.m. | Northwestern State | No. 9 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX
| ELVN | W 40–36 | 5,229 |
| October 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Lamar | No. 7 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX
| ESPN3 | W 63–27 | 8,031 |
| October 28 | 7:00 p.m. | at Southeastern Louisiana | No. 5 | | ESPN3 | W 33–23 | 6,027 |
| November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | Incarnate Word | No. 5 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX
| ESPN3 | W 57–20 | 5,077 |
| November 11 | 6:00 p.m. | at Abilene Christian | No. 4 | | ESPN3 | W 44–35 | 5,995 |
| November 18 | 1:00 p.m. | Houston Baptist | No. 5 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX
| ESPN3 | W 53–33 | 6,515 |
| December 2 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 16 South Dakota* | No. 5 | | ESPN3 | W 54–42 | 4,401 |
| December 9 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 18 Kennesaw State* | No. 5 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal)
| ESPN3 | W 34–27 | 5,725 |
| December 15 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 4 North Dakota State* | No. 5 | | ESPN2 | L 13–55 | 18,279 |
- *Non-conference game
Homecoming- Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
|
- ^ Game was originally scheduled for August 27, but postponed and relocated due to Hurricane Harvey.
[1]
Richmond at Sam Houston State[2][3]
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 7 Spiders |
6 |
14 | 7 | 7 |
34 |
| • No. 3 Bearkats |
6 |
35 | 7 | 0 |
48 |
- Date:
- Location: McLane Stadium
Waco, TX - Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:50
- Game attendance: 8,048
- Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C) • S 5–10 mph (8.0–16.1 km/h) • Fair skies
- Referee: Dan Romeo
- TV announcers (ESPN3): Play-By-Play: Mike Couzens Analysis: John Congemi
Sources:[2][3]
|
Sam Houston State at Prairie View A&M[4][5]
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 3 Bearkats |
17 |
13 | 7 | 7 |
44 |
| Panthers |
3 |
14 | 7 | 7 |
31 |
- Date:
- Location: Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field
Prairie View, TX - Game start: 6:30 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:29
- Game attendance: 8,468
- Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Sunny
- Referee: Eddie Kelley
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Play-By-Play: Eric Clemons Analysis: Jay Walker
Sources:[4][5]
|
Nicholls at Sam Houston State[6][7]
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonels |
0 |
3 | 0 | 14 |
17 |
| • No. 3 Bearkats |
14 |
24 | 21 | 7 |
66 |
- Date: September 23
- Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX - Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:30
- Game attendance: 12,863
- Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C) • S 5–10 mph (8.0–16.1 km/h) Calm • Clear and sunny
- Referee: Dan Lewis
- TV announcers (ESPN3): Play-By-Play: Randy McIlvoy • Analysis: Shea Walker
Sources:[6][7]
|
Sam Houston State at Central Arkansas[8][9]
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Bearkats |
7 |
10 | 7 | 6 |
30 |
| • No. 11 Bears |
14 |
17 | 3 | 7 |
41 |
- Date: September 30
- Location: Estes Stadium
Conway, AR - Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:44
- Game attendance: 11,347
- Referee: Brandon Cruise
- TV announcers (ESPN3): Play-By-Play: Randy McIlvoy • Analysis: Shea Walker • Sideline: Tatum Everett
Sources:[8][9]
|
Vs. Stephen F. Austin
[edit]
Battle of the Piney Woods[10][11]
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lumberjacks |
0 |
13 | 0 | 3 |
16 |
| • No. 9 Bearkats |
17 |
3 | 0 | 7 |
27 |
- Date: October 7
- Location: NRG Stadium
Houston, TX - Game start: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3:37
- Game attendance: 26,792
- Game weather: Indoors
- Referee: Ross Smith
- TV announcers (ESPN3): Play-By-Play: Randy McIlvoy • Analysis: Shea Walker • Sideline: Tatum Everett
Sources:[10][11]
|
Northwestern State at Sam Houston State
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons |
17 |
10 | 9 | 0 |
36 |
| • No. 9 Bearkats |
7 |
14 | 7 | 12 |
40 |
- Date: October 14
- Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX - Game start: 3:45 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 5,229
- Television network: ELVN
Sources:
|
Lamar at Sam Houston State (homecoming)
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals |
7 |
13 | 7 | 0 |
27 |
| • No. 7 Bearkats |
16 |
31 | 10 | 6 |
63 |
- Date: October 21
- Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX - Game start: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 8,031
- Television network: ESPN3
Sources:
|
@ Southeastern Louisiana
[edit]
