2023 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

2023 Abilene Christian Wildcats football
2023 Abilene Christian Wildcats football
Conference	United Athletic Conference
Record	5–6 (3–3 UAC)
Head coach	Keith Patterson (2nd season);
Offensive coordinator	Stephen Lee (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	Skyler Cassity (2nd season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium
	Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

Last updated December 03, 2024

2023 United Athletic Conference standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 18 Austin Peay $^	6	–	0	9	–	3
Central Arkansas	4	–	2	7	–	4
Southern Utah	4	–	2	6	–	5
Eastern Kentucky	4	–	2	5	–	6
Tarleton State*	4	–	2	8	–	3
Abilene Christian	3	–	3	5	–	6
North Alabama	1	–	5	3	–	8
Utah Tech*	1	–	5	2	–	9
Stephen F. Austin	0	–	6	3	–	8

$ – Conference champion Note: Tarleton State and Utah Tech are ineligible for the UAC title and FCS postseason play due to transitions from NCAA Division II. Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2023 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian University as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Keith Patterson, the Wildcats played home games at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium in Abilene, Texas.

After the 2022 season concluded, the ASUN and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), which had been partners in a football-only alliance during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, together announced that they would combine their football leagues.^[1]^[2] The new conference's permanent name of United Athletic Conference was officially announced on April 17, 2023.^[3]

Roster

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 p.m.	Northern Colorado *	Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX	ESPN+	W 31–11	6,164
September 9	6:00 p.m.	at Prairie View A&M *	Panther Stadium Prairie View, TX		W 45–16	5,774
September 16	7:00 p.m.	No. 10 Incarnate Word *	Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX	ESPN+	L 20–27	8,280
September 23	7:00 p.m.	at Central Arkansas	Estes Stadium Conway, AR	ESPN+	L 17–52	8,657
September 30	6:00 p.m.	at North Texas *	DATCU Stadium Denton, TX	ESPN+	L 31–45	21,494
October 14	3:00 p.m.	North Alabama	Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX	ESPN+	W 30–13	10,383
October 21	4:00 p.m.	at Stephen F. Austin	Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX	ESPN+	W 34–27	8,961
October 28	2:00 p.m.	at Southern Utah	Eccles Coliseum Cedar City, UT	ESPN+	L 14–52	2,969
November 4	2:00 p.m.	Utah Tech	Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX	ESPN+	W 24–7	4,076
November 11	2:00 p.m.	Tarleton State	Wildcat Stadium Abilene, TX	ESPN+	L 30–31	6,545
November 18	11:00 a.m.	at Texas A&M *	Kyle Field College Station, TX	SECN+/ESPN+	L 10–38	94,974
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[4]^[5]

Game summaries

No. 10 Incarnate Word

No. 10 Incarnate Word Cardinals at Abilene Christian Wildcats – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 10 Cardinals	0	10	0	17	27
Wildcats	0	10	0	10	20

at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium, Abilene, Texas

Date: September 16
Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Wind: W 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 8,280
Referee: John Kellermeier
TV announcers (ESPN+): Zach Carlyle (play-by-play), Joseph Chapa (analyst) and Kauy Ostlien (sideline)
Box Score

Game information

First Quarter

No scoring plays

Second Quarter

ACU – 4:16 Jeremiah Dobbins 29 yard run, Kyle Ramsey kick
ACU 7–0 Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:41
UIW – 3:29 Zach Calzada 52 yard run, Mason Lawler kick
Tied 7–7 Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 0:47
ACU – 0:31 Kyle Ramsey 51 yard field goal
ACU 10–7 Drive: 5 plays, 39 yards, 1:35
UIW – 0:00 Mason Lawler 43 yard field goal
Tied 10–10 Drive: 3 plays, 49 yards, 0:31

