After years of being an elite FCS program, the Sam Houston State Bearkats leaped to the FBS level in 2023. The days of being able to find cheap Sam Houston State football tickets are all but over. In a few short decades, the Bearkats have gone from being a Division II team to playing at the highest level. It’s been a meteoric rise that has rewarded a loyal and enthusiastic fanbase. In theory, the sky is still the limit for the Bearkats, who have already come so far. But the one thing for sure is that now that they’re at the FBS level, last-minute Sam Houston State football tickets have never been more popular.

A Long History

Fitting for a school in Texas, Sam Houston State has a football history that dates back to 1912. While the Bearkats don’t have the most prestigious story, they did go on a run in the 1950s and 60s. Between 1955 and 1964, Sam Houston State won four Lone Star Conference championships. That era culminated with an NAIA national championship in 1964 when the Bearkats went 9-1-1.

Building to a Championship

In 1984, Sam Houston State made the long-awaited move up the ladder to the FCS level. The Bearkats experienced immediate success, winning the Gulf Star Conference title in 1985 and 1986 under head coach Ron Randleman, reaching the FCS Playoffs for the first time in 1986. Randleman was still the coach at the turn of the century when the Bearkats made another big leap. In 2001, the Bearkats won their first FCS Playoff game in program history and reached the FCS semifinals a few years later in 2004 in Randleman’s final season.

Powerhouse Program

While Randleman retired after the 2004 season, his successors maintained Sam Houston State’s success. Throughout the 2010s, Bearkats were one of the premier FCS programs. They suffered heartbreaking losses in the FCS title game in 2011 and 2012 while also reaching the semifinals in 2014, 2015, and 2017. Finally, in 2020, after winning their fifth conference title in 10 years, the Bearkats scored a 23-21 win over South Dakota State to capture the FCS national championship. Three years later, the Bearkats made their debut at the FBS level as a member of Conference USA, setting forth on their next great challenge.