Sam Houston vs Troy

The Troy Trojans held off a fierce challenge from the Sam Houston Bearkats, escaping with a nail-biting 24-21 victory at Larry Blakeney Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. In a defensive slugfest that featured 189 plays, Troy's home crowd watched their Sun Belt squad outlast the Conference USA visitors in a game that came down to the wire. The Trojans built just enough cushion to withstand Sam Houston's relentless pressure down the stretch. With only a three-point margin separating the teams at the final whistle, Troy proved they could handle the heat when it mattered most, protecting their home turf against a Bearkats team that refused to go away quietly.