#12 ACUÂ (2-2, 1-0 UAC) at #24 Incarnate Word (1-3, 0-1 Southland)
San Antonio, TX | Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 27Â at 6:00 p.m.
GAME LINKS
SAN ANTONIO - The No. 12 Abilene Christian football team plays its third Texas opponent of the season - and its final nonconference game - when the Wildcats face No. 24 Incarnate Word in San Antonio on Saturday evening.
ACU is coming off a 45-31 shellacking of Austin Peay, which was ranked No. 18 at the time, to begin United Athletic Conference play last week. The Wildcats sprinted out to a 31-3 edge before the Governors got in gear. Two ACU players were honored with weekly UAC awards: quarterback
Stone Earle was named the UAC Offensive Player of the Week, and linebacker
Rashon Myles, Jr., was named the UAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Earle eclipsed the 350-yard passing mark and scored six total touchdowns in the victory. It was his third straight game to set a new career-high in passing yards. Earle's favorite targets were the speedy
Raydrian Baltrip (6 catches, 112 yards, 2 TD) and the dependable
Dallas Dudley (12 catches, 92 yards, TD). Both players recorded their first touchdown receptions of their respective college careers.
Myles recovered three Austin Peay fumbles -- all in the first half -- to go along with six tackles. ACU's offense had touchdown drives following two of Myles' fumble recoveries. Myles was also namedÂ
the FCS Stats Perform National Defensive Player of the Week.
The win over the Governors gave the Wildcats five wins in their six games against Top 25 opponents dating back to the 2024 season. In that stretch ACU has defeated teams ranked Nos. 5, 12, 17, 18 and 23. The Cats are now 8-10 all-time against ranked teams since joining the FCS level in 2013.
UIW was preseason ranked in the top 5, but lost at Nicholls, 20-6, to start the season, then defeated Eastern Washington at home before losing to FBS member UTSA. Last Saturday the Cardinals dropped a 31-23 decision at No. 17 Northern Arizona.
The Cards have played two quarterbacks. Richard Torres began the season as the starter, but was pulled halfway through the loss to the Roadrunners on Sept. 13. UCF transfer E.J. Colson took control from there and has thrown for more than 500 yards and five touchdowns.
One of the key differences on the stat sheet is in the turnover category. ACU is plus-4 in turnover margin, which ranked eighth best in the FCS. Meanwhile, UIW is next-to-last in the FCS (124th) at minus-7. Through four weeks in 2024, ACU was minus-4.
The Wildcats and Cardinals have played 12 times with ACU holding a slim 7-5 series advantage. However, UIW has won the last three in-a-row including a 27-20 victory in Abilene in 2023.
LAST TIME OUT
- ACU dominated the first half against #18 Austin Peay with a 24-3 lead at the break en route to a 45-31 victory.
- The second quarter in particular was where the Wildcats sprinted ahead. ACU outgained Austin Peay 161-90 in the quarter, and went 4-of-5 on 3rd downs compared to the Governor's 0-for-2. The Wildcats drove 92 yards in the final 1:07 to kick a short FG on the final play of the half.
- DE Kaghen Roach had 5 tackles, 2.0 sacks and his forced fumble at Austin Peay's goalline set up ACU's first TD of the night. It was Roach's first career 2-sack game.
- ACU's kicking issues stabilized vs. Austin Peay. After two missed FG and a missed PAT at TCU, ACU's coaches made Brandon Perez the sole placekicker and Kyler Meschi focuses sorely on kickoffs. Perez went 6-for-6 on PAT and made a 23-yard FG last Saturday.
ALL ABOUT THE BALL
- ACU has won the turnover battle in three consecutive games, and is now +4 on the season which ranks 8th best in the FCS.
- In 2024, ACU was 6-0 when either winning or tying the turnover battle (4-0 winning; 2-0 when tied). The Wildcats went 3-0 when they did not turn the ball over.
ACU vs. THE BEST
- This week's game at UIW will be the Wildcats' eighth time to play a Top 25 team in their past 14 games against FCS competition.
- In that stretch, ACU is 5-2 overall and 1-1 on the road with a win at Tarleton State, and a loss in the FCS Playoffs to eventual national champion North Dakota State.
- The Wildcats have won five of their last six games Top 25 matchups.
AN ACU WIN WOULD...
- Be ACU's sixth win in their last seven Top 25 matchups dating back to last season.
- Snap a 3-game losing streak to UIW.
- Make ACU 3-1 in their last four road games vs. ranked opponents.
- Push Keith Patterson's record to 9-5 vs. FCS teams from Texas.
- Be the Wildcats' 60th win as an FCS program.
