2024 Sam Houston Bearkats football team

American college football season

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2024 Sam Houston Bearkats football

Conference| Conference USA
Record| 3–1 (1–0 C-USA)
Head coach|

* K. C. Keeler (11th season)

Offensive coordinator| Brad Cornelsen (2nd season)
Offensive scheme| Spread
Defensive coordinator| Skyler Cassity (1st season)
Base defense| 3–4
Home stadium| Bowers Stadium

Seasons

<- 2023

2025 ->

2024 Conference USA football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

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Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
Liberty |  | 2  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 0  |
Sam Houston |  | 1  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 1  |
Western Kentucky |  | 1  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 1  |
Louisiana Tech |  | 0  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 2  |
FIU |  | 0  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 3  |
Jacksonville State |  | 0  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 3  |
Kennesaw State*  |  | 0  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 0  | - | 3  |
Middle Tennessee |  | 0  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 3  |
UTEP |  | 0  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 0  | - | 4  |
New Mexico State |  | 0  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 3  |
Championship: December 6, 2024

* $ - Conference champion
* y - Championship game participant
* * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

As of September 25, 2024
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2024 Sam Houston Bearkats football team will represent Sam Houston State University in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearkats are led by K. C. Keeler in his eleventh year as the head coach. The Bearkats will play home games at Bowers Stadium, located in Huntsville, Texas.[1]

## Offseason

[edit]

Positions key  C | Center |  | CB | Cornerback |  | DB | Defensive back |  | DE | Defensive end[a]

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DL | Defensive lineman | DT | Defensive tackle | FB | Fullback | FS | Free safety
G | Guard[b] | K | Kicker[c] | KR | Kickoff returner | LB | Linebacker
LS | Long snapper | MLB | Middle linebacker[d] | OT | Offensive tackle | OL | Offensive lineman
OLB | Outside linebacker[a] | NT | Nose tackle | P | Punter | PR | Punt returner
QB | Quarterback | RS | Return specialist | RB | Running back | S | Safety
SS | Strong safety | TE | Tight end | WR | Wide receiver

1. ^ a b May sometimes be referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
2. ^ Also known as offensive guard (OG)
3. ^ Also known as placekicker (PK)
4. ^ Also known as inside linebacker (ILB)

#### Additions

[edit]

#### Incoming

[edit]

Player  | Position  | Previous Team

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Fernando Garza  | TE  | Texas A&M
Austin Smith  | TE  | Colorado
Dylan Frazier  | DL  | SMU
Austin Smith  | TE  | Colorado
Jaylon Jimmerson  | DB  | Liberty
Name  | Position  | Previous school  | Previous position

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### Players drafted into the NFL

[edit]

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

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August 31| 6:00 p.m.| at Rice*|

* Rice Stadium
* Houston, TX

| ESPN+| W 34–14| 17,298
September 7| 5:30 p.m.| at UCF*|

* FBC Mortgage Stadium
* Orlando, FL

| ESPN+| L 14–45| 43,807
September 14| 6:00 p.m.| Hawaii*|

* Bowers Stadium
* Huntsville, TX

| ESPN+| W 31–14| 15,134
September 21| 6:00 p.m.| New Mexico State|

* Bowers Stadium
* Huntsville, TX

| ESPN+| W 31–11|
September 28| 2:00 p.m.| vs. Texas State*|

* NRG Stadium
* Houston, TX

| ESPN+|  |
October 3| 8:00 p.m.| at UTEP|

* Sun Bowl
* El Paso, TX

| CBSSN|  |
October 16| 7:00 p.m.| Western Kentucky|

* Bowers Stadium
* Huntsville, TX

| ESPN2|  |
October 22| 6:30 p.m.| at FIU|

* Pitbull Stadium
* Miami, FL

| ESPNU|  |
October 29| 7:00 p.m.| Louisiana Tech|

* Bowers Stadium
* Huntsville, TX

| ESPNU|  |
November 16| 2:00 p.m.| at Kennesaw State|

* Fifth Third Bank Stadium
* Kennesaw, GA

| ESPN+|  |
November 23| 11:00 a.m.| at Jacksonville State|

* JSU Stadium
* Jacksonville, AL

| CBSSN|  |
November 29| 2:30 p.m.| Liberty|

* Bowers Stadium
* Huntsville, TX

| CBSSN|  |

* *Non-conference game
* All times are in Eastern time

[2]

## Game summaries

[edit]

### at Rice

[edit]

See also: 2024 Rice Owls football team

Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) vs Rice Owls (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Bearkats | 17 | 7 | 10| 0| 34
Owls | 0 | 7 | 7| 0| 14

at Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas

* Date: August 31st
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 85 °F (29 °C) • Wind: NE at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
* Game attendance: 17,298
* Referee: Reid Jackson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play), Doc Holliday (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

