1997 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

1997 Sam Houston State Bearkats football
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record5–6 (3–4 Southland)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorMike Lucas (8th season)
Home stadiumBowers Stadium
1997 Southland Football League standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 7 McNeese State +^  6 1   13 2  
No. 21 Northwestern State +^  6 1   8 4  
No. 13 Stephen F. Austin  5 2   8 3  
Sam Houston State  3 4   5 6  
Nicholls State  3 4   5 6  
Southwest Texas State  2 5   5 6  
Troy State  2 5   5 6  
Jacksonville State  1 6   1 10  
  • + Conference co-champions
  • ^ NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1997 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 16th-year head coach Ron Randleman, the Bearkats compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–4 in conference play, and finished tied for fourth in the Southland.