Week 2 Opponent Sam Houston Preview

Nickname: The teddy bears
Location: Huntsville, Texas
Registration: 19,376
Home ground: Bowers Stadium (Capacity: 14,000)
Conference: USA Conference
2023 review: 3-9, 2-6 CUSA
All-time series record against UCF: 0-0
Last meeting: This will be the first meeting between the schools.

Editor’s Note: This is the second installment of a 12-part series highlighting UCF’s 2024 football opponents.

Sam Houston has endured similar struggles to UCF while making a major transition to football in 2023.

The Knights waited until Nov. 4 to get into the Big 12 win column; Sam Houston celebrated that same afternoon by upsetting Kennesaw State for its first victory since moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Both programs have also taken that momentum from there, finishing with three wins apiece in their last four games.

UCF and Sam Houston will meet for the first time on Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at FBC Mortgage Stadium. It’s the last expected matchup for the Knights, who have 10 consecutive Power Four games scheduled after Sam Houston.

The Bearkats joined Conference USA on July 1, 2023, alongside Liberty, Jacksonville State, and New Mexico State. UCF competed in CUSA from 2005 to 2012 before realigning with the American Athletic Conference.

KC Keeler Celebrates 10 Years as Sam Houston Football Coach

KC Keeler transformed Sam Houston into a perennial powerhouse in the Football League Championship Subdivision.

Since arriving from Delaware in 2014, Keeler has won 88 games with the Bearkats, including 14 against top-10 FCS opponents and 14 in the playoffs. Sam Houston reached the FCS semifinals in 2014, 2015 and 2017, as well as two Southland Conference titles, and won its first national championship in the spring of 2021 after going a perfect 10-0.

In doing so, Keeler became the first FCS head coach to win national titles with two programs and passed Jim Tressel for the most playoff victories in division history (25).

In his three decades in the coaching profession, Keeler has a combined record of 262-109-1 (.705 winning percentage).

Noah Smith, Ife Adeyi highlight Sam Houston’s veteran receiving corps

Top Returning Offensive Players: WR Ife Adeyi, RB John Gentry, WR Malik Phillips, WR Noah Smith

Top Returning Defensive Players: DB David Fisher, LB Kavian Gaither, LB Sincere Jackson, DL Jevon Leon, EDGE Issiah Nixon, DB Caleb Weaver

Sam Houston’s offense struggled badly in its first FBS campaign. The Bearkats scored just 20 points per game and had the second-fewest points total (240) among Conference USA teams.

Digging deeper, they averaged 2.9 yards per carry and 6 yards per pass attempt while converting just 36 percent on third down.

Noah Smith earned All-CUSA honorable mention honors with 79 receptions — 43 more than any other Bearkat — for 783 yards and six touchdowns. Ife Adeyi earned two All-Conference honors at the FCS level, but he has played in just seven games over the last two seasons combined (eligibility protected in 2022, season-ending injury in 2023).

On defense, Skyler Cassity, 29, was named defensive coordinator in late January, becoming the youngest in major college football. He will be tasked with improving a unit that recorded just 17 sacks last season.

Hybrid linebacker Issiah Nixon led the way in that department with five sacks, Kavian Gaither had the second-most tackles (72) on the team and Caleb Weaver recorded two interceptions, four pass breakups and six passes defended.

Jase Bauer arrives from Central Michigan, battling for quarterback job

Additions to the transfer portal: QB Jase Bauer (Central Michigan), RB Jay Ducker (Memphis), DL Dylan Frazier (SMU), TE Fernando Garza (Texas A&M), DB Nyquee Hawkins (Virginia Tech), DB Jaylon Jimmerson (Liberty), LB Chatavies Johnson (Memphis ), DL Marcus Moore (North Texas), TE Austin Smith (Memphis), DB Joe Swen (Oregon State), DL Denver Warren (New Mexico State), DL Quincy Wright (Oregon State)

Transfer Portal Losses: DB Da’Marcus Crosby II (New Mexico State), DB Dakerric Hobbs (New Mexico State), DB Kaden Kelly, QB Xavier Ward (San Jose State), DL Jalynn Wilson, RB Jordan Yates

Jase Bauer is widely expected to enter the fall as Sam Houston’s starting quarterback, even though Grant Gunnell started once for the Bearkats last season. Bauer played in six games as a redshirt freshman for Central Michigan, completing 35 of 59 passes for 435 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions and adding 312 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Jaylon Jimmerson adds championship experience from Liberty, which became CUSA’s first qualifier for the New Year’s Six Bowl in 2023. He played in all 13 games for the Flames, recording 18 tackles with two TFLs.

The big loss, however, is Da’Marcus Crosby II. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior was a first-team All-CUSA selection with 55 tackles and four interceptions.

Sam Houston adds JUCO defensive lineman Quardale Patt

Top Incoming Freshmen: ATHLETICS Railyn Adams (Newton, Texas), wide receiver Karson Maynard (Melissa, Texas), wide receiver Fatu Mukuba (Austin, Texas), TE Cooper Stevens (Cypress, Texas), DB Dravon Wilson (New Caney, Texas)

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