American college football season
The 2018 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season . The Bearkats were led by fifth-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium . They were a member of the Southland Conference . They finished the season 6–5, 5–4 in Southland play to finish in a four-way tie for fourth place.
Preseason
Preseason All-Conference Teams
On July 12, 2018, the Southland announced their Preseason All-Conference Teams, with the Bearkats having seven players at nine positions selected.[1]
Offense
1st team
Davion Davis – Sr. WR
Nathan Stewart – Jr. WR
Mitchell Watanabe – Sr. OL
Eric David – Jr. OL
Tristan Wendt – Sr. OL
Davion Davis – Sr. all purpose player
Defense
1st team
Davion Davis – Sr. PR
2nd team
Chris Stewart – Sr. DL
Zyon McCollum – So. DB
Preseason Poll
On July 19, 2018, the Southland announced their preseason poll, with the Bearkats selected as the favorites to win the conference.[2]
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Sam Houston State
187 (10)
2
Nicholls State
173 (6)
3
Central Arkansas
170 (5)
4
McNeese State
159 (1)
5
Southeastern Louisiana
119
6
Stephen F. Austin
90
7
Abilene Christian
89
8
Northwestern State
86
9
Incarnate Word
53
10
Lamar
52
11
Houston Baptist
32
Award watch lists
Schedule
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 8 6:00 p.m. Prairie View A&M * No. 4 ESPN+ W 41–329,571
September 15 6:00 p.m. North Dakota * No. 5 Bowers Stadium Huntville, TX ESPN3 L 23–245,373
September 22 3:00 p.m. at No. 18 Nicholls State No. 11 ESPN+ L 7–275,025
September 29 3:00 p.m. No. 13 Central Arkansas No. 21 Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX ESPN3 W 34–31 OT 7,598
October 6 1:00 p.m. vs. Stephen F. Austin No. 17 ESPN3 W 54–2126,548
October 13 6:00 p.m. at Northwestern State No. 15 CST /ESPN3W 42–285,125
October 20 3:00 p.m. at Lamar No. 14 ESPN+ L 23–417,227
October 27 1:00 p.m. Southeastern Louisiana No. 23 Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX ELVN W 28–2510,098
November 3 2:00 p.m. at Incarnate Word No. 21 ESPN3 L 26–435,643
November 10 2:30 pm Abilene Christian Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX ELVN/SLC Digital L 10–176,914
November 17 2:00 p.m. at Houston Baptist SLC Digital W 42–202,002
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
[5] [6] [7]
Game summaries
Prairie View A&M
Prairie View A&M at Sam Houston State
1
2 3 4 Total
Panthers
9
14 0 9
32
• No. 4 Bearkats
10
17 7 7
41
Date: September 8Location: Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX Game start: 6:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:35Game attendance: 9,571Game weather: Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Weather: Overcast • Wind: SW 2Referee: Eddie KelleyTV announcers (ESPN+ ): Randy McIlvoy, Shea Walker, Matt Pedersen
Sources:[8] [9] [10]
North Dakota
North Dakota Fighting Hawks at Sam Houston State
1
2 3 4 Total
• Fighting Hawks
7
10 0 7
24
No. 5 Bearkats
7
3 13 0
23
Date: September 15Location: Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TXGame start: 6:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:07Game attendance: 5,373Game weather: Temperature: 88 °F (31 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: ESE 4Referee: Kevin BoitmannTV announcers (ESPN3 ): Randy McIlvoy, Shea Walker, Sarah Merrifield
Sources:[11] [12] [13]
At Nicholls State
Sam Houston State at Nicholls State
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 11 Bearkats
7
0 0 0
7
• No. 18 Colonels
3
7 3 14
27
Date: September 22Location: John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA Game start: 6:24 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 2:52Game attendance: 5,025Game weather: Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Rainy, Overcast • Wind: SE 6Referee: M. VanderveldeTV announcers (ESPN+): Kooter Roberson, E.P. Garth, Brian Adams
Sources:[14] [15] [16]
Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas at Sam Houston State
1
2 3 4 OT Total
No. 13 Bears
3
7 7 14 0
31
• No. 21 Bearkats
0
14 14 3 3
34
Date: September 29Location: Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TXGame start: 3:05 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:52Game attendance: 7,598Game weather: Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Weather: Drizzly & Overcast • Wind: ESE 4Referee: Mike DefeeTV announcers (ESPN3): Randy McIlvoy, Shea Walker
Sources:[17] [18] [19]
vs Stephen F. Austin
Battle of the Piney Woods
1
2 3 4 Total
Lumberjacks
14
0 0 7
21
• No. 17 Bearkats
21
23 10 0
54
Sources:
At Northwestern State
Sam Houston State at Northwestern State
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 15 Bearkats
14
9 11 8
42
Demons
0
28 0 0
28
Sources:
At Lamar
Sam Houston State at Lamar
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 14 Bearkats
13
0 10 0
23
• Cardinals
10
7 17 7
41
Sources:[20] [21]
Southeastern Louisiana
Southeastern Louisiana at Sam Houston State (homecoming)