* (9:42) SHSU – Qua'Vez Humphreys 67 yard pass from Hunter Watson, Christian Pavon kick (Drive: 1 play, 67 yards, 0:12; Sam Houston 7–0)
* (8:52) SHSU – David Fisher 30 yard interception return, Christian Pavon kick (Sam Houston 14–0)
* (3:37) SHSU – Christian Pavon 52 yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 3:43; Sam Houston 17–0)

Second quarter

* (11:17) RICE – Kobie Campbell 22 yard pass from E.J. Warner, Tim Horn kick (Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 2:40; Sam Houston 17–7)
* (1:53) SHSU – Ife Adeyi 32 yard pass from Hunter Watson, Christian Pavon kick (Drive: 6 plays, 56 yards, 2:10; Sam Houston 24–7)

Third quarter

* (10:17) SHSU – John Gentry 1 yard run, Christian Pavon kick (Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 4:39; Sam Houston 31–7)
* (7:31) RICE – Dean Connors 15 yard run, Tim Horn kick (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:46; Sam Houston 31–14)
* (3:38) SHSU – Christian Pavon 26 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 67 yards, 3:53; Sam Houston 34–14)

Fourth quarter

* No scoring plays

Statistics  | Sam Houston  | Rice

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First downs | 20 | 14
Plays–yards | 73–407 | 62–274
Rushes–yards | 46–178 | 18–47
Passing yards | 229 | 227
Passing: comp–att–int | 16–27–0 | 27–44–2
Time of possession | 35:20 | 24:40
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

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Sam Houston  | Passing | Hunter Watson | 16/27, 229 yards, 2 TD
Rushing | Hunter Watson | 14 carries, 57 yards
Receiving | Qua'Vez Humphreys | 3 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
Rice  | Passing | E.J. Warner | 27/44, 227 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing | Dean Connors | 12 carries, 52 yards, 1 TD
Receiving | Matt Sykes | 6 receptions, 74 yards

### at UCF

[edit]

See also: 2024 UCF Knights football team

Game Two – Sam Houston Bearkats (1–0) vs UCF Knights (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Bearkats | 0 | 7 | 0| 7| 14
Knights | 14 | 10 | 14| 7| 45

at FBC Mortgage Stadium • Orlando, FL

* Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
* Game time: 5:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 43,807
* Referee: Henry Johns
* TV announcers (ESPN+): James Westling (play-by-play) and Leger Douzable (analyst)

Game information

First quarter

* UCF: RJ Harvey 19-yard touchdown (Colton Boomer Kick), 8:17
* UCF: RJ Harvey 2-yard touchdown (Colton Boomer Kick), 3:07

Second quarter

* UCF: Colton Boomer 50-yard field goal, 10:36
* SHSU: Simeon Evans 64-yard touchdown pass from Noah Smith (Christian Pavon Kick), 8:41
* UCF: RJ Harvey 22-yard touchdown (Colton Boomer Kick), 3:59

Third quarter

* UCF: Myles Montgomery 7-yard touchdown (Colton Boomer Kick), 9:58
* UCF: RJ Harvey 2-yard touchdown (Colton Boomer Kick), 7:14

Fourth quarter

* UCF: P. Boone 3-yard touchdown (Colton Boomer Kick), 12:36
* SHSU: Michael Phoenix II 22-yard touchdown pass from Jase Bauer (Christian Pavon Kick), 4:14

Win Probability/Line

* UCF 91.5%, UCF -21, Over/Under 58.5

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Statistics | SHSU | UCF

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First downs | 12 | 29
Total yards | 287 | 554
Rushing yards | 68 | 384
Passing yards | 219 | 170
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9-13-2 | 12-15
Time of possession | 25:57 | 34:03
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

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Sam Houston | Passing | Hunter Watson | 9/13, 82 yards, 2 INT
Rushing | Zach Hrbacek | 8 carries, 25 yards
Receiving | Simeon Evans | 3 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD
UCF | Passing | KJ Jefferson | 12/15, 169 yards
Rushing | RJ Harvey | 19 carries, 126 yards, 4 TD
Receiving | Kobe Hudson | 5 receptions, 104 yards

### vs. Hawaii

[edit]

See also: 2024 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team

Game Three – Sam Houston Bearkats (1–1) vs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Rainbow Warriors | 0 | 3 | 10| 0| 13
Bearkats | 7 | 10 | 7| 7| 31

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

* Date: September 14
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. HDT/6:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 96 °F (36 °C)
* Game attendance: 15,134
* Referee: Rory Bernard
* TV: ESPN+
* Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

* SHSU – Qua'Vez Humphreys 7-yard pass from Hunter Watson (Christian Pavon kick), 11:00. Bearkats 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:00.

