ABILENE, Texas – ACU and Stephen F. Austin have agreed to continue their rivalry and schedule home-and-home series in football and basketball, beginning in 2024. ACU will travel to Nacogdoches on Nov. 23, 2024, with SFA making the return trip to Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium in 2025. ACU will host the Lumberjacks in men's basketball during the 2024-25 season and will travel to SFA the following season. The basketball series dates will be announced at a later date.
"While we are no longer in the same conference, I'm glad we were able to find a way for our teams to continue to play in football and basketball," said ACU Vice President of Athletics Zack Lassiter. "Regional rivalries are one of the special things about college sports and ACU-SFA is becoming one of those great rivalries. I want to thank new SFA AD Michael McBroom for his willingness to make this a priority."
On May 29, 2024, SFA announced that it would leave the Western Athletic Conference for a return to the Southland Conference, putting the rivalry in jeopardy. This announcement preserves one of the great college sports rivalries in the state.
The Wildcats and Lumberjacks began their football series on Oct. 6, 1973, when ACU won a 57-50 shootout at Shotwell Stadium. The Wildcats went on to win a national championship that season. ACU and SFA have faced off 25 times, with the Wildcats coming out on top most recently at Homer Bryce Stadium by a 34-27 margin.
The men's basketball series has been equally exciting. The two teams have met 48 times in history. Four of their last five meetings have been decided by five points or fewer, including a pair of overtime games.
"I'm excited to keep the rivalry with SFA alive," said Brette Tanner, ACU's men's basketball head coach. "We have had so many fantastic games with iconic finishes. It would have been a shame to see it end with their departure to the Southland Conference. I hope we can keep this series going for a long time."
Season tickets for ACU Athletics events can be purchased here.