Third Quarter

No scoring plays

Fourth Quarter

UIW – 14:50 Brandon Porter 23 yard pass from Zach Calzada, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 17–10 Drive: 5 plays, 64 yards, 1:24
UIW – 10:06 Zach Calzada 1 yard run, Mason Lawler kick
UIW 24–10 Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 4:20
ACU – 8:26 Jay'Veon Sunday 1 yard run, Kyle Ramsey kick
UIW 24–17 Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 1:34
UIW – 5:18 Mason Lawler 27 yard field goal
UIW 27–17 Drive: 7 plays, 56 yards, 3:01
ACU – 2:45 Kyle Ramsey 44 yard field goal
UIW 27–20 Drive: 9 plays, 56 yards, 2:27

Statistics	UIW	ACU
First downs	21	19
Plays–yards	67–517	67–320
Rushes–yards	31–144	35–131
Passing yards	373	189
Passing: comp–att–int	23–36–1	15–32–1
Time of possession	28:01	31:59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Incarnate Word	Passing	Zach Calzada	23/36, 373 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Zach Calzada	7 carries, 66 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Brandon Porter	10 receptions, 201 yards, 1 TD
Abilene Christian	Passing	Maverick McIvor	15/32, 189 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Jeremiah Dobbins	21 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Cooper McCasland	4 receptions, 64 yards

at Texas A&M

Abilene Christian Wildcats at Texas A&M Aggies – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	7	0	0	3	10
Aggies	7	10	7	14	38

at Kyle Field, College Station, Texas

Date: November 18 ^[6]
Game time: 11 a.m. CST
Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C) • Wind: NE 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
Game attendance: 94,794
Referee: Steve Marlowe
TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Courtney Lyle, Hutson Mason, and Ashley Stroehlein

Game information

First quarter

ACU – Cirby Coheley 51-yard interception (Grant Nickel kick), 13:04. Wildcats 7–0.
TAMU – Rueben Owens 7-yard run (Randy Bond kick), 10:20. Tied 7–7. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:44.

Second quarter

TAMU – Randy Bond 34-yard field goal, 7:59. Aggies 10–7. Drive: 6 plays, 33 yards, 2:04.
TAMU – Noah Thomas 13-yard pass from Jaylen Henderson (Randy Bond kick), 3:26. Aggies 17–7. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:37.

Third quarter

TAMU – Moose Muhammad III 49-yard pass from Jaylen Henderson (Randy Bond kick), 12:39. Aggies 24–7. Drive: 6 plays, 74 yards, 2:14.

Fourth quarter

ACU – Kyle Ramsey 40-yard field goal, 14:06. Aggies 24–10. Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards, 7:02.
TAMU – David Bailey 3-yard run (Randy Bond kick), 5:25. Aggies 31–10. Drive: 12 plays, 73 yards, 5:35.
TAMU – Jaden Platt 13-yard pass from Marcel Reed (Randy Bond kick), 0:56. Aggies 38–10. Drive: 4 plays, 63 yards, 1:33.

Statistics	ACU	TXAM
First downs	12	25
Total yards	242	448
Rushing yards	93	175
Passing yards	149	273
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–34–0	17–24–1
Time of possession	30:46	29:14

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Abilene Christian	Passing	Maverick Mclvor	19/34, 149 yards
	Rushing	Jay'Veon Sunday	18 rushes, 87 yards
	Receiving	Blayne Taylor	7 receptions, 77 yards
Texas A&M	Passing	Jaylen Henderson	16/23, 260 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Rueben Owens	18 rushes, 106 yards
	Receiving	Moose Muhammad III	4 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD

Related Research Articles

Abilene Christian Wildcats refers to the sports teams of Abilene Christian University located in Abilene, Texas. The Wildcats joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) on July 1, 2021, after having spent the previous eight years in the Southland Conference. The nickname "Wildcat" is derived from the mascot of the team.

The Abilene Christian Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Abilene Christian University located in the U.S. state of Texas. The team was a member of the Southland Conference through the 2020–21 season, but joined the Western Athletic Conference in July 2021, coinciding with that league's reinstatement of football as an official conference sport. After the 2022 season, the WAC fully merged its football league with that of the ASUN Conference, creating what eventually became the United Athletic Conference, and ACU accordingly moved its football team to the new league. The school's first football team was fielded in 1919. The team plays its home games at the on-campus Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium.

