FIU and UTSA to meet in SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
DALLAS, Texas (Dec. 7, 2025) – The FIU Panthers (7-5, 5-3 Conference USA) and UTSA Roadrunners (6-6, 4-4 American) have officially accepted invitations to play in this year’s SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. FIU is a first-time participant in the game, while UTSA played in the 2020 contest.
The 16th edition of the bowl game will be played Friday, Dec. 26, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) on ESPN. Tickets are available at FirstResponderBowl.com.
“We are excited to have the Panthers and Roadrunners and their fans joining us as we honor our everyday heroes,” Armed Forces Bowl Executive Director Brant Ringler said. “Celebrating the holiday season while honoring our first responders in Dallas is always a great time.”
FIU won its last four games of the season, which included a win over Conference USA Championship Game participant Jax State, to earn a bowl berth for the first time since 2019. The Panthers’ schedule included games against seven bowl-bound teams. FIU scored 29.3 points per game and amassed 2,282 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground.
Willie Simmons is in his first year as the head coach of the Panthers and has a winning record in all nine seasons as a head coach including previous stops at Prairie View A&M and Florida A&M. The Panthers are 2-3 in bowl games all time with their last appearance a 34-26 loss to Arkansas State in the 2019 Camellia Bowl. This is the first bowl game that FIU will play in the state of Texas.
UTSA began its season 0-2, including a 42-24 loss to College Football Playoff-bound Texas A&M, before rallying to win six of its next nine games. Its biggest win of the season was a 48-26 dismantling of Tulane, which won the American Conference and earned the No. 11 seed in the CFP. UTSA finished the season listed in the NCAA’s top 25 in scoring offense at 33.8 points per game and scored 48 or more points four times.
Head coach Jeff Traylor is 52-26 (.667) in his sixth year piloting the Roadrunners, and UTSA has been bowl eligible each season. In just its 15th year in the NCAA FBS, the team is appearing in its seventh all-time bowl game. The Roadrunners own a 2-4 record in previous tilts with back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024.
FIU and UTSA have faced off four times previously with each team winning twice. The Roadrunners won the last meeting, 30-10, in 2022.
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.
Gerald J. Ford Stadium has served as the site of the last six contests, four of which have been decided by a touchdown or less. The game, previously known as the Heart of Dallas Bowl and TicketCity Bowl, was originally contested at Cotton Bowl Stadium.
The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl is one of 17 college football bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events. For additional information, please visit FirstResponderBowl.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X.
ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2025, the 30-event schedule includes 3 early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 7 college basketball events, the premier regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. Follow ESPN Events on Facebook, Twitter/X and YouTube.