Rice, Texas State to face off in SERVPRO First Responder Bowl in Dallas
It will be the fifth meeting between the two schools and the first since 1987.
HOUSTON — The Rice Owls will face an in-state foe after accepting an invitation to play the Texas State Bobcats in the 2023 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.
It will be the fifth meeting between the two schools and the first since 1987. Rice finished the regular season with a 6-6 record, which included a 4-4 conference record, while Texas State finished 7-5 with a 4-4 conference record.
This marks the first appearance in the First Responder Bowl for both teams. It is the first-ever bowl game for the Bobcats, while Rice is 7-6 in previous postseason games.
The 14th edition of the bowl game will be played Tuesday, Dec. 26, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. local time on ESPN and will be simulcast on ESPN+. It is the first time that two schools in the state of Texas have faced each other in the bowl’s history.
“We’re extremely excited to have two in-state schools, Rice and Texas State, playing in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl,” Executive Director Brant Ringler said. “We are eager to host the Owls and Bobcats and look forward to having their fan bases join us in Dallas as we honor our first responders.”
First-year head coach G.J. Kinne led Texas State to its first-ever win over a Power 5 Conference team in the season opener, a 42-31 win at Baylor. Texas State scored 36.0 points per game and averaged 471.8 yards per contest. Defensively, the Bobcats surrendered 33.8 points and 414.3 yards per game. Seven Bobcats were named first- or second-team All-Sun Belt.
The Owls are playing in a bowl game for the second straight year under sixth-year coach Mike Bloomgren. Rice, which closed the regular season with back-to-back wins, had five players collect American Athletic Conference honors. Offensively, Rice averaged 30.3 points and 376.8 yards per game. On the defensive side, the Owls allowed 26.7 points and 370.1 yards per outing.
First played following the 2010 season, the annual bowl game in Dallas began honoring first responders for the 2014 game.
First responders include police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, correctional officers, search and rescue, dispatchers, security guards, federal agents, border patrol agents and military personnel who have specialized training and are the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene of an emergency.
In 2018, the game was officially renamed the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl to reflect the efforts to show appreciation to first responders. Tickets for first responders are underwritten by corporate partners.
The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl is one of 17 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events.
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