Bowl Projections: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Preseason Prediction, Breakdown and History

Before the season gets underway, what's the first guess on what the 2024 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl might be? Why did we make this call, who else should be in the mix, and what's the history of the bowl?

This will all change throughout the season with its twists and turns, but in the preseason, the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl projection is ...

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Projection

Friday, January 3
4:00, ESPN
Gerald R Ford Stadium, University Park, TX
Bowl Affiliations : CUSA, Gof5
Last Season: Texas State 45, Rice 21
Preseason Bowl Projection (with predicted final regular season records)
Middle Tennessee (6-6) vs Arkansas State (6-6)

CFN Preview of All 134 Teams

Why this is the preseason SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Projection

Overall this is a bit of a catch-all game that might have better teams. However, it’s a late-season bowl that should once again stick with the Group of Five affiliations.

There aren’t a whole lot of available Conference USA teams, so pick and choose from any and every one of the possibilities - even though Liberty probably doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Yeah, it would be big if a Texas-based team could fit here, but Arkansas State would be one of the Sun Belt teams that should bring some interest. There’s a chance an AAC program - like UTSA - could end up here, but it might be in for a bigger matchup.

5 teams also in the mix for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

1. WKU
2. South Alabama
3. Liberty
4. Marshall
5. Jacksonville State

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl History

Dec 26, 2023 Texas State 45, Rice 21
Dec 27, 2022 Memphis 38, Utah State 10
Dec. 28, 2021 Air Force 31, Louisville 28
Dec. 26, 2020 Louisiana 31, UTSA 24
Dec. 30, 2019 WKU 23, Western Michigan 20
Dec. 26, 2018 Boise State vs. BC canceled
Dec. 26, 2017 Utah 30, West Virginia 14
Dec. 27, 2016 Army 38, North Texas 31 OT
Dec. 26, 2015 Washington 44 Southern Miss 31
Dec. 26, 2014 Louisiana Tech 35 Illinois 18
Jan. 1, 2014 North Texas 36 UNLV 14
Jan. 1, 2013 Oklahoma State 58 Purdue 14
Jan. 2, 2012 Houston 30 Penn State 14
Jan. 1, 2011 Texas Tech 45 Northwestern 38