11/23/2024

Chattanooga (Away)
Austin Peay (Home)
1:00 P.M. CT Clarksville, TN
TV: ESPN+ Radio: Govs Sports Network

North Alabama (Away)
Eastern Kentucky (Home)
2:00 P.M. ET Richmond, KY (Conf.)
TV: ESPN+ Radio: 98.3 & 103.5 FM

Utah Tech (Away)
Southern Utah (Home)
1:00 P.M. MT Cedar City, UT (Conf.)
TV: ESPN+ Radio: The Fan Sports Network

Central Arkansas (Away)
Tarleton State (Home)
2:00 P.M. CT Stephenville, TX (Conf.)
TV: ESPN+

Abilene Christian (Away)
Stephen F. Austin (Home)
2:00 P.M. CT Nacogdoches, TX
TV: ESPN+

FCS TOP 25
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/f...fcs-top-25

#11 ACU
#16 Tarleton
#25 EKU

Receiving Votes:
- Southern Utah
- Central Arkansas

UAC
Locks: Abilene Christian

Abilene Christian locked up the auto-bid after an impressive win over Tarleton State. If the Wildcats defeat Stephen F. Austin, they would be 9-2 against the FCS with quality wins over Central Arkansas, Tarleton State, and Eastern Kentucky. There is a strong argument that they deserve a Top 8 seed, but an upset loss to North Alabama may keep them at No. 9-12.

Should Be In: None
Work To Do: Tarleton State, Eastern Kentucky, Southern Utah, Central Arkansas

Tarleton State could be in the "Should Be In" tier with an 8-2 record against the FCS, but they lack a quality win right now. The Texans could still receive an at-large bid with a loss to Central Arkansas, but a win should be enough to earn a Top 16 seed.

Eastern Kentucky continues to find ways to win games, improving to 7-2 against the FCS with a comeback win over Austin Peay. The Colonels must defeat North Alabama to secure a spot in the field. Central Arkansas is on the fringe of the bubble but might have been eliminated with a loss to Southern Utah in Week 12. The loss of starting quarterback Will McElvain may be too much to overcome.

Southern Utah had a massive win over Central Arkansas in Week 12, keeping its postseason hopes alive. The Thunderbirds are heavy favorites over Utah Tech and should finish with seven Division I wins but lack a signature win. Three of their FCS losses have come against Top 15 opponents (Tarleton, UCD, ACU) by seven combined points, plus the Thunderbirds have an FBS win over UTEP. An upset loss against Idaho State may keep the Thunderbirds out of the postseason.

Abilene Christian Makes History With Win Over Tarleton State

No. 14 Abilene Christian secured its first conference title in the Division I era on Saturday night with a win over No. 13 Tarleton State. The Wildcats will make their first appearance in the FCS Playoffs and their first postseason appearance since making the Division II playoffs in 2011.

Quarterback Maverick McIvor led a 12-play, 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Sam Hicks. McIvor completed 35-of-55 attempts for 391 passing yards and three touchdowns. Hicks led the rushing attack with 137 yards and one touchdown, averaging over 5.5 yards per carry.

Despite allowing 486 total yards, Abilene Christian's defense held Tarleton State to a field goal with 1:48 remaining inside its 10-yard line. That became the difference in the game as the Wildcats scored on their final three drives. Tarleton State wide receiver Darius Cooper led the Texans with six receptions for 140 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Abilene Christian will have a chance to earn a Top 8 seed with a win over Stephen F. Austin next weekend. Tarleton State has lost two of its last three games, increasing the need for a victory over Central Arkansas to end the season. The Texans will likely earn an at-large bid at 8-4, but a win will firmly put this team into conversations for a Top 16 seed.

https://www.si.com/college/fcs/big-sky/f...u-tarleton

ACU's head not even in the game at this point. SFA came to play. 7-0 SFA with 4:44 left in the 1st and SFA driving again after we miss an easy FG because we stalled out our drive.

Maybe Cats will wake up sometime today. 9-0 SFA after they get safety on us. Jacks completely controlling the line on both sides.

