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. The Sam Houston Bearkats football team drew an average home attendance of 8,298 in 2023.
Offseason
Transfers
Outgoing Kam AlexanderCBUTSAErick ConleyDLNone
Incoming Bobby DuncumDLSMUGrant GunnellQBNorth TexasRhett LarsonOTSMUJaden PhillipsEDGENew MexicoXavier WardQBWashington StateJohn GentryRBUtah StateAkeem SmithDLGeorgia State
Preseason Conference USA media poll Conference USA media poll 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:
Schedule Sam Houston and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.
Game summaries
at BYU
Statistics SHSUBYU 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
Statistics AFASHSU 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 StatisticsAir Force Passing Zac Larrier 1/3, 14 yards Rushing Owen Burk 18 rushes, 75 yards, TD Receiving John Lee Eldridge III 1 reception, 14 yardsSam 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
Statistics SHSUHOU 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 StatisticsSam Houston State Passing Grant Gunnell 14/22, 100 yards, INT Rushing Tobias Weaver 6 rushes, 18 yards Receiving John Gentry 5 receptions, 32 yardsHouston 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
Statistics JVSTSHSU 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 StatisticsJacksonville 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, TDSam 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
Statistics SHSULU 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 StatisticsSam 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 yardsLiberty 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
Statistics SHSUNMS 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 StatisticsSam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 32/48, 285 yards, 2 TD Rushing Keegan Shoemaker 7 rushes, 42 yards Receiving Malik Phillips 10 receptions, 118 yardsNew 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
Statistics FIUSHSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Rushing Receiving Sam Houston State Passing Rushing Receiving
UTEP
Statistics UTEPSHSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Rushing Receiving Sam Houston State Passing Rushing Receiving
Kennesaw State
Statistics KSUSHSU 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 StatisticsKennesaw State Passing Johnathan Murphy 8/14, 44 yards, INT Rushing Micheal Benefield 11 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD Receiving Rowan Darnell 2 receptions, 18 yardsSam 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
Statistics SHSULT 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 StatisticsSam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 18/28, 269 yards, TD Rushing Adrian Murdaugh 9 carries, 67 yards, TD Receiving Noah Smith 6 receptions, 115 yardsLouisiana 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 SHSUWKU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston State Passing Rushing Receiving Western Kentucky Passing Rushing Receiving
Middle Tennessee
Statistics MTSUSHSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Rushing Receiving Sam Houston State Passing Rushing Receiving
References