The 2016 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies played their home games at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by fifth-year head coach Kevin Sumlin. They finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in SEC play to finish in fourth place in the Western Division. They were invited to the Texas Bowl where they lost to Kansas State.

The 2017 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cowboys played their home games at the Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma and competed in the Big 12 Conference. They were led by 13th-year head coach Mike Gundy. They finished the season 10–3, 6–3 in Big 12 play to finish in third place. They were invited to the Camping World Bowl where they defeated Virginia Tech.

The 2018 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies played their home games at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by first-year head coach Jimbo Fisher.

The 2020 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Wildcats were led by fourth-year head coach Adam Dorrel and played their home games at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium. The Wildcats finished the season with a 1–5 overall record.

The 2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The Wildcats were led by fifth-year head coach Adam Dorrel and played their home games at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium, Abilene, Texas. The Wildcats played their 100th season in 2021.

The 2022 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by first-year head coach G. J. Kinne.

The 2022 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by ninth-year head coach K. C. Keeler, the Bearkats compiled an overall record of 5–4. Sam Houston played home games at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas.

The 2023 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies played their home games at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by Jimbo Fisher in his sixth year as the team's head coach before his firing on November 12, 2023. Defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson served as the team's interim head coach for the final 2 games of the season. This was also to be the final year for the West Division as Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024.

The 2023 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by first-year head coach Clint Killough.

The 2023 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats were led by Mark Stoops in his 11th year as their head coach. The Kentucky football team played their home games at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. The Kentucky Wildcats football team drew an average home attendance of 60,939 in 2023.

The 2023 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs were led by Zach Arnett, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach in December 2022 following the death of Mike Leach, until his firing on November 13, 2023.

The 2023 Austin Peay Governors football team represented Austin Peay State University as a member of the United Athletic Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Scotty Walden, the Governors played at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The 2023 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team represented Eastern Kentucky University as a member of the United Athletic Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Walt Wells, the Colonels played home games at Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond, Kentucky.

The 2024 North Alabama Lions football team represented North Alabama University in the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Lions were led by second-year head coach Brent Dearmon. The team played its home games at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

The 2024 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represents Abilene Christian University as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats are coached by third-year head coach Keith Patterson and play at Wildcat Stadium in Abilene, Texas.

The 2024 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team represented Stephen F. Austin State University as a member of the Southland Conference (SLC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Lumberjacks were coached by sixth-year head coach Colby Carthel and played at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas.

The 2024 Central Arkansas Bears football team represented the University of Central Arkansas as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bears were coached by seventh-year head coach Nathan Brown and played at Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas.

The 2024 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team represented Eastern Kentucky University as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Colonels were be coached by fifth-year head coach Walt Wells and played at Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond, Kentucky.

References

↑ "@ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule" (Press release). ASUN Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
↑ "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
↑ "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
↑ "Abilene Christian Wildcats Schedule 2023". ESPN . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
↑ "2023 Football Schedule". Abilene Christian University Athletics. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
↑ "Jaylen Henderson leads Texas A&M to victory in Elijah Robinson's first game as interim coach". AP News. November 18, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2024.

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[1] "@ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule" (Press release). ASUN Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.

[2] "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.

[3] "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.

[4] "Abilene Christian Wildcats Schedule 2023". ESPN . Retrieved September 21, 2023.

[5] "2023 Football Schedule". Abilene Christian University Athletics. Retrieved September 21, 2023.

[e120-6] "Jaylen Henderson leads Texas A&M to victory in Elijah Robinson's first game as interim coach". AP News. November 18, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2024.

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v t e Abilene Christian Wildcats football
Venues	Shotwell Stadium (1959–2016) Wildcat Stadium (2017–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games
Culture & lore	Willie the Wildcat (mascot)
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold