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] 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 0–14 | 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 |
|
[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
| 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. 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
UTEP Miners at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
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
Kennesaw State Owls at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
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
Sam Houston State Bearkats at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – Game summary
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
| 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 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
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| People | |
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National championship seasons in bold |