ACU Continues Playoff Run at North Dakota State

No. 15 seed ACU (9-4, 7-1 UAC) at No. 2 seed North Dakota State (10-2, 7-1 MVFC)
Fargo, ND | The Fargodome
FCS Playoffs - Round 2
Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2:00 p.m.

GAME LINKS

• Tickets | Watch on ESPN+ | Listen on 106.3 The Raider | Live Stats
• Weekly Press Conferences | ACU Game Notes (PDF) | NAU Game Notes (PDF)
• FCS Playoff Bracket

FARGO - The ACU football team's biggest opportunity to prove it belongs with the top teams of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) is here. The Wildcats face North Dakota State, a nine-time national champion, at the Fargodome in the second round of the playoffs on Saturday at 2 p.m. 

ACU has already posted its best season in the program's Division I era with a conference championship and a playoff victory. The chance to keep moving on the Road to Frisco continues with an FCS behemoth in the way.

The Bison are in the postseason for the 15th consecutive season. They have advanced at least to the third round each time in that streak. More impressive is NDSU's record at its home field -- 35-1 in the playoffs.

But, ACU's team has handled outsiders' picking against them all season. The Wildcats were slotted to finish 6th in the UAC by the conference's head coaches before the season. Instead, ACU defeated each team picked ahead of them on the way to the title -- the program's first on the Div. I level.

Oddsmakers in Las Vegas had the Wildcats as a 3-point underdog in the first round playoff game against Northern Arizona -- even though ACU was nationally seeded and was playing at home.

The Wildcats' defense turned in its best effort of the season -- a 24-0 shutout where they allowed just 194 total yards, and stuffed the Lumberjacks' on 11 of their 14 third down chances.

No doubt ACU is the 'new kid on the block.' But this is a team that has faced doubters and naysayers all through the season. Head coach Keith Patterson often cites Romans 5:3 to his players, that afflictions produce endurance, and endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. These Wildcats have proven their character.

Now, it is just up to them to show it again versus one of the country's football juggernauts.

The winner advances to the FCS quarterfinals to face either No. 7 Mercer or No. 10 Rhode Island. Date, time and television will be determined after Saturday's slate of games wraps up.












LAST TIME OUT

• ACU turned into a dominating defensive effort in its first Division I playoff game, defeating Northern Arizona 24-0 last Saturday. It was ACU's first playoff win since the famous 93-68 win over West Texas A&M in the 2008 Div. II playoffs.
• The Wildcats surrendered just 194 yards and only allowed the Lumberjacks to run 14 plays in ACU territory all game.
• ACU sacked NAU's QB 4 times and had 10 total TFL led by DL Kaghen Roach and David Oke with 1.5 each.
• In his first college start, QB Carson Haggard threw 23-of-29 for 244 yards, 2 TD and 3 INT.
• RB Sam Hicks continued to dazzle with 171 rushing yards and 64 receiving (235 total). His 53-yd TD run to start the 4th quarter pushed ACU ahead by 3 scores.
• It was ACU's first shutout since a 56-0 win at Lamar in 2021. The Wildcats' last nonconference shutout win was in 1995.
• The win was ACU's 6th of the season vs. a team that was ranked or receiving votes in a national poll.

DECEMBER FOOTBALL

• Saturday will be ACU's first December football game since the NAIA National Championship in 1977, which the Wildcats won over Southwest Oklahoma State.
• ACU is 6-0 all-time in the month of December -- four NAIA playoff wins, the 1976 Shrine Bowl, and the 1950 squad called "The Singing Christians" won the Refrigerator Bowl to finish their perfect 11-0 season.

 

Date	Game	Result
Dec. 2, 1950	Refrigerator Bowl	W 13-7 vs. Gustavus Adolphus
Dec. 1, 1973	NAIA Semifinal	W 34-6 vs. Langston
Dec. 8, 1973	NAIA Championship	W 42-14 vs. Elon
Dec. 4, 1976	NAIA Shrine Bowl	W 22-12 vs. Harding
Dec. 3, 1977	NAIA Semifinal	W 35-7 vs.UW-Stevens Point
Dec. 10, 1977	NAIA Championship	W 24-7 vs. SW Oklahoma State

WINNING TRENDS

• Though ACU has made several comebacks this season, they play their best when playing with the lead.
• ACU is 6-0 when scoring first, 7-1 when up at halftime and 7-0 when leading at the end of the 3rd quarter.
• The Wildcats are 9-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 40 points.
• ACU is 8-0 when they've won or tied the turnover margin.
• When ACU gains at least 400 yards, they are 8-2.

AN ACU WIN WOULD...

• Be the Wildcats' highest ranked win in Division I history. The current mark is from Oct. 5 when ACU defeated then-No. 5 Central Arkansas.
• Make ACU 4-1 vs. FCS Top 25 teams this season, and 2-1 vs. FCS Top 5 opponents.
• Make Keith Patterson 21-10 vs. FCS teams in his 3 seasons as ACU's head coach.
• Give ACU its 7th victory against a team which was ranked or receiving votes in a national poll at the time of the game.