Sam Houston State at Southeastern Louisiana
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 5 Bearkats |
9 |
7 | 10 | 7 |
33 |
| Lions |
3 |
13 | 7 | 0 |
23 |
- Date: October 28
- Location: Strawberry Stadium
Hammond, LA - Game start: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 6,027
- Television network: ESPN3
Sources:
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | | | | – |
| | 2 | | | | – |
| | 3 | | | | – |
| | 4 | | | | – |
|
Incarnate Word at Sam Houston State
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals |
7 |
7 | 0 | 6 |
20 |
| • No. 5 Bearkats |
23 |
13 | 21 | 0 |
57 |
- Date: November 4
- Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX - Game start: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 5,077
Sources:
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | | | | – |
| | 2 | | | | – |
| | 3 | | | | – |
| | 4 | | | | – |
|
@ Abilene Christian
[edit]
Sam Houston State at Abilene Christian
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 4 Bearkats |
24 |
0 | 7 | 13 |
44 |
| Demons |
0 |
7 | 14 | 14 |
35 |
- Date: November 11
- Location: Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium
Abilene, TX - Game start: 6:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 5,995
Sources:
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | | | | – |
| | 2 | | | | – |
| | 3 | | | | – |
| | 4 | | | | – |
|
Houston Baptist at Sam Houston State
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies |
7 |
7 | 7 | 12 |
33 |
| • No. 5 Bearkats |
26 |
7 | 13 | 7 |
53 |
- Date: November 18
- Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX - Game start: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 6,515
Sources:
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | | | | – |
| | 2 | | | | – |
| | 3 | | | | – |
| | 4 | | | | – |
|
South Dakota–Second Round
[edit]
FCS Playoffs Second Round
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Coyotes |
7 |
7 | 14 | 14 |
42 |
| • No. 5 Bearkats |
14 |
27 | 0 | 13 |
54 |
- Date: December 2
- Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX - Game start: 2:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 4,401
Sources:
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | | | | – |
| | 2 | | | | – |
| | 3 | | | | – |
| | 4 | | | | – |
|
Kennesaw State–Quarterfinals
[edit]
FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 18 Owls |
7 |
3 | 3 | 14 |
27 |
| • No. 5 Bearkats |
14 |
10 | 3 | 7 |
34 |
- Date: December 9
- Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX - Game start: 7:30 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 5,725
- Television network: ESPN3
Sources:
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | | | | – |
| | 2 | | | | – |
| | 3 | | | | – |
| | 4 | | | | – |
|
@ North Dakota State–Semifinals
[edit]
FCS Playoffs Semifinals
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Bearkats |
3 |
0 | 10 | 0 |
13 |
| • No. 4 Bison |
21 |
20 | 14 | 0 |
55 |
Sources:
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | | | | – |
| | 2 | | | | – |
| | 3 | | | | – |
| | 4 | | | | – |
|
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes | Week |
|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
|---|
| STATS FCS | 3 (7) | 3 (2) | 3 | 3 (1) | 3 (2) | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
|---|
| Coaches | 3 (3) | 3 (1) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
|---|
- ^ "Football – 2017 Schedule". Sam Houston State University Department of Athletics. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ a b "Richmond vs Sam Houston State (Sept 1, 2017)". Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- ^ a b "2017 SHSU FB Game Notes: Richmond" (PDF). Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ a b "Sam Houston State vs Prairie View (Sept 7, 2017)". Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- ^ a b "2017 SHSU FB Game Notes: Prairie View A&M" (PDF). Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ a b "Nicholls vs Sam Houston State (Sept 23, 2017)". Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ a b "2017 SHSU FB Game Notes: Nicholls" (PDF). Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ a b "Sam Houston State vs Central Arkansas (Sept 30, 2017)". Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ a b "2017 SHSU FB Game Notes: Central Arkansas" (PDF). Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ a b "Sam Houston State vs Stephen F. Austin (Oct 07, 2017)". Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ a b "2017 SHSU FB Game Notes: Stephen F. Austin" (PDF). Retrieved November 21, 2017.
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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 |