2025 First Responder Bowl (December)

2025 Servpro First Responder Bowl
16th First Responder Bowl
DateDecember 26, 2025
Season2025
StadiumGerald J. Ford Stadium
LocationDallas, Texas
FavoriteUTSA by 6[1]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersAnish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
International TV coverage
NetworkESPN Deportes

The 2025 First Responder Bowl is a college football bowl game scheduled to be played on December 26, 2025, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas. The 16th annual First Responder Bowl, it is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. CST and will be aired on ESPN.[2][3] It is one of the 2025–26 bowl games concluding the 2025 FBS football season. Sponsored by cleanup and restoration company Servpro, the game is officially known as the Servpro First Responder Bowl.

Teams

The FIU Panthers (7–5, 5–3 Conference USA) and UTSA Roadrunners (6–6, 4–4 American) accepted invitations to play in the First Responder Bowl. FIU is a first-time participant in the game, while UTSA played in the 2020 contest. The two once spent time together in the Conference USA. FIU and UTSA have faced off four times previously, with each team winning twice. The Roadrunners won the last meeting, 30–10, in 2022, at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. [4]

FIU

The Panthers are led by Willie Simmons in his first year as the head coach. With a win over Jacksonville State on November 22, the Golden Panthers clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019.[5] The following week, with a win over Sam Houston, they also clinched their first winning season since 2018.

UTSA

Entering the bowl, head coach Jeff Traylor compiled a 52–26 (.667) record through six seasons piloting the Roadrunners, with UTSA bowl-eligible each season. In its 15th year in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the team is appearing in its seventh all-time bowl game. The Roadrunners own a 2–4 record in previous bowls, including back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024.

Game summary

2025 Servpro First Responder Bowl
Quarter 1 2 34Total
FIU - - --0
UTSA - - --0

at Gerald J. Ford StadiumDallas, Texas

  • Date: Friday, December 26, 2025
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)

Statistics

Statistics FIU UTSA
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: compattint –– ––
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
FIU Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UTSA Passing
Rushing
Receiving


References

  1. ^ "Florida International vs. UTSA (Dec 26, 2025)". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  2. ^ "2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule, dates, TV channel, sites". NCAA.com. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  3. ^ "College Football Bowl Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  4. ^ "FIU vs. UTSA football history". Winsipedia. Archived from the original on December 20, 2025. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  5. ^ "FIU Football Is Bowl Bound For First Time Since 2019!". FIU Athletics. 2025-05-21. Retrieved 2025-11-23.