#22 ACU Resumes Conference Play at Utah Tech on Saturday

#22 ACU (2-2, 1-0) @ Utah Tech (0-4, 0-0)
St. George, UT | Greater Zion Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 28 at 8:00 p.m. CDT / 7 p.m. MDT

GAME LINKS

• Watch on ESPN+ | Listen on 106.3 The Raider | Live Stats | Weekly Football Press Conference | ACU Game Notes (PDF)

ST. GEORGE, UTAH - The ACU Wildcats are nationally ranked for a third consecutive week, and they will fight to go to 2-0 in conference when they take on Utah Tech on Saturday night.

ACU nearly completed a 24-point comeback against #4 Idaho last week in front of the 11,719 fans - the third-largest crowd in Wildcat Stadium history.

However, the Vandals forced a fumble in the final seconds and took home a 27-24 victory. For the second time in the past three weeks, the Wildcats are flying to their game destination for this week's match-up against Utah Tech.

The Trailblazers are 0-4 this season, but have played #3 Montana State, #15 UC Davis, and UNLV of the FBS level. This Lance Anderson's first season as Utah Tech's head coach, and the rebuilding process is underway with plenty of younger players getting valuable snaps.

This will be the third meeting between the Wildcats and Trailblazers. ACU won the first two games -- 26-10 in 2022, and 24-7 in 2023.

A reminder that this is a late game with kick-off between ACU and Utah Tech at 8 p.m. CDT.

As with every game this season, fans can watch the game on the ESPN+ streaming platform (requires paid subscription), and also listen to the radio call on 106.3 The Raider.





OFFENSE CHUGGING ALONG

• QB Maverick McIvor is 2nd in FCS in passing yards with 1,320, and 3rd in completions per game with 27.
• ACU is 6th in offensive yards per game at more than 450, and 15th in points per game with 34.2.

WHO WILL IT BE NEXT?

• In each of ACU's four games, a different receiver has stepped up -- leading in either catches or yards.
• Blayne Taylor (7-141, TD) at Texas Tech, Nehemiah Martinez (7-132, 2 TD) vs. West Georgia, Javon Gipson (7-102) at Northern Colorado, and Hut Graham (5-67) vs. Idaho.
• New OC Rick Bowie says the offense is designed to not target one particular player, but for the ball to find the open man - whoever it is.
• The conference finale is at Tarleton, which is ranked #16 this week.

UTAH STATE OF MIND

• There are zero players on the ACU roster from Utah, but starting LB Will Shaffer did spend this past spring at Utah State. Once a late coaching change was made at USU, Shaffer was allowed to re-enter the transfer portal and landed at ACU.
• Head coach Keith Patterson was the DC at Utah State in 2018. The Aggies tied a school-record with 11 wins and finished #22 in the FBS that season.
• Head coach Matt Wells was hired by Texas Tech, and Patterson followed as the DC for the 2019-2021 seasons.

NEXT MAN UP

• ACU's defense lost its top two linebackers before the season began.
• Darius Moore, last year's leading tackler, was injured during spring practice and is hopeful to return late this season.
• Reese Young medically retired from football before the opening game due to concussions, and issues with his shoulder and hand.
• Transfer Will Shaffer and senior Cirby Coheley have stepped up and are currently #1 and #2 on the team in tackles.

AN ACU WIN WOULD...

• Give ACU a 2-0 start to conference play for the fourth time since 2014 when the program joined a Division I conference. The Wildcats also started 2-0 in conference in 2014, 2015 and 2022.
• Be head coach Keith Patterson's 15th victory at ACU.
• Likely set up another top 25 match-up at home on Oct. 5 vs. Central Arkansas, which is currently ranked #7. Last week ACU hosted a ranked game for the first time since 2012. It was also the first top 25 game played at Wildcat Stadium, which opened in 2017.