2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl to be played December 27

DALLAS, Texas – The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will be played Tuesday, Dec. 27, at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Kickoff time is to be determined.

“We are excited to have another terrific opportunity to express our appreciation for first responders,” said Brant Ringler, executive director of the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. “These heroes truly deserve our thanks, and for our community to be able to honor them in front of a national television audience on ESPN is truly special.”

In December 2014, the bowl began honoring first responders, including 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 renamed to reflect the efforts to show appreciation to first responders.

Ford Stadium has served as the site of the last three contests, each of which has been decided by a touchdown or less following Air Force’s 31-28 victory over Louisville in 2021. The game, previously known as the Heart of Dallas Bowl and TicketCity Bowl, was originally contested at Cotton Bowl Stadium.

Previous teams selected for the 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.

Seventy-four bowl alumni have been drafted into the National Football League, led by two-time first-team All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas (Southern Miss). Of the draftees, five were first-round picks and nine were selected in the second round.

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl is one of 17 college football bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events. For additional information, please visit FirstResponderBowl.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter.

ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2022, the 32-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events, and a college softball event, which account for approximately 400 hours of live programming, while reaching nearly 64 million viewers and attracting over 800,000 annual attendees. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

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