FIU and UTSA will clash in the 2025 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Friday, December 26, at 8:00 PM ET. The game will take place in Dallas, TX, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, home of the SMU Mustangs. The FIU Panthers finished the regular season with a 7-5 record. The Panthers finished Conference USA play 5-3, with a four-game win streak. The UTSA Roadrunners completed their regular season 6-6 and 4-4 in the American Athletic Conference. Unlike the Panthers, the Roadrunners lost their final regular-season game against Army in November.
First Responder Bowl History
The First Responder Bowl commenced in 2011 as the TicketCity Bowl. It was then renamed two years later as the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Then, in 2018, the bowl game was renamed again as the First Responder Bowl, with SERVPRO being the named sponsor for the game. Starting in 2013, the game focused on honoring and highlighting local charities. In 2014, it shifted to local first responders in the area. Now, it has evolved to honoring first responders leading up to the game and then during the game as well. SERVPRO is signed on to be the named sponsor through the 2026 game next year.
A variety of conferences have made an appearance in the First Responder Bowl. Not only have smaller Group of 5 (or Group of 6 depending on your viewpoint) conferences played in this game, but Power 4 schools have as well. The Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and even the Independents have played in this bowl game. This is the second consecutive year that the American Athletic Conference is making an appearance. Last season North Texas lost to Texas State in the game. The Sun Belt and Texas State had played in the First Responder Bowl back-to-back years before FIU from Conference USA was selected this year.
Who to Watch for FIU
The FIU Panthers’ defense will likely be thin for the First Responder Bowl, so it will be up to the offense to get on the board early and often if the Panthers want to come away with a win. As was stated above, FIU is riding a four-game win streak to end the regular season, but that was with a majorly healthy squad. Now, it is bowl season, and with bowl season comes anticipated transfer portal season. It is expected that the Panthers will be without the majority of their starting secondary in this contest, as they are all expected to hit the transfer portal when it opens in January. This, unfortunately for FIU, makes sense because this unit was the strength of this defense all season long.
The offense for FIU was stronger this season, and the Panthers may have quarterback Joe Pesansky back for this clash with UTSA. Pesansky was utilized heavily for three of FIU’s wins in November before injury. In those three wins, Pesansky threw for eight touchdowns, tallied two more on the ground, and threw four interceptions. He threw for 659 yards in those three wins. With Pesansky out with an injury, quarterback Keyone Jenkins got the Panthers their final win of the season. It will likely be Jenkins that starts for FIU in this contest, but if Pesansky is healthy, don’t count him out.
A Strong Offensive Showing for UTSA?
Even if the Roadrunner defense isn’t thin for the First Responder Bowl, the unit isn’t that flashy or even very strong. There are a few players that stand out for UTSA, but the offense is who to watch in this one. It might be a high-scoring affair with these two teams on the field.
UTSA has two very solid running backs in Robert Henry and Will Henderson III. Henry has played in 11 games this season, while Henderson III has played in all 12. Both backs have been very effective for the Roadrunners and will likely be looked on early to get UTSA in a favorable position, even with Head Coach Jeff Traylor likely wanting to test the FIU secondary. With Offensive Coordinator Justin Burke leaving for Kentucky, it is probably best to stick with what works. Henry has rushed for 1,045 yards this season and nine touchdowns; he has also caught two through the air. Henderson III has rushed for 807 yards this season and leads the team with over seven yards per carry. Look for both to have a big day.
Main Image: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl