Today@Sam Article

Bearkats Face Off Against UTEP Miners

Oct. 25, 2023
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd

Football-exterior

The Sam Houston Bearkats will fight for their first FBS victory tonight when they host the University of Texas at El Paso in Bowers Stadium at 7 p.m.

It will be the third meeting between the programs, but the first trip to Huntsville for the Miners. The teams last met in the Sun Bowl in 2003.

The Bearkats' last win over an FBS team came in 2011 when they knocked off New Mexico in Albuquerque on their way to a 14-1 season and a berth in their first of three FCS Championship Games.

After scoring 10 total points in the first three games of the year, the Bearkats have averaged 21 points per game since entering Conference USA (CUSA). Much of that success has come thanks to the passing game with SHSU ranking second in CUSA with an average of 286.3 yards per game through the air in four conference matchups. 

Despite being winless in seven tries in 2023, the Bearkats have either led or been within one score of their opponent in the fourth quarter in five of its seven games entering this week against UTEP.

The game will be aired on ESPN2 with Clay Matvick and former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray on the call. Listeners can tune into the Bearkat Sports Network online and on the Bearkat Athletics app with Carlos Zimmermann and Brian Adams on the call from the radio booth.

The Bearkats will wrap up its stretch of October midweek games against UTEP, the second of three straight games at Bowers Stadium. Next week, Sam Houston will host CUSA foe Kennesaw State in what will be the university’s first Saturday home game of 2023.

Sam Houston is in its first year of transition to the FBS. The Kats officially became a member of Conference USA on July 1. Tickets can be purchased on the GoBearkats webpage.

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