The 2024 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in Conference USA (CUSA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearkats were led by K. C. Keeler during the regular season, in his eleventh year as the head coach. The Bearkats played their home games at Bowers Stadium, located in Huntsville, Texas.
Following a 10–7 road win against FIU on October 22, the Bearkats became bowl eligible in just their second year since joining the FBS.
After the regular season, K. C. Keeler announced he accepted the head coaching position at Temple. He was replaced on an interim basis by offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen for the New Orleans Bowl.
Offseason
Transfers
Outgoing Xavier WardQBSan Jose StateJordan YatesWRTennessee TechZachary SessionOLMcNeeseDakerric HobbsCBNew Mexico StateDa'Marcus CrosbySNew Mexico StateKaden KellySNortheastern StateD'Marea WeaverDBNone
Incoming S'Maje BurrellLBTexasCJ JohnsonLBMemphisJay DuckerRBMemphisAustin SmithTEMemphisJalen O'NealDBAbilene ChristianDenver WarrenDLNew Mexico StateFernando Garza TETexas A&MAustin Smith TEColoradoDylan FrazierDLSMUJaylon JimmersonDBLibertyIsaiah CashDBHouston ChristianJase BauerQBCentral MichiganKaden TaylorWRNorth TexasQuincy WrightDLOregon StateJoe SwenSOregon StateKason TullosLBTexas A&MNyquee HawkinsSVirginia TechKendrick DuJourDLCoffeyville CC
Roster
Preseason C-USA media poll The Conference USA preseason media poll was released on July 19. The Bearkats were predicted to finish tied for fifth.
Schedule
Game summaries
at Rice
Statistics SHSURICE First downs 20 14 Total yards 73–407 62–274 Rushing 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 StatisticsSam 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 TDRice 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
Statistics SHSU UCF 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 StatisticsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson9/13, 82 yards, 2 INT Rushing Zach Hrbacek 8 carries, 25 yards Receiving Simeon Evans 3 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TDUCF 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
Statistics HAW SHSU 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 StatisticsHawaii Passing Brayden Schager 21/42, 252 yards, TD, INT Rushing Cam Barfield 5 rushes, 24 yards Receiving Pofele Ashlock 8 receptions, 84 yards, TDSam 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
Statistics NMSU SHSU First downs 12 24 Total yards 152 382 Rushing yards 78 280 Passing yards 74 102 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–29–2 12–26–2 Time of possession 23:22 36:38 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico State Passing Santino Marucci 14/29, 74 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Seth McGowan 12 rushes, 50 yards Receiving T. J. Pride 5 receptions, 33 yardsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 9/21, 64 yards, 2 INT Rushing Hunter Watson 12 rushes, 116 yards, 2 TD Receiving Noah Smith 4 receptions, 38 yards
vs. Texas State (rivalry)
Statistics TXSTSHSU First downs 25 25 Total yards 417 395 Rushing yards 91 300 Passing yards 326 95 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 25:38 34:22
Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Jordan McCloud 29/39, 326 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ismail Mahdi 17 carries, 57 yards Receiving Jaden Williams 10 receptions, 133 yardsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 10/19, 95 yards Rushing Hunter Watson 27 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD Receiving DJ McKinney 2 receptions, 22 yards
at UTEP
Statistics SHSUUTEP First downs 26 15 Total yards 517 323 Rushing yards 293 119 Passing yards 224 204 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 35:17 24:43
Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 19/29, 224 yards, 2 TD Rushing DJ McKinney 14 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD Receiving Qua'Vez Humphreys 2 receptions, 47 yards, TDUTEP Passing Cade McConnell 15/28, 204 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ezell Jolly 17 carries, 76 yards, TD Receiving Kenny Odom 4 receptions, 70 yards
vs. Western Kentucky
Statistics WKUSHSU First downs 23 22 Total yards 411 400 Rushing yards 130 165 Passing yards 281 235 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 29:45 30:15
Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Caden Veltkamp 20/29, 281 yards, 3 TD Rushing Elijah Young 23 carries, 97 yards Receiving K. D. Hutchinson 3 receptions, 88 yards, TDSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 6/9, 128 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jase Bauer 11 carries, 41 yards Receiving Simeon Evans 5 receptions, 59 yards, TD
at FIU
Statistics SHSUFIU First downs 13 11 Total yards 210 200 Rushing yards 134 126 Passing yards 76 74 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 31:54 28:06
Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston Passing Jase Bauer 14/21, 76 yards Rushing Jase Bauer 15 carries, 72 yards Receiving Simeon Evans 5 receptions, 35 yardsFIU Passing Chayden Peery 7/12, 58 yards, 1 TD Rushing Shomari Lawrence 8 carries, 44 yards Receiving Eric Rivers 3 receptions, 42 yards, 1 TD
vs. Louisiana Tech
Statistics LTSHSU First downs 20 11 Total yards 312 268 Rushing yards 105 105 Passing yards 207 163 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 32:33 27:27
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Evan Bullock 16/25, 148 yards, 1 INT Rushing Omiri Wiggins 11 carries, 49 yards Receiving Tru Edwards 8 receptions, 80 yardsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 14/22, 146 yards, 1 INT Rushing Jay Ducker 13 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD Receiving Noah Smith 6 receptions, 47 yards
at Kennesaw State
Statistics SHSUKENN First downs 21 13 Total yards 382 243 Rushing yards 203 106 Passing yards 179 137 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–32–1 16–24–1 Time of possession 32:24 27:36
Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 22/32, 179 yds, 1 INT Rushing Jay Ducker 18 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD Receiving Simeon Evans 5 receptions, 64 yardsKennesaw State Passing Davis Bryson 16/24, 137 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Davis Bryson 12 carries, 46 yards Receiving Blake Bohannon 5 receptions, 55 yards
at Jacksonville State
Statistics SHSUJVST First downs 16 20 Total yards 259 332 Rushing yards 175 278 Passing yards 84 54 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13-26 9-12 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 31:05 28:55
Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 13/25, 84 yards Rushing Hunter Watson 21 carries, 105 yards, 1TD Receiving Noah Smith 6 receptions, 65 yards Jacksonville State Passing Tyler Huff 9/12, 54 yards Rushing Tyler Huff 30 carries, 177 yards, 3TD Receiving Sean Brown 1 reception, 22 yards
vs. Liberty
Statistics LIBSHSU First downs 18 18 Total yards 262 333 Rushing yards 179 131 Passing yards 83 202 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12-37-2 19-34-1 Time of possession 24:42 35:18
Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Kaidon Salter 12/35, 83 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Quinton Cooley 19 carries, 90 yards Receiving Reese Smith 3 receptions, 26 yardsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 19/33, 202 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jay Ducker 24 carries, 96 yards Receiving Simeon Evans 6 receptions, 83 yards, 2 TDs
vs. Georgia Southern (New Orleans Bowl)
Statistics GASOSHSU First downs 23 15 Total yards 393 267 Rushing yards 181 54 Passing yards 212 213 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20-33-4 23-28 Time of possession 31:49 28:11
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Southern Passing JC French 20/33, 212 yards 1 TD, 4 INT Rushing Jalen White 16 carries, 90 yards, 1TD Receiving Derwin Burgess Jr. 6 receptions, 56 yardsSam Houston Passing Hunter Watson 23/28, 213 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jay Ducker 10 carries, 26 yards Receiving Simeon Evans 7 receptions, 85 yards, 1TD
References