2017 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

2017 Sam Houston State Bearkats football
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 4
FCS CoachesNo. 3
Record12–2 (8–1 Southland)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTim Cramsey (1st season)
Offensive schemePro spread
Defensive coordinatorClayton Carlin (1st season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumBowers Stadium
2017 Southland Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 10 Central Arkansas $^  9 0   10 2  
No. 4 Sam Houston State ^  8 1   12 2  
No. 25 Nicholls State ^  7 2   8 4  
No. 22 McNeese State  7 2   9 2  
Southeastern Louisiana  6 3   6 5  
Northwestern State  4 5   4 7  
Stephen F. Austin  4 5   4 7  
Abilene Christian  2 7   2 9  
Incarnate Word  1 7   1 10  
Lamar  1 8   2 9  
Houston Baptist  0 9   1 10  
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS poll

The 2017 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bearkats were led by fourth-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium. They were a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 12–2, 8–1 in Southland play to finish in second place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs where they defeated South Dakota in the first round and Kennesaw State in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to North Dakota State.