Florida International vs. UTSA: Time, Date, TV Channel, 2025 First Responder Bowl Preview
It's an acronym battle!
It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship.
NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest bringing us down south:
2025 Servpro First Responder Bowl
Matchup: Florida International Golden Panthers vs. UTSA Roadrunners
Date: Friday, Dec. 26, 2025
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Stadium: Gerald J. Ford Stadium — Dallas, Texas
TV: ESPN
Game Overview
The First Responder Bowl has a nice message, but let’s not forget that it has gone by several names over the years — including the TicketCity Bowl (2011-2012) and Heart of Dallas Bowl (2013-2017).
Case Keenum won the game’s MVP in 2012.
I don’t have anything else on this one…
Team Overviews
Florida International Golden Panthers
Conference: Conference USA
Head Coach: Willie Simmons
Record: 7–5
FIU looks like it just might escape mediocrity in 2025, with the program reaching the sixth bowl game in program history.
Willie Simmons has been good in his first season as head coach, having an opportunity to lead the program to its second highest win total (eight games) ever.
UTSA Roadrunners
Conference: American
Head Coach: Jeff Traylor
Record: 6-6
UTSA has seen its win total decrease each of the last four seasons, with the transition from Conference USA to the American seeing them dip from double-digit winning seasons to relative mediocrity.
Jeff Traylor, the club’s head coach, has been good for them, however, and is looking to win a bowl game for the third consecutive season — Frisco Bowl (2023) and Myrtle Beach Bowl (2024).
Traylor admitted his team will “be a shell of themselves” for the bowl game, as he expects to be without 10-20 players due to a mix of opt-outs, injuries and transfer portal entries. The Roadrunners will be without several starters on defense.
Players to Watch
FIU
QB Joe Pesansky
QB Keyone Jenkins
RB Kejon Owens
WR Alex Perry
DL Kenton Simmons
DB Jessiah McGrew
DB Mister Clark
UTSA
QB Owen McCown
RB Robert Henry
RB Will Henderson III
WR Devin McCuin
DL Nnanna Anyanwu
DB Tyan Milton
Key Notes
Owen McCown is the son of former NFL quarterback Josh McCown and nephew of Luke McCown.
Betting Lines
DraftKings Sportsbook: UTSA -6 | O/U 59.5
FanDuel Sportsbook: UTSA -5.5 | O/U 59.5
BetMGM Sportsbook: UTSA -6 | O/U 59.5
The Pick: FIU ML
