In The News

HOUSTON – Kansas State and LSU have accepted bids to play in the 2021 TaxAct Texas Bowl, the bowl organizing committee announced today. The 2021 TaxAct Texas Bowl will be played at 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at NRG Stadium in Houston. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN with a local radio broadcast available on SportsRadio 610 (KILT-AM). Tickets and suites are now available for purchase www.taxacttexasbowl.com.

“We are excited to announce the 2021 TaxAct Texas Bowl between the Kansas State Wildcats and LSU Tigers, two excellent institutions from the Big 12 and SEC,” remarked David Fletcher, executive director, TaxAct Texas Bowl. “The Bowl is one of the largest annual events in our community and we’re excited to welcome Kansas State and LSU to Houston. We look forward to hosting these teams and their fan bases for a festive bowl week of Texas-themed events that will culminate in a primetime showdown at NRG Stadium on January 4.”

Kansas State will represent the Big 12 Conference, while LSU will represent the SEC. The two programs have met just once before, when LSU earned a 21-0 victory over Kansas State on September 13, 1980. The 2021 TaxAct Texas Bowl will mark Kansas State’s third appearance and first since 2016, when the Wildcats earned a 33-28 win over Texas A&M. LSU will make its second appearance in the TaxAct Texas Bowl and first since 2015, when the Tigers beat Texas Tech, 56-27. 

The 2021 edition of the TaxAct Texas Bowl will mark the event’s eighth year of affiliation with the Big 12 and the SEC. The game was most recently played in 2019, when the Texas A&M Aggies emerged with a narrow 24-21 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys, with quarterback Kellen Mond receiving MVP honors.

Entering its 16th year, the TaxAct Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment, an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since 2016, the TaxAct Texas Bowl has the fifth-highest attendance among all college football bowls, trailing only the Rose, Peach, Fiesta and Orange bowls. The TaxAct Texas Bowl and its sister event, the Texas Kickoff, have combined to create an economic impact of close to $80 million annually for the city of Houston while raising over $2 million in financial support and millions more in promotional support for DePelchin Children’s Center, Houston’s oldest children’s charity and the bowl’s official charitable beneficiary.

For more information about the game and affiliated Bowl Week activities, fans can visit www.taxacttexasbowl.com or follow along on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

About TaxAct
TaxAct is a savvy, tax-filing solution that provides filers with affordable DIY tax software to successfully navigate the U.S. tax code. As a pioneer in the industry, TaxAct’s products enable all users – regardless of profession, tax bracket or complexity of their return – to quickly and accurately file their taxes all while discovering new ways to leverage their tax situation and improve their financial well-being. At TaxAct, taxes are our expertise, but we don’t see them as the end goal. Rather, we believe taxes are a stepping-stone to possibility. Possibilities that are unique as every filer. Possibilities that help each hardworking American not only claim the money they deserve but also enable them to make smart money decisions. We deliver the power of possibility through straightforward technology to help filers secure their best tax outcome and elevate their financial lives.

To learn more about TaxAct, a business of Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR), visit www.taxact.com or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. For more information on Blucora, visit www.blucora.com.

About ESPN Events 
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of 35 collegiate sporting events nationwide. The roster includes five early-season college football games, 17 college bowl games, 12 college basketball events and a college softball event, which accounts for approximately 400 hours of live programming, reaches nearly 64 million viewers and attracts over 800,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in more than 10 markets across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as the leading sports event promoter in Houston. In addition to the TaxAct Texas Bowl and the Texas Kickoff, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including Copa America Centenario, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. tour, 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2019 and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cups. LSSE has also reinvigorated the “Battle of the Piney Woods” rivalry between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State and has promoted major concerts featuring country superstars including George Strait, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney.

 

HOUSTON – Lone Star Sports & Entertainment announces H-E-B’s three-year extension of the presenting sponsorship for the Battle of Piney Woods presented by H-E-B through the 2023 game.  The new agreement extends H-E-B’s role as presenting sponsor a full decade since the partnership started in 2015 and continues H-E-B’s support of LSSE in bringing major college football events to Houston.  

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment also announced a partnership with Bally Sports Southwest to broadcast the 2021 edition of the game.  This year’s game will air across Bally Sports Southwest’s four state footprint including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, airing on Bally Sports Southwest Plus with a 4:00 p.m. CT kickoff this Saturday, October 2, from NRG Stadium in Houston.

“H-E-B is excited to continue the partnership and see the Battle of the Piney Woods gain exposure to a larger audience via this new broadcast partnership with Bally Sports Southwest.” H-E-B Houston Director of Marketing, Joe Casiano said.  “We can’t wait to see the fans in the stands to cheer on the Bearkats and the Lumberjacks as they take the field this Saturday afternoon.”  

The Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B is the third oldest college football rivalry in Texas dating back to 1923 and featuring the Sam Houston Bearkats and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. This year’s event will be the 95th iteration of the game and the 11th year of the game hosted as a neutral site event at NRG Stadium. This year’s game is alsoas well as the first matchup between the two rivals as members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). 