ACU OL couldn't block a 5th grader at this point.

Cats didn't even show up today.

Cats forget how to run a 2-minute offense.

ACU wetting the bed. Shocker.

(11-23-2024 04:40 PM)Oscar P Wrote:  ACU wetting the bed. Shocker.

Cats are a straight up embarrassment at this point today...

(11-23-2024 04:53 PM)Outsider Wrote:  

(11-23-2024 04:40 PM)Oscar P Wrote:  ACU wetting the bed. Shocker.

Cats are a straight up embarrassment at this point today...

Let down after big win last week

(11-23-2024 04:59 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  

(11-23-2024 04:53 PM)Outsider Wrote:  

(11-23-2024 04:40 PM)Oscar P Wrote:  ACU wetting the bed. Shocker.

Cats are a straight up embarrassment at this point today...

Let down after big win last week

Worse than that. Cats not only wetting the bed but soaking the sheets, the mattress and carpet under the bed...

SFA hasn’t exactly been stellar this year or any other in recent memory.

(11-23-2024 05:10 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  SFA hasn’t exactly been stellar this year or any other in recent memory.

Nope.... I give credit to their defense though. They obviously watch film and take it seriously. I have doubted our film watching all year. I am glad we work on ourselves, but when we don't film watch and game plan effectively, you get what you have seen out of us all year. We have TONS of talent but no consistency. We aren't good at adjusting when even bad teams adjust to us. Glad for what we have done, but honestly, we could have done a lot more this year. SFA clearly came to play. ACU thought they were all that. They aren't.

Nice bounce back for the Texans. Tarleton is peaking at the right time for the playoffs.

(11-23-2024 06:04 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Nice bounce back for the Texans. Tarleton is peaking at the right time for the playoffs.

Tarleton should get the higher playoff seed. Today will certainly reflect so in my vote. Tarleton should have had at least a share of the conference title as well.

(11-23-2024 06:20 PM)Outsider Wrote:  

(11-23-2024 06:04 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Nice bounce back for the Texans. Tarleton is peaking at the right time for the playoffs.

Tarleton should get the higher playoff seed. Today will certainly reflect so in my vote. Tarleton should have had at least a share of the conference title as well.

I disagree. Tarleton played even with ACU but lost. Tarleton also fell flat in the second half against EKU. Missed opportunities gets you where you are.

The good news is the Texans are peaking now when it counts going into the playoffs.

GO TEXANS!

(11-23-2024 06:20 PM)Outsider Wrote:  

(11-23-2024 06:04 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Nice bounce back for the Texans. Tarleton is peaking at the right time for the playoffs.

Tarleton should get the higher playoff seed. Today will certainly reflect so in my vote. Tarleton should have had at least a share of the conference title as well.

ACU won fair and square. The 75th ranked FCS defense couldn’t even force a field goal from a 75 yard drive with 1:30 on the clock. Stop that noise. ACU will be ranked ahead of us even after an utterly humiliating loss to a bad team that wasn’t anywhere close to being a playoff team

Tarleton should have forced ACU to score a TD for the TIE with under a minute left. 1st and Goal at the 5-yard line and Whitten puts in our 2nd string RB to basically run backwards and horizontal 3 straight plays to line us up for the go-ahead field goal. Whitten had no intention of going for the touchdown. He was content with a field goal and it cost us the game. Once again, our ultra conservative play calling bit us in the arse. I'd feel much better about taking that L had we lost in overtime.

Tarleton's only 2 FCS losses this year came by 4 points each. 8 points total. Both games could have been won if our HC had some huevos. I'm hoping he turns over a new leaf in the playoffs, because that's what you have to do to win close games. Fortune favors the Bold!

(11-23-2024 07:50 PM)Oscar P Wrote:  

(11-23-2024 06:20 PM)Outsider Wrote:  

(11-23-2024 06:04 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Nice bounce back for the Texans. Tarleton is peaking at the right time for the playoffs.

