Schedule Analysis: Sam Houston Bearkats

Two things can be true - Sam Houston was a 3–9 football team that lost eight-straight games to open their first FBS season; Sam Houston also lost five games on five plays. The Bearkats are by and large the same roster in 2024, a testament to the culture they've created. But head coach KC Keeler has spent the offseason reexamining the film room, weight room and practice field so a similar team can take new strides. 

New defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity is tasked with getting the Bearkats defense to play faster by keeping the scheme simple. Keeler pushed spring football back the farthest it's ever been so football strength coach Kevin Schadt, hired from UTEP, could work with the team over eight weeks to physically mature. The Bearkats believe those changes can result in a bowl berth.