OUR HISTORY

The 16th SERVPRO First Responder Bowl will be played on December 26, 2025. The 15th SERVPRO First Responder Bowl was played on January 3, 2024, and featured the North Texas Eagles and Texas State Bobcats. It was the 40th meeting between the two schools, but the first in 31 years. The match-up marks the second straight year the game featured two Lone Star State schools, North Texas, playing in its third First Responder Bowl, and Texas State, playing in their second consecutive First Responder Bowl. The close game saw the two teams’ quarterbacks throw for over 300 yards and a pair of 70-yard rushing touchdowns. The Eagle offense brought the game within two points with 1:49 left, and the defense forced the Bobcats to punt at their 8-yard line. The Bobcat defense held strong to lead the Bobcats to a 30-28 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