Tarleton should get the higher playoff seed. Today will certainly reflect so in my vote. Tarleton should have had at least a share of the conference title as well.

ACU won fair and square. The 75th ranked FCS defense couldn’t even force a field goal from a 75 yard drive with 1:30 on the clock. Stop that noise. ACU will be ranked ahead of us even after an utterly humiliating loss to a bad team that wasn’t anywhere close to being a playoff team

I understand what you are saying. ACU ends at 8-4 (7-1), Tarleton ends at 9-3 (6-2). ACU has the conference, but Tarleton has the overall and, I think, the better resume. Your wins are more consistent than ours. I will be voting Tarleton higher than us tonight and that vote is going to the selection committee. There are other voters out there that feels the same. In the end, we may still end up higher, but I don't think we deserve it. We simply haven't shown it on the field consistently. Glad we got the title, but we haven't proven to be a post season team yet. We will get our chance, but we don't deserve a first round bye or a home playoff game.

(11-23-2024 08:53 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  Tarleton should have forced ACU to score a TD for the TIE with under a minute left. 1st and Goal at the 5-yard line and Whitten puts in our 2nd string RB to basically run backwards and horizontal 3 straight plays to line us up for the go-ahead field goal. Whitten had no intention of going for the touchdown. He was content with a field goal and it cost us the game. Once again, our ultra conservative play calling bit us in the arse. I'd feel much better about taking that L had we lost in overtime.

Tarleton's only 2 FCS losses this year came by 4 points each. 8 points total. Both games could have been won if our HC had some huevos. I'm hoping he turns over a new leaf in the playoffs, because that's what you have to do to win close games. Fortune favors the Bold!

Hindsight is always 20/20. You are talking water under the bridge.

If you want to say Whitten has no imagination when it comes to offensive play calling or he nuts up and gets very conservative in tight games that’s one thing, but lamenting losses could’ve should’ve would’ve isn’t going to change anything nor make a case for we’re better than that.

You will learn more from failures than you ever will from success. You will go back and determine what went wrong and make adjustments.

The way the Texans responded today speaks volumes to the leadership of Whitten.

I’m excited about the playoffs because I believe the last two games were the best all year. I believe the Texans are peaking at the right time. JMHO

ACU beat Tarleton and deserves to be ranked higher. The real crime here is SFA pulling their chicken s move to the Southland and screwing up the scheduling. ACU’s last game should have been an in conference game. Probably against Tarleton.
ACU should not have had to decide to play guys, or save them for the playoffs against a non conference team.
I think ACU messed up big time by not winning tonight though. Kinda the last thing people will see before selection Sunday.
ACU still hosts. Tarleton should, but we’ll see.

(11-23-2024 09:43 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  

(11-23-2024 08:53 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  Tarleton should have forced ACU to score a TD for the TIE with under a minute left. 1st and Goal at the 5-yard line and Whitten puts in our 2nd string RB to basically run backwards and horizontal 3 straight plays to line us up for the go-ahead field goal. Whitten had no intention of going for the touchdown. He was content with a field goal and it cost us the game. Once again, our ultra conservative play calling bit us in the arse. I'd feel much better about taking that L had we lost in overtime.

Tarleton's only 2 FCS losses this year came by 4 points each. 8 points total. Both games could have been won if our HC had some huevos. I'm hoping he turns over a new leaf in the playoffs, because that's what you have to do to win close games. Fortune favors the Bold!

Hindsight is always 20/20. You are talking water under the bridge.

If you want to say Whitten has no imagination when it comes to offensive play calling or he nuts up and gets very conservative in tight games that’s one thing, but lamenting losses could’ve should’ve would’ve isn’t going to change anything nor make a case for we’re better than that.

You will learn more from failures than you ever will from success. You will go back and determine what went wrong and make adjustments.

The way the Texans responded today speaks volumes to the leadership of Whitten.

I’m excited about the playoffs because I believe the last two games were the best all year. I believe the Texans are peaking at the right time. JMHO

Get a clue.