2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl to feature Memphis and Utah State
DALLAS, Texas (Dec. 4, 2022) – Memphis and Utah State have officially accepted invitations to play in the 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. Both programs will be making their first appearances in the annual bowl game.
The 13th edition of the bowl game will be played Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. Kickoff is set for 2:15 p.m. (CT) on ESPN. It will be the eighth meeting between the two schools and the first since 1977. Memphis leads the all-time series 4-3.
“We’re excited to host Memphis and Utah State in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl,” Executive Director Brant Ringler said. “We are eager to see them compete in Dallas as we honor our first responders. The teams and their fans will truly enjoy the entire experience.”
Memphis finished the regular season with a 6-6 overall record, including a 3-5 mark in the American Athletic Conference. The Tigers averaged 35.1 points per game under third-year head coach Ryan Silverfield. This is the Tigers’ ninth consecutive year qualifying for a bowl game, which is tied for the ninth-best active streak in the nation and the best among all non-Power 5 programs.
Utah State completed a 6-6 regular season slate and owned a 5-3 record in Mountain West Conference play. The Aggies won five of their last seven games of the season in coach Blake Anderson’s second season. Of Utah State’s six wins, five were comeback victories. This is the 10th bowl appearance for Utah State in the past 12 years and second recent trip to the DFW metroplex (2019 Frisco Bowl).
First played following the 2010 season, the annual bowl game in Dallas began honoring first responders for the 2014 game. First responders include police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, correctional officers, search and rescue, dispatchers, security guards, federal agents, border patrol agents and military personnel who have specialized training and are the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene of an emergency. In 2018, the game was officially renamed the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl to reflect the efforts to show appreciation to first responders. Tickets for first responders are underwritten by corporate partners.
Schools that have competed in the First Responder Bowl, which was previously known as the TicketCity Bowl and the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl, include: Air Force, Army West Point, Boise State, Boston College, Houston, Illinois, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, North Texas, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Purdue, Southern Miss, Texas Tech, UNLV, Utah, UTSA, Washington, West Virginia, Western Michigan and Western Kentucky. Three straight games, and four of the last five, have been decided by a touchdown or less, including two determined on the final play.
The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl is one of 17 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events. For additional information about the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, please visit FirstResponderBowl.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter.