Let’s be honest, looking at the scoreboard at the end of the 2025 season wasn’t exactly fun for anyone in Huntsville. If you just glance at the raw sam houston state football stats from this past year, you’ll see a 2-10 record that looks pretty ugly on paper. But football is rarely just about the final record. It’s about those weird Wednesday night CUSA games, the transition pains of a new coaching staff, and the flashes of what might actually work in 2026.
Transitioning to the FBS level is notoriously brutal. Sam Houston found that out the hard way. They finished the year 1-7 in Conference USA play, which basically put them at the bottom of the barrel alongside UTEP.
The Offensive Identity Crisis
Phil Longo came in with a big reputation for high-flying offenses. Honestly, though? The "Air Raid" looked more like a light breeze for most of the season. The team averaged just 17.8 points per game. That’s 127th out of 136 teams in the country. You can't win many games when you’re barely cracking two touchdowns a night.
Hunter Watson handled the bulk of the snaps at quarterback, throwing for 1,108 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing at one point, which tells you everything you need to know about the offensive line's struggles. When your quarterback is your primary threat on the ground, it’s a recipe for a very tired, very sore signal-caller. Landyn Locke and Mabrey Mettauer also got some looks, combining for about 1,000 more yards, but the consistency just wasn't there.
Total offense sat at a measly 316 yards per game. To put that in perspective, the top-tier FBS teams are usually north of 450. The Bearkats were playing from behind a lot. This led to a lot of forced throws and 10 total interceptions on the year.
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Defensive Struggles and the 3-3-5
Defensively, things weren't much better. The 3-3-5 base defense under Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay gave up 37.8 points per game. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
They got shredded in the secondary, giving up over 275 passing yards per contest. The game against No. 8 Texas was a 55-0 blowout that probably should stay buried in the archives, but even against conference foes like Louisiana Tech, the defense surrendered 55 points.
However, there were bright spots. The November stretch showed some life. They actually pulled off back-to-back wins against Oregon State (21-17) and Delaware (26-23). The Oregon State win was massive—a Power 5 (well, Pac-12 remnant) scalp that nobody saw coming. In that game, the defense finally clicked, holding the Beavers to just 17 points in Corvallis.
Key Player Performance Metrics
If you’re looking for who to watch next year, look at the few guys who actually put up numbers in this slog of a season.
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- Hunter Watson (QB): 104/182 completions, 1,108 yards, 5 TDs.
- Landan Brown (RB): Showed real burst with an 85-yard performance against UNLV.
- Elijah Green (WR): Often the only reliable target, snagging 7 catches in the opener against WKU.
- JaMair Diaz (LB): Had that wild 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Western Kentucky.
Why Sam Houston State Football Stats Matter for 2026
The jump from FCS to FBS isn't a one-year fix. Look at the history of the program—they have a .537 all-time winning percentage and a literal national championship from the 2020-21 season. They know how to win. The issue right now is depth and the "size" of the lines.
The Bearkats averaged only 22.5% on third-down conversions. That is abysmal. It means the defense was on the field way too long, which explains why they fell apart in the fourth quarter of games like the FIU finale (a 56-16 loss).
Basically, the 2025 season was a "burn the tape" year for the most part, except for that magical night in Oregon.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are tracking this team into the 2026 cycle, keep your eyes on the transfer portal. Sam Houston needs offensive linemen who can hold a block for more than two seconds. Without a cleaner pocket, it doesn't matter if Longo runs the Air Raid or the Triple Option; the stats won't move.
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Watch the recruiting class of 2026. They’ve already got verbal commits from guys like Landyn Locke (who saw action this year) and Jax Brown. The future is clearly being built through the air, but the foundation currently has some cracks.
Check the defensive secondary recruitment as well. You can't give up 70% completion rates to opposing quarterbacks and expect to stay in games. If those completion percentages don't drop below 60% next year, expect another long season in Huntsville.
Final thought: don't let the 2-10 record fool you into thinking the program is dead. They are just learning how to swim in much deeper water.