OUR HISTORY

The 14th SERVPRO First Responder Bowl was played on December 26, 2023, and featured the Texas State Bobcats and Rice Owls. A match-up 36 years in the making featured two Lonestar State schools, Texas State, playing in their first-ever bowl game, and Rice. The strong Bobcat defense forced six turnovers and linebacker Brian Holloway finished the match-up with two pick-six interceptions to lead the Bobcats to a 45-21 victory.

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl began as the TicketCity Bowl in 2011. In 2013 the bowl was renamed the Heart of Dallas Bowl. A group of Dallas organizations created the nonprofit bowl sponsor to raise funds and awareness for local charities. In 2014, ESPN Events took over the bowl and added a focus on honoring first responders in the Dallas area. In 2018, the bowl was renamed the First Responder Bowl with damage cleanup & restoration leader, SERVPRO as the title sponsor.

Owned and operated by ESPN Events, the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl has honored our everyday heroes since 2014. For the past 9 years, the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl has hosted fan-fest areas showcasing first responders hardware, honored first-responders during the game, and showcased first responder national anthem singers and honor guards.

SERVPRO joined the bowl as its title sponsor on August 13, 2018, and in 2023, committed to an extension of their sponsorship through the 2026 game.

TEAMS FROM 10 DIFFERENT CONFERENCES HAVE PLAYED IN THE FIRST RESPONDER BOWL