Is First Responder Bowl coming back?
First Responder Bowl (2011–present) on ESPN
Watch on Disney+ 
About First Responder Bowl
The First Responder Bowl's return is unconfirmed. The game was most recently played on December 26, 2025, and is currently between seasons.
The First Responder Bowl is an NCAA post-season college football bowl game played annually in the Dallas, Texas, area. It was first held on January 1, 2011, and since 2014 has been contested in late December. The game has been hosted at different venues, including the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and Gerald J. Ford Stadium at SMU, which has become its permanent home.
It is a part of the college football bowl season, providing a showcase for teams and players during the holiday period. The event is broadcast on ESPN and has been held consistently during the late December timeframe since its inception.
First Responder Bowl episode schedule
16 aired
Aired · 16
| Date | Ep. | Title |
|---|---|---|
| December 26, 2025 | S2025·E1 | 2025 First Responder Bowl: Florida International Panthers vs. UTSA Roadrunners |
| January 3, 2025 | S2024·E1 | 2024 First Responder Bowl: North Texas Mean Green vs. Texas State Bobcats |
| December 26, 2023 | S2023·E1 | 2023 First Responder Bowl: Texas State Bobcats vs. Rice Owls |
| December 27, 2022 | S2022·E1 | 2022 First Responder Bowl: Memphis vs. Utah State |
| December 28, 2021 | S2021·E1 | 2021 First Responder Bowl: Air Force vs. Louisville |
| December 26, 2020 | S2020·E1 | 2020 First Responder Bowl: Louisiana vs. UTSA |
| December 30, 2019 | S2019·E1 | 2019 First Responder Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan |
| December 26, 2018 | S2018·E1 | 2018 First Responder Bowl: Boise State vs. Boston College |
| December 26, 2017 | S2017·E1 | 2017 Heart of Dallas Bowl: Utah vs. West Virginia |
| December 27, 2016 | S2016·E1 | 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army vs. North Texas |
| December 26, 2015 | S2015·E1 | 2015 Heart of Dallas Bowl: Washington vs. Southern Miss |
| December 26, 2014 | S2014·E2 | 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Illinois |
| January 1, 2014 | S2014·E1 | 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl: North Texas vs. UNLV |
| January 1, 2013 | S2013·E1 | 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Purdue |
| January 2, 2012 | S2012·E1 | 2012 TicketCity Bowl: Houston vs. Penn State |
| January 1, 2011 | S2011·E1 | 2011 TicketCity Bowl: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech |
