No. 13 Wildcats Face Big 12's TCU in Fort Worth

#13 ACU (1-1, 0-0 UAC) at (RV) TCU (1-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Ft. Worth, TX | Amon G. Carter Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7:00 p.m.

GAME LINKS

• Tickets (through TCU) | Watch on ESPN+ | Listen to ACU Sports Network | Live Stats
• Weekly Press Conference | ACU Game Notes (PDF) | TCU Game Notes (PDF)

FT. WORTH - The ACU football team plays its second FBS opponent of the season when it makes the short drive to square off with the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday night in Ft. Worth.

The Wildcats, who climbed to No. 13 in both major FCS polls this week, are coming off a 28-20 victory over then-No. 25 Stephen F. Austin. ACU forced three turnovers and scored when Kaghen Roach recovered a strip sack fumble in the endzone. It was the Wildcat defense's first touchdown in 11 games.

TCU is receiving votes in the AP and coaches polls after thumping North Carolina, 48-14, on Labor Day. The Horned Frogs will have had 12 days without a game when they take the field against ACU on Saturday.

READ: ACU QB Stone Earle featured int he Ft. Worth Star-Telegram this week

Despite TCU being the closest Division I school to ACU (148 miles from Wildcat Stadium to Amon G. Carter Stadium), the two football programs have only played twice (in 1925 and 1930).

Twenty-nine ACU players are from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, including five projected starters. The Wildcats have made a purposeful effort to play in DFW, where a large contingent of alumni live and work. Saturday will be their ninth game in DFW over the past 15 seasons.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. with live streaming coverage on ESPN+ (with paid subscription) and the ACU Sports Network (free audio).







LAST TIME OUT

• ACU erased a 14-0 deficit with dominant second and third quarters, beating Stephen F. Austin, 28-20 last Saturday in Abilene.
• The Wildcat defense recovered fumbles on back-to-back SFA drives, including a recovery in the endzone by Kaghen Roach. 
• ACU held the Lumberjacks to minus-4 yards rushing in the second and third quarters combined (minus-10 in second; 6 in third). SFA finished with 50 yards rushing and a 1.6 yards per carry average.
• RB Jordon Vaughn scored the first two touchdowns of his career to go along with 87 yards on the ground.
• QB Stone Earle was in a much better rhythm with his receivers than in the season-opener at Tulsa. Earle completed 68% of his passes for 239 yards, and also ran for a TD.
• Javon Gipson led ACU's receivers for the second straight game. He hauled in 7 passes for 82 yards.
• Will Shaffer (12) and Rashon Myles, Jr., (10) both had double-digit tackle totals.

PLAYING UP A LEVEL

• The Wildcats are playing their second FBS opponent of the season.
• This is the fifth time ACU has played multiple FBS teams in the same season (2014, 2016, 2020, 2023, 2025).
• They are currently not scheduled to play multiple FBS opponents in the next few seasons.

TOUGH SLATE TO START

• ACU is starting the season with a difficult 5-game stretch which includes two FBS opponents and three of the top FCS teams.
• Stephen F. Austin was ranked No. 25 at the time of their week 2 game at ACU.
• Austin Peay (Sept. 20) entered the national rankings this week at No. 23.
• UIW (Sept. 27) started the year in the Top 10 and is currently No. 8 in the coaches poll and No. 14 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.

AN ACU WIN WOULD...

• Be ACU's second ever win vs. an FBS opponent. The only victory so far was 38-35 at Troy on Sept. 13, 2014.
• Give ACU a 2-1 start for the fifth straight season. 

WILDCATS & HORNED FROGS LOVE CONNECTION

• TCU head coach Sonny Dykes' wife Kate (Golding) is the sister of former ACU men's basketball head coach Joe Golding, who is now the head coach at UTEP.