Second quarter

* HAW – Kansei Matsuzawa 33-yard field goal, 13:24. Bearkats 7–3. Drive: 7 plays, 45 yards, 1:51.
* SHSU – Ife Adeyi 9-yard run (Christian Pavon kick), 5:14. Bearkats 14–3. Drive: 16 plays, 75 yards, 8:10.
* SHSU – Christian Pavon 26-yard field goal, 1:58. Bearkats 17–3. Drive: 7 plays, 27 yards, 2:33.

Third quarter

* HAW – Pofele Ashlock 5-yard pass from Brayden Schager (Kansei Matsuzawa kick), 10:03. Bearkats 17–10. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:57.
* SHSU – John Gentry 3-yard pass from Hunter Watson (Christian Pavon kick), 7:20. Bearkats 24–10. Drive: 5 plays, 93 yards, 2:36.
* HAW – Kansei Matsuzawa 27-yard field goal, 1:15. Bearkats 24–13. Drive: 12 plays, 55 yards, 6:05.

Fourth quarter

* SHSU – Qua'Vez Humphreys 55-yard pass from Hunter Watson (Christian Pavon kick), 9:41. Bearkats 31–13. Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 2:02.

Statistics | HAW | SHSU

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First downs | 15 | 22
Total yards | 308 | 422
Rushing yards | 56 | 257
Passing yards | 252 | 165
Turnovers | 1 | 2
Time of possession | 25:38 | 34:22
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

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Hawaii | Passing | Brayden Schager | 21/42, 252 yards, TD, INT
Rushing | Cam Barfield | 5 rushes, 24 yards
Receiving | Pofele Ashlock | 8 receptions, 84 yards, TD
Sam Houston | Passing | Hunter Watson | 15/23, 165 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing | Jay Ducker | 15 rushes, 148 yards
Receiving | Qua'Vez Humphreys | 4 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD

### vs. New Mexico State

[edit]

See also: 2024 New Mexico State Aggies football team

Game Four – New Mexico State Aggies (1–2) vs Sam Houston Bearkats (2–1) – Game summary

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Aggies | 0 | 0 | 0| 0| 0
Bearkats | 0 | 0 | 0| 0| 0

at Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX

* Date: September 21, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* TV: ESPN+

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Statistics | NMSU | SHSU

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First downs |  |
Total yards |  |
Rushing yards |  |
Passing yards |  |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int |  |
Time of possession |  |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

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New Mexico State | Passing |  |
Rushing |  |
Receiving |  |
Sam Houston | Passing |  |
Rushing |  |
Receiving |  |

### vs. Texas State

[edit]

See also: 2024 Texas State Bobcats football team

Game Five – Texas State Bobcats (2–1) vs. Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Bobcats | 0 | 0 | 0| 0| 0
Bearkats | 0 | 0 | 0| 0| 0

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

* Date: September 28
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT
* TV: ESPN+

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Statistics | TXST | SHSU

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First downs |  |
Total yards |  |
Rushing yards |  |
Passing yards |  |
Turnovers |  |
Time of possession |  |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

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Texas State | Passing |  |
Rushing |  |
Receiving |  |
Sam Houston | Passing |  |
Rushing |  |
Receiving |  |

### at UTEP

[edit]

See also: 2024 UTEP Miners football team

Game Six – Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) vs. UTEP Miners (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Bearkats | 0 | 0 | 0| 0| 0
Miners | 0 | 0 | 0| 0| 0

at Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas

* Date: October 3
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT
* TV: CBSSN

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter

Statistics | SHSU | UTEP

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First downs |  |
Total yards |  |
Rushing yards |  |
Passing yards |  |
Turnovers |  |
Time of possession |  |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

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Sam Houston | Passing |  |
Rushing |  |
Receiving |  |
UTEP | Passing |  |
Rushing |  |
Receiving |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2023 Football Coaching Staff". Sam Houston Athletics. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
2. ^ "2024 Sam Houston Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Sam Houston Bearkats football

Venues|

* Pritchett Field (1912–1985)
* Bowers Stadium (1986–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Stephen F. Austin: Battle of the Piney Woods

Culture & lore|

* Sammy Bearkat
* "Bearkat Fight Song"
* Bearkat Marching Band

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
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* 1927
* 1928
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* 1943–1945
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National championship seasons in bold
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[comp]: Completions
*[att]: Attempts
*[int]: Interceptions