United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football made history in the opening round of the 2024 FCS Playoffs as not only did a league-best three teams earn invitations (Abilene Christian, EKU, Tarleton State) but also the Wildcats and Texans each secured the first postseason wins in conference history. With the victories, ACU and TSU advance to second round match-ups on Saturday (Dec. 7) against No. 2 seed North Dakota State and No. 4 seed South Dakota, respectively.
Saturday, December 7, 2024
2 PM CT | 13-seed TARLETON STATE at 4-seed South Dakota $ — ESPN+
TARLETON STATE, the highest seeded team in the UAC at No. 13, became just the fifth program in FCS history to earn a victory in the first playoff game of their first season of postseason eligibility. The Texans 10th win of the season propelled them into a head-to-head clash with 4-seed South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D. The game marks the inaugural pigskin meeting between the two programs. The Bisons are 6-0 at home in the Dakota Dome this year and feature the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense and No. 4 scoring offense. TSU was 5-1 overall on the road this season highlighted by a perfect 4-0 mark in UAC play. The Texans running back Kayvon Britten enters the game just 104 yards shy of 2,000 rushing yards for the season, looking to become the first player in the FCS to accomplish the feat since 2015. The winner of the game meets the winner of the No. 5 UIW vs No. 12 Illinois State contest in quarterfinal playoff competition next weekend.
FCS STAT RANKS: Scoring Off – 30.7 PPG (28th) | Scoring Def – 23.3 PPG (42nd) | Passing Off – 212.8 (55th) | Passing Def – 218.7 (67th) | Rushing Off – 198.2 (17th) | Rushing Def – 149.6 (60th) | Total Off – 411.1 (27th) | Total Def – 368.3 (69th)
2 PM CT | 15-seed ABILENE CHRISTIAN at 2-seed North Dakota State $ — ESPN+
The regular season UAC Champion, ABILENE CHRISTIAN, validated their 15-seed spot in the bracket with a decisive shutout win in round one and now travel to face 2-seed North Dakota State for a second-round game in Fargo. The Wildcats and Bison are meeting for the first time on the gridiron with ACU seeking its first-ever win over an MVFC squad. NDSU, ranked No. 3 in the nation, is 6-0 at home in the Fargodome this season and boasts the 9th rated rushing defense in FCS. Record-setting passer Maverick McIvor is expected to return for an ACU offensive unit that ranked 5th in passing nationally. The Wildcats are 3-1 vs FCS Top 25 programs this season. The winner of the game advances to the playoff quarterfinals against the winner of the No. 7 Mercer vs No. 10 Rhode Island contest.
FCS STAT RANKS: Scoring Off – 34.0 PPG (18th) | Scoring Def – 29.0 PPG (83rd) | Passing Off – 316.0 (5th) | Passing Def – 242.0 (100th) | Rushing Off – 163.0 (47th) | Rushing Def – 161.0 (77th) | Total Off – 479.0 (3rd) | Total Def – 404.0 (87th)
* FCS Playoff Game
OPENING KICKOFF
HOW THEY GOT HERE:
> Led by a shutdown defense that held No. 17 Northern Arizona to ZERO points with just 194 yards of total offense and a balanced offensive attack that accumulated 474 yards (230 rushing/244 passing), Abilene Christian claimed the opening round decision 24-0 on their home turf. Back-up QB Carson Haggard threw for 244 yards (23-of-29) and two touchdowns while Sam Hicks carried it 23 times for 171 yards and a score on the ground.
> Junior QB Victor Gabalis connected on 23-of-36 passing attempts for 337 yards and a pair of TDs combined with senior RB Kayvon Britten tallied 146 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries as Tarleton State blazed past Drake, 43-29, into the second round. Additionally, senior WR Darius Cooper hauled in 11 catches for 190 yards along with a score and reached the 3,000 career recieving yards mark.
GETTING NOTICED
– National honors are beginning to be handed out and a pair of UAC standouts garnered attention when they were named as Top 3 Finalists for Stats Perform FCS National Awards. Southern Utah running back Targhee Lambson (Walter Payton Award) and Central Arkansas defensive lineman David Walker (Buck Buchanan) were invited to attend the FCS Awards Banquet on Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas, prior to the FCS National Championship Game.
In addition to the Top 3 selections, UAC Football also produced several other award finalists:
Eddie Robinson Award Finalist (Coach of the Year): Keith Patterson (ACU)
Walter Payton Award Finalist (Offensive POY): Lambson, Kayvon Britten (TSU), ShunDerrick Powell (UCA), Maverick McIvor (ACU)
Buck Buchanan Award Finalist (Defensive POY): Walker, Will Shaffer (ACU)
Jerry Rice Award Finalist (Freshman POY): Josh Anglin (UNA), Malachi Henry (UCA)
Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award Finalist: Chandler Kirton (APSU)
NOTEWORTHY
– 17 UAC league games were decided by one score including six of the last seven contests… Seven games were decided by three points or less
– UCA’s David Walker was awarded and accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Feb. 1 in Mobile, Ala.
– The UAC produced 11 FCS Weekly Award winners this season including 4 Offensive POWs, 2 Special Teams POWs, 3 Teams of the Week and 2 Coach of the Week selections
– Oct. 5 clash between #5 Central Arkansas and #16 Abilene Christian was just the second head-to-head UAC battle of ranked squads in league history… UCA has been part of both competitions, having faced #12 Austin Peay, ranked 20th last season
– With Southern Utah’s 27-24 OT win over UTEP on Sept. 7, the T-Birds secured the league’s first victory against an FBS foe… Abilene Christian (52-51 loss at Texas Tech) and Central Arkansas (34-31 loss at Arkansas State) both nearly accomplished the feat as well this season
– UCA’s 34-14 victory over #19 Lamar (Sept. 29) marked just the second UAC win against a ranked non-conference foe… EKU topped #16 Southeast Missouri, 41-38, last year
– Thunderbirds head coach DeLane Fitzgerald earned the 100th of his career with SUU’s victory over EKU… Fitzgerald joined TSU’s Todd Whitten (135 wins) in the Century Win Club
HOW DO WE STACK UP?
– A trio of UAC teams were again ranked in the Top 25 nationally as ACU, TSU and EKU were all recognized. The Texans were 14th in both polls, the Wildcats were listed 15th (STATS)/ 17th (AFCA) while the Colonels climbed to 22th in the STATS poll… SUU also received votes in the final poll of the regular season
– The league saw a record best three teams ranked in the Top 25 for 11 consecutive weeks this season
– In the Sept. 30 STATS Ranking, Central Arkanasas was listed No. 5, marking the highest ever rank for a UAC program
WILDCATS CLAIM CROWN & PLAYOFF BID
With a thrilling last minute rally, Abilene Christian topped Tarleton State and captured their first UAC Football Championship along with the AQ bid to the FCS Playoffs… The Wildcats were picked to finish 6th in the preseason poll… ACU heads into the playoffs looking to earn an historic win for the program and the league
