For the last several months, ACU head coach Keith Patterson has insisted the 2024 season will be a special one in his third year at the helm. In their first chance to prove their coach right, the Wildcats almost pulled off the biggest win in program history.

The Wildcats went into Jones AT&T Stadium as considerable underdogs against Texas Tech of the Big 12 Conference but gave the Red Raiders all they wanted in a 52-51 overtime loss. ACU – which tied the game with seven seconds left in regulation on a 21-yard field goal by Ritse Vaes – fell behind 52-45 on the opening drive of overtime but came right back and scored on a 1-yard run by Isaiah Johnson to cut the Tech lead to 52-51.

Patterson went for the win instead of the tie, but Jayden Cofield tripped up ACU quarterback Maverick McIvor as he tried to scramble out of the pocket on the 2-point conversion play. 

McIvor was terrific in his return to Tech, where he originally signed out of San Angelo Central High School. He completed 36 of 51 passes for 506 yards and three touchdowns. The performance earned him the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week.

He also became just the third player in ACU history to pile up 500 passing yards in a single game, tying Mitchell Gale (’13) for the second highest total. ACU Sports Network color commentator Jim Reese (’76) holds the school record with 564 yards in a 1976 game against Angelo State. Gale threw for 506 yards during a 2011 Division II playoff match-up with Washburn. McIvor is the first quarterback to throw for more than 500 yards against an NCAA Division I opponent.

The football team as a whole is also earning national recognition, receiving 74 votes in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll, signaling a strong start to their season and placing them just outside the official top 25 rankings. 

ACU’s schedule this season features a diverse set of opponents, including several teams that have either been ranked in the top 25 or received votes for inclusion. The Wildcats will face #7 Idaho at home on Sept. 21, followed by a matchup with #9 Central Arkansas on Oct. 5. Although Austin Peay did not make the top 25, it garnered 19 votes and will compete against ACU on Nov. 9. The final ranked opponent on the schedule is #20 Tarleton State, which the Wildcats will encounter in Stephenville on Nov. 16.

This week, the Wildcats are gearing up for a critical matchup against West Georgia in a United Athletic Conference game on Saturday, September 7, at Wildcat Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Buy tickets now at tickets.acusports.com, or watch live on ESPN+ or listen live at 106.3 FM The Raider.