Football reveals first three fall opponents
8/21/2020 4:54:00 PM | Football
ABILENE – Abilene Christian University Friday announced its first three opponents of the 2020-21 football season.
The Wildcats begin their split-year model Saturday, Sept. 19 at UTEP followed by an Oct. 3 contest at Army West Point and Oct. 17 Homecoming game vs. their former Lone Star Conference rivals from West Texas A&M.
In an email addressed to the ACU community, president Dr. Phil Schubert said he hopes to add two other games to the fall schedule but cautioned against parents and alumni returning to Abilene.
"For us to stay in community and maintain our in-person instruction this fall, we have decided not to host major events on campus," he said. "This means both Homecoming and Family Weekend will be moved to a virtual environment this year. While we know some of you will be disappointed – and we are as well – we have asked students, faculty and staff to 'Do Your Part' to keep our campus safe, and we want to now ask the same of our parents and alumni. For us to finish our semester as scheduled in a residential environment, it is important we manage guest traffic to campus.
"We are thrilled we could schedule a football game on our Homecoming date of Oct. 17," he continued. "This will give our students, faculty and staff a wonderful opportunity to show their support and cheer on the Wildcats, while still physically distancing and wearing masks. We hope the game will be televised for our alumni, parents and friends to watch."
ACU Athletics anticipates Wildcat Stadium attendance will be capped at 50 percent this fall in keeping with the state's COVID-19 guidelines. Current ACU season ticket holders will be given priority access to home games. There also will be a number of tickets reserved for students.
ACU's ticketing website will be back online in the coming days, and all fans are encouraged to purchase their single-game tickets in advance.
Additional information will be posted at ACUSports.com/Tickets.
ACU's meeting against UTEP is the first between the universities on the gridiron since 1959. ACU won that game, 28-22, in El Paso to take a 3-2 series lead.
The Miners started 2019 with a 36-34 win over the Southland Conference's Houston Baptist, but lost their last 11 games to finish 1-11 overall and 0-8 vs. Conference USA.
The Wildcats' game at West Point marks its first trip to the East Coast since 1995 (at New Haven) and first against a service academy since opening up the 2016 season at Air Force.
The Black Knights finished 5-8 a year ago with home wins over Rice, Morgan State, Massachusetts and VMI. They also scored a 31-13 win at UTSA.
The prior year Army went 11-2 and finished the season with wins over Navy (17-10) and Houston (70-14) at Fort Worth's Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
ACU's series vs. West Texas A&M dates back close to 100 years with the first meeting taking place in Canyon (1921). The Wildcats scored 93 points against the Buffs during a 2008 playoff game, and lead the all-time series 28-18 with 15 of those wins taking place in Abilene.
WTAM finished 2019 at 8-3 with all three losses coming against NCAA Division II nationally ranked conference opponents: Tarleton State, Angelo State and Texas A&M-Commerce.
Kickoff times will be released in the coming days.
The Wildcats begin their split-year model Saturday, Sept. 19 at UTEP followed by an Oct. 3 contest at Army West Point and Oct. 17 Homecoming game vs. their former Lone Star Conference rivals from West Texas A&M.
In an email addressed to the ACU community, president Dr. Phil Schubert said he hopes to add two other games to the fall schedule but cautioned against parents and alumni returning to Abilene.
"For us to stay in community and maintain our in-person instruction this fall, we have decided not to host major events on campus," he said. "This means both Homecoming and Family Weekend will be moved to a virtual environment this year. While we know some of you will be disappointed – and we are as well – we have asked students, faculty and staff to 'Do Your Part' to keep our campus safe, and we want to now ask the same of our parents and alumni. For us to finish our semester as scheduled in a residential environment, it is important we manage guest traffic to campus.
"We are thrilled we could schedule a football game on our Homecoming date of Oct. 17," he continued. "This will give our students, faculty and staff a wonderful opportunity to show their support and cheer on the Wildcats, while still physically distancing and wearing masks. We hope the game will be televised for our alumni, parents and friends to watch."
ACU Athletics anticipates Wildcat Stadium attendance will be capped at 50 percent this fall in keeping with the state's COVID-19 guidelines. Current ACU season ticket holders will be given priority access to home games. There also will be a number of tickets reserved for students.
ACU's ticketing website will be back online in the coming days, and all fans are encouraged to purchase their single-game tickets in advance.
Additional information will be posted at ACUSports.com/Tickets.
ACU's meeting against UTEP is the first between the universities on the gridiron since 1959. ACU won that game, 28-22, in El Paso to take a 3-2 series lead.
The Miners started 2019 with a 36-34 win over the Southland Conference's Houston Baptist, but lost their last 11 games to finish 1-11 overall and 0-8 vs. Conference USA.
The Wildcats' game at West Point marks its first trip to the East Coast since 1995 (at New Haven) and first against a service academy since opening up the 2016 season at Air Force.
The Black Knights finished 5-8 a year ago with home wins over Rice, Morgan State, Massachusetts and VMI. They also scored a 31-13 win at UTSA.
The prior year Army went 11-2 and finished the season with wins over Navy (17-10) and Houston (70-14) at Fort Worth's Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
ACU's series vs. West Texas A&M dates back close to 100 years with the first meeting taking place in Canyon (1921). The Wildcats scored 93 points against the Buffs during a 2008 playoff game, and lead the all-time series 28-18 with 15 of those wins taking place in Abilene.
WTAM finished 2019 at 8-3 with all three losses coming against NCAA Division II nationally ranked conference opponents: Tarleton State, Angelo State and Texas A&M-Commerce.
Kickoff times will be released in the coming days.
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