United Athetic Conference (UAC) Football wrapped up its second regular season of competition with a bang as a trio of teams earned invitations to the FCS Playoff field. Abilene Christian, the regular season champion, claimed the AQ bid for the playoffs and was joined by Tarleton State and Eastern Kentucky as at-larege selections in the field. The Texans (13th seed) and Wildcats (15th seed) host home games in the opening round while the Colonels start their playoff journey on the road. 

SATURDAY SLATE | Nov. 30
2 PM ET  | #22 EKU at #11 Villanova (11th seed) $ -- ESPN+
2 PM CT | #14 TARLETON STATE (13th seed) vs Drake $ -- ESPN+
2 PM CT | #15 ABILENE CHRISTIAN (15th seed) vs #17 Northern Arizona $ -- ESPN+ 
* FCS Playoff Game

GAME CAPSULES: 
Eastern Kentucky, making their 23rd all-time FCS Playoff appearance which ranks as the second most all-time nationally, hits the road for a game at 11th-seed Villanova. The Colonels, who finished 8-4 during the regular season (8-2 vs FCS foes), carry a five-game win streak into their second playoff trip in the last three seasons. EKU has won a pair of previous FCS National Championships. The match-up will be the first between the two programs on the gridiron with the winner advancing to a second round game at 6th-seed UIW on Dec. 7.
FCS STAT RANKS: Scoring Off - 22.8 PPG (79th) | Scoring Def - 23.8 PPG (48th) | Passing Off - 168.8 (98th) | Passing Def - 244.6 (101st) | Rushing Off - 148.8 (57th) | Rushing Def - 184.3 (28th) | Total Off - 353.0 (67th) | Total Def - 393.3 (84th) 

The regular season UAC Champion, Abilene Christian, earned the 15-seed spot in the bracket and host No. 17 ranked Northern Arizona. The Wildcats accomplished multiple ‘firsts’ in their Div. I era, including first conference championship & first postseason appearence following an 8-4 record in the regular season including a 7-1 mark in UAC play. This season ACU has won five games against a team that was either ranked or receiving votes in a national poll. Saturday will be the 4th all-time meeting between ACU and NAU with the Lumberjacks claiming the three previous meetings in 1989, 1995 and 2014. Winner of the game advances to face 2nd-seed North Dakota State on Dec. 7 in Fargo, N.D.
FCS STAT RANKS: Scoring Off - 34.8 PPG (16th) | Scoring Def - 31.5 PPG (94th) | Passing Off - 321.8 (4th) | Passing Def - 248.8 (105th) | Rushing Off - 157.8 (53rd) | Rushing Def - 172.3 (86th) | Total Off - 479.7 (3rd) | Total Def - 421.1 (96th) 

Tarleton State, the highest seeded team in the UAC at No. 13, are making their first playoff appearance since 2019, when the Texans were mainstays in the playoffs at the end of their NCAA Division II days. TSU finished the regular season 9-3 overall, setting a new record for wins in a season in their D1 era. The game marks the first all-time meeting between the Texans and Bulldogs. With a victory, TSU would move on to meet 4th-seed South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D.
FCS STAT RANKS: Scoring Off - 29.7 PPG (34th) | Scoring Def - 22.8 PPG (35th) | Passing Off - 202.5 (66th) | Passing Def - 213.1 (53rd) | Rushing Off - 202.0 (14th) | Rushing Def - 156.3 (67th) | Total Off - 404.5 (32nd) | Total Def - 369.3 (69th) 
 

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

BORN TO RUN 
-The UAC is home to the TOP THREE running backs in FCS rushing with SUU’s Targhee Lambson (1,921 yds), TSU’s Kavyon Britten (1,750 yds) and UCA’s ShunDerrick Powell (1,343 yds) ... In all of Division I Football (FCS & FBS) only Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty (2,062 yards) of Boise State has more yards

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.

- 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 a poll this week

- 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

MILESTONE WATCHES:
- Maverick McIvor (ACU QB) needs 141 yards for 8,000 career passing yards
- Taylor Blayne (ACU WR) needs 93 yards for 2,000 career receiving yards
- Ritse Vaes (ACU PK) needs 2 FGM to reach 50 career FGM
- Adrian Guzman (TSU P/K) needs 5 FGM to reach 50 career FGM

Milestones Reached in 2024
- ShunDerrick Powell (UCA RB) surpassed 4,000 career rushing yards on Nov. 23
- David Walker (UCA DL) eclipsed 40 career sacks on Nov. 23
- Kayvon Britten (TSU RB) reached  4,000 career rushing yards on Nov. 16
- Reggie Graff (UT QB) eclipsed 1,000 career passing yards on Nov. 16
- David Walker (UCA DL) reached 60 career TFLs on Nov. 9
- Targhee Lambson (SUU RB) reached 2,000 career rushing yards on Nov. 9
- Dion Hunter (AP DB) surpassed 200 career tackles on Nov. 9
- Darius Hale (UCA RB) eclipsed 3,000 career rushing yards on Nov. 2
- Rajaez Mosley (UWG RB) reached 2,000 career rushing yards on Nov. 2
- Will McElvain (UCA QB) surpassed 7,000 career passing yards on Nov. 2
- Maverick McIvor (ACU QB) topped 7,000 career passing yards on Nov. 2
- Demetrias Charles (UCA DB) reached 200 career tackles on Oct. 26
- Southern Utah Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald earned 100th win of his coaching career on Oct. 12
- Patrick Nations (EKU PK) connected on his 50th FGM on Oct. 12
- TaMuarion Wilson (UCA DB) surpassed 300 tackles on Oct. 12
- Maverick McIvor (ACU QB) surpassed 6,000 career passing yards on Oct. 5
- Will McElvain (UCA QB) surpassed 6,000 career passing yards on Sept. 28 (*at UCA)
- Darius Cooper (TSU WR) surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards on Sept. 28
- David Walker (UCA DL) reached 50 career TFLs on Sept. 28
- Elijah Moffett (ACU LB) eclipsed 200 career tackles on Sept. 28
- Donta Stuart (TSU DB) reached 200 career tackles on Sept. 28
- Kayvon Britten (TSU RB) reached 3,000 career rushing yards on Sept. 21 (*had UAC record 273 rushing yds vs UNA)
- Derrel Kelley III (TSU RB) surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards on Sept. 21
- Targhee Lambson (SUU RB) reached 1,000 career rushing yards on Sept. 21
- ShunDerrick Powell (UCA RB) surpassed 3,000 career rushing yards on Sept. 14
- Takairee Kenebrew (UNA WR) reached 2,000 career receiving yards on Sept. 14