The skydiver who got caught in a cable while skydiving on the football field ahead of the Armed Forces Bowl avoided serious injury after the scary moment.
Before the game between Texas State University and Rice University at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, Jan. 2, one of the pregame skydivers got caught in a wire behind the end zone and, after hanging in the air for a brief moment, fell several feet to the ground.
After the incident, a spokesman for the Armed Forces Bowl said the man walked away from the incident and no one was injured, according to the Houston Chronicle.
“We’re told he left under his own power,” Drew Harristhe ballgame’s media director said, adding that information on the man’s identity is not available at this time.
The Texas Department of Public Safety trooper who was seen pushing four University of South Carolina football players was “sent home” after the incident, according to a statement from Texas DPS. During the Saturday, November 15, college football game between Texas A&M and South Carolina at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, in (…)
“He got up, grabbed his parachute and took off,” Harris said The Athletic.
Harris said strong winds at the time of the landing contributed to the entanglement. Weather reports showed winds of about 12 miles per hour at the time of the start, according to the National Weather Service.
The paratroopers were part of the All Veteran Group parachute team, a group of military veterans that has been active since 2011.
Chris Dawn Jr. and Beau Sparks of the Texas State Bobcats celebrate after a drive against the Rice Owls during the second half of the 2026 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium on January 2, 2026
Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty ImagesAccording to its website, the group participates in more than 150 parachute shows each year.
The group has performed at many college football and NFL games in the past, including past Armed Forces Bowls and Carolina Panthers home games in Charlotte.
Texas State Reporter Keff Ciardello posted a video of the incident on Xreporting that only three of the five paratroopers landed as planned. In addition to the parachute that got caught in the cable, one landed safely outside the stadium.
In the video, viewers can hear the audible gasp from the crowd as the unidentified team member was caught on the wire.
“Things like this are the reason my fear of heights will never go away lol but I really hope everyone involved is ok. Wow!” one user commented under the post.
“Praying he’s ok. 🙏,” said another.
The minor mishap did not affect any other part of the pre-match ceremony. The scheduled flyover of the F-35 went smoothly and the game didn’t lag at all.
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Texas State defeated Rice, 41-10, in the bowl game, capping the school’s final season in the Sun Belt Conference. Texas State will move to the Pac-12 Conference starting next season.
“Very happy for the players and the coaching staff and everyone involved with our success,” said the Texas State head coach GJ Kinne after the match “It’s been an up and down year … and I think the way we finished speaks to what we’re going through here at Texas State. Very proud of everyone involved.”
Friday marked Texas State’s third bowl game win in the last three seasons.
With the win, Texas State finishes the year 7-6, with three consecutive winning campaigns for the first time in program history.