2023 First Responder Bowl

The 2023 First Responder Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 26, 2023, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas. The 14th annual First Responder Bowl featured the Texas State Bobcats of the Sun Belt Conference and the Rice Owls of the American Athletic Conference (The American). The game began at approximately 4:30 p.m. CST and was aired on ESPN. It was one of the 2023–24 bowl games concluding the 2023 FBS football season. Sponsored by cleanup and restoration company Servpro, the game was officially known as the Servpro First Responder Bowl.

2023 Servpro First Responder Bowl
14th First Responder Bowl
Texas State Bobcats Rice Owls (7–5) (6–6) Sun Belt The American 45 21 Head coach:  G. J. Kinne Head coach:  Mike Bloomgren
1 2 3 4 Total Texas State 14 10 14 7 45 Rice 7 14 0 0 21
Date	December 26, 2023
Season	2023
Stadium	Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Location	University Park, Texas
MVP	Brian Holloway (LB, Texas State)[1]
Favorite	Texas State by 4.5[2]
Referee	Ed Ardito (CUSA)[3]
Attendance	26,542[4]
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Dave Neal (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), and Morgan Uber (sideline)
International TV coverage
Network	ESPN Deportes
First Responder Bowl  < 2022  2025 >

Teams

The game featured the Texas State Bobcats of the Sun Belt Conference and the Rice Owls of the American Athletic Conference (The American).

This was the fifth meeting between Texas State and Rice; the series was tied at 2–2 entering the game.^[5] This was the first appearance in a First Responder Bowl for both teams.

Texas State Bobcats

Main article: 2023 Texas State Bobcats football team

The Bobcats entered the game with a 7–5 record (4–4 in the Sun Belt), tied for second place in their conference's West Division. After starting their season with four wins in their first five games, the Bobcats lost four of their final seven games.

This was the first bowl game in the football program history of Texas State.^[6]

Rice Owls

Main article: 2023 Rice Owls football team

The Owls entered the game with a 6–6 record (4–4 in The American), tied for fifth place in the conference. After starting their season 4–3, the Owls had a three game losing streak, then won their final two games to become bowl eligible.

JT Daniels began the season as Rice's starting quarterback, but left the Owls' week nine game against SMU on November 1 with a concussion after taking a shot to the helmet in the second quarter.^[7] A month later, on December 1, Daniels announced that he would be retiring from football due to the multiple concussions he sustained during his career.^[8][9][10]

Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Texas State	14	10	14	7	45
Rice	7	14	0	0	21

Game information

First Quarter (13:25) TXST – Jahmyl Jeter 29 yard run, Mason Shipley kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 1:35; Texas State 7–0) (6:54) RICE – Luke McCaffrey 7 yard pass from A. J. Padgett, Tim Horn kick (Drive: 8 plays, 42 yards, 3:38; Tied 7–7) (3:22) TXST – Jahmyl Jeter 1 yard run, Mason Shipley kick (Drive: 8 plays, 85 yards, 3:32; Texas State 14–7) Second Quarter (14:36) TXST – Brian Holloway 36 yard interception return, Mason Shipley kick (Texas State 21–7) (6:07) RICE – Dean Connors 3 yard run, Tim Horn kick (Drive: 11 plays, 77 yards, 5:47; Texas State 21–14) (3:40) RICE – Dean Connors 28 yard run, Tim Horn kick (Drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, 1:24; Tied 21–21) (0:00) TXST – Mason Shipley 31 yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 61 yards, 3:40; Texas State 24–21) Third Quarter (9:57) TXST – Nash Jones 3 yard run, Mason Shipley kick (Drive: 10 plays, 30 yards, 5:03; Texas State 31–21) (8:16) TXST – Brian Holloway 48 yard interception return, Mason Shipley kick (Texas State 38–21) Fourth Quarter (2:01) TXST – Jahmyl Jeter 1 yard run, Mason Shipley kick (Drive: 3 plays, 38 yards, 1:14; Texas State 45–21)

2023 Servpro First Responder Bowl

at Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, Texas

• Date: Tuesday, December 26, 2023
• Game time: 4:30 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind: 11 mph (18 km/h) SW
• Game attendance: 26,542
• Referee: Ed Ardito
• TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), and Morgan Uber (sideline)
• Box score

Statistics	TXST	RICE
First downs	15	18
Plays–yards	71–300	57–197
Rushes–yards	42–148	31–82
Passing yards	152	112
Passing: comp–att–int	15–29–0	13–26–5
Time of possession	28:45	28:31

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas State	Passing	T. J. Finley	15/29, 152 yards
	Rushing	Ismail Mahdi	24 carries, 122 yards
	Receiving	Ashtyn Hawkins	3 receptions, 55 yards
Rice	Passing	A. J. Padgett	10/21, 85 yards, TD, 3 INT
	Rushing	Dean Connors	15 carries, 64 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Elijah Mojarro	3 receptions, 35 yards