In 2019, the Sam Houston Bearkats defeated the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 31-20. Sam Houston holds a 57-35-2 edge in the series following they’re victory in 2019.

Tickets for Saturday’s game are still available by calling 832-667-2390 or visiting https://www.lsse.net/battle-of-the-piney-woods.  

CONTACTS
Carly Klanac
832-667-2164
carly.klanac@lsse.net  

Omar Majzoub
832-667-2241
omar.majzoub@houstontexans.com 

Jackson Riebel
832-667-2051
jackson.riebel@houstontexans.com 

###

Lone Star Sports & Entertainment
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is an event management company founded in 2003 that is closely affiliated with the NFL’s Houston Texans. Since its founding, LSSE has established itself as the leading sports event promoter in Houston. In addition to the Texas Bowl and the Texas Kickoff, LSSE has emerged as a premier promoter for international soccer matches, including Copa America Centenario, the 2010 MLS All-Star Game featuring Manchester United, the 2006 FC Barcelona U.S. tour, 2003 and 2008 matches between the United States and Mexico, and the 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2019 and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cups. LSSE has also reinvigorated the “Battle of the Piney Woods” rivalry between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State and has promoted major concerts featuring country superstars including George Strait, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney.

About H-E-B
H-E-B, with sales of more than $26 billion, operates more than 400 stores in Texas and Mexico. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience at everyday low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 110,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com.

 

Every time we host an event at NRG Stadium, we know we’re seeing the future of football. It’s beyond a privilege to be able to give these future stars a chance to play on a professional stage at NRG Stadium during their collegiate careers.

This year, 30 of our LSSE event alumni were drafted and many more signed as free agents to pursue their dreams in the NFL. Read on to see the full list of 2021 LSSE alumni draftees!

 

BYU, Texas Kickoff 2017

Brady Christensen – Carolina Panthers – Round 3, Pick 6

Khyiris Tonga – Chicago Bears – Round 7, Pick 23

Chris Wilcox – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Round 7, Pick 24

 

LSU, Texas Kickoff 2017

Tyler Shelvin – Cincinnati Bengals – Round 4, Pick 17

Racey McMath – Tennessee Titans – Round 6, Pick 20

JaCoby Stevens – Philadelphia Eagles – Round 6, Pick 40

Kary Vincent Jr. – Denver Broncos – Round 7, Pick 9

 

Texas, Texas Bowl 2017

Sam Cosmi – Washington Football Team – Round 2, Pick 19

Ta’Quon Graham – Atlanta Falcons – Round 5, Pick 4

Sam Ehlinger – Indianapolis Colts – Round 6, Pick 34

 

Missouri, Texas Bowl 2017

Tyree Gillespie – Las Vegas Raiders – Round 4, Pick 38

Larry Borom – Chicago Bears – Round 5, Pick 7

Joshuah Bledsoe – New England Patriots – Round 6, Pick 4

Larry Rountree III – Los Angeles Chargers – Round 6, Pick 14

 

Texas Tech, Texas Kickoff 2018

Zech McPhearson – Philadelphia Eagles – Round 4, Pick 18

Jack Anderson – Buffalo Bills – Round 7, Pick 8

 

Ole Miss, Texas Kickoff 2018

Elijah Moore – New York Jets – Round 2, Pick 2

Royce Newman – Greenbay Packers – Round 4, Pick 37

 

Vanderbilt, Texas Bowl 2018

Dayo Odeyingbo – Indianapolis Colts – Round 2, Pick 22

 

Houston, Texas Kickoff 2019      

Payton Turner – New Orleans Saints – Round 1, Pick 28

Marquez Stevenson – Buffalo Bills – Round 6, Pick 19

Grant Stuard – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Round 7, Pick 32

 

Oklahoma State, Texas Bowl 2019

Teven Jenkins – Chicago Bears – Round 2, Pick 7

Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers – Round 4, Pick 21

Tylan Wallace – Baltimore Ravens – Round 4, Pick 26

Rodarius Williams – New York Giants – Round 6, Pick 17

 

Texas A&M, Texas Bowl 2019

Kellen Mond – Minnesota Vikings – Round 3, Pick 2

Bobby Brown III – Los Angeles Rams – Round 4, Pick 12

Dan Moore Jr. – Pittsburgh Steelers – Round 4, Pick 23

Buddy Johnson – Pittsburgh Steelers – Round 4, Pick 35

Don't miss your chance to see the future of football at NRG Stadium! Check out all of our upcoming events at LSSE.net.

HOUSTON – The Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B college football event between Stephen F. Austin State University and Sam Houston State University will not be played at NRG Stadium in 2020, Lone Star Sports & Entertainment (LSSE) and the schools announced today. The matchup between the two schools dates back to 1923, making it the fourth-oldest college football rivalry in the state of Texas.

 

All parties look forward to this great rivalry returning to NRG Stadium in 2021.