Date: Saturday September 20, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
TV: ESPN+
The Quick Hits
The United Athletic Conference has grabbed ahold of the spotlight in the FCS this season and is establishing itself as one of the tougher leagues in the subdivision in 2025. This week, the UAC again takes center stage as one of the biggest games of the weekend will feature two of its teams. Austin Peay (2-1) has impressively stamped itself as a contender this year with a big FBS win and a respectable showing at Georgia last week. Now, though, the Goverenors turn their attention to conference play
and will kick it off with a road trip to take on Abilene Christian (1-2).
The Wildcats have looked pretty solid in their own right, with a big win over Stephen F. Austin. Now that their two FBS games are behind them as well, the defending conference champs have their collective eyes set on a return trip to the postseason after making a second-round run a year ago. The Govs will prove to be a mighty big test to start things off but a win here would leave no doubt about Abilene Christian’s place in the playoff push.
The Coaches
Keith Patterson is now in Year Four calling the shots for the Wildcats and, since taking over in 2022, he’s helped the program ascend to new heights. ACU won a share of the conference title (the then-WAC) in Patterson’s first season and then did so again last year while making their first ever FCS playoff appearance also. Patterson has 13-5 in league play as Abilene Christian’s head coach and took home WAC Coach of the Year accolades in 2022.
Austin Peay Offense vs. Abilene Christian Defense
Right now Austin Peay is averaging 32 points per game and is doing so with a very balanced offensive attack. It’s been a healthy mix of quarterback Chris Parson and running back Javious Bond that have gotten it done up to this point for the Govs. Parson, a redshirt sophomore, has been solid in the passing game, throwing for 492 yards and two touchdowns. Grad senior Austin Smith, though, has also seen some action and has a passing TD as well. Parson will be the primary signal caller this weekend, however.
Both Courtland Simmons and Shemar Kirk have proven to be as reliable as pass catchers as any for Parson early on this season. Each have well over 100 receiving yards through the first three games yet neither has recorded a score. Parson will look to these two often, though, especially if a ground game gets established meaning that Abilene Christian’s defense will need to lock in on on both #11 and #13.
For Austin Peay, meanwhile, it will be second-year head man and Duke alum Jeff Faris in charge. Faris’ first season was a rough one as he won just four games but now he’s already picked up half that amount this year. He and his staff did tremendous work over the offseason, bringing in a ton of new faces to the program and that work appears to be paying off in the early goings. The 35-year old Faris had never had a head coaching gig before at any level until the team hired him last year.
The Wildcats secondary has been a ball hawking one so far in 2025. Eight different defenders have notched PBUs and two have picked off passes, starting with DB Noah Mangham. Mangham and Christian Oku have combined for three deflected balls and five tackles. The pair have seen two FBS receiving corps up to this point but Austin Peay’s won’t be a whole lot easier and neither will the rushing attack with the aforementioned Bond.
Bond actually transferred in as a defensive back himself this offseason from ECU but has made a splash on the other side of the ball, rushing for 112 yards on ten carries and finding the end zone once. Despite having less touches than a handful of his teammates, Bond’s quickness has vaulted him to the top of team’s roster as far as rushing yards are concerned this year. Parson, though, will look to several different ball carriers including Simmons, Corey Richardson and himself.
Abilene Christian will look to stifle whoever the rushers are with one of the best linebackers in the nation in All-American Will Shaffer. Shaffer came in from Utah State prior to last season and has lit it up for the Wildcats’ defense since. In 2024 he logged 123 total tackles and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award. Already this season Shaffer has made 29 stops to lead the team and is the preseason UAC Defensive Player of the Year. He’ll have his hands full against the Governors but he won’t be doing it alone either. Fellow linebacker Rashon Myles Jr. has been darn near as effective with 28 tackles and an INT. Between him and Shaffer patrolling the middle, Austin Peay might find it to be tough sledding on the ground
Abilene Christian Offense vs. Austin Peay Defense
Much like Austin Peay, ACU’s offense can hurt defenses in a variety of ways but they may lean on the run even more heavily with guys like Jordon Vaughn and Rovaughn Banks Jr. in their backfield. The pair of backs has already seen a combined 79 touches this year and has racked up 331 yards on the ground along with three touchdowns. It’s a real one-two punch and it doesn’t quite stop there either as QB Stone Earle is also not afraid to run. He is currently third on the team with 90 rushing yards and two more TDs.
Earle is an effective passer too. He is averaging 218.3 yards through the air per game and has two touchdowns and just one pick. Wideouts Javon Gipson, Dallas Dudley and J.J. Henry have mid his life easy. Each receiver has over 100 yards this year and account for 29 of the team’s 61 receptions. If Earle is throwing it, odds are it will be to one of these three.
The Governors will look to standout DB Ellis Ellis Jr. to help shut down that passing attack, at least partially. Ellis has been fantastic this season, breaking up three balls and getting in on 21 tackles. He put up a huge day against Georgia a couple of weeks ago with 11 stops and a fumble recovery. When there is a play to be made for the Austin Peay defense, Ellis is almost always right there to make it. He will be Earle and company’s biggest headache if they aren’t careful.
Another thing that Austin Peay’s defense does really well is get to the quarterback. Earle will need to have his eyes open for defensive lineman Charles Crews III and linebacker Jacob Neely on every snap. That tandem has already accounted for two sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss this season. Fellow D lineman Davion Hood has four QB hits as well. The Abilene Christian offensive line will need to be at its best and keep Earle upright or they might not stand much of a chance.
Prediction
From everything Austin Peay has put on tape so far this year, there’s real reason to believe they can make it a long night for the Wildcats in this one, especially defensively. That defensive line is scary and ACU has already allowed 11 sacks this year. Earle is good but if he’s under siege all evening it won’t really matter and this feels like the precise type of game that the Governors will pin their ears back and send the house. If their own offense can do enough to build a lead it only further allow the defense to be aggressive. All of that is a bad combination for the Wildcats here. Austin Peay wins by a couple of scores in Abilene to start UAC play 1-0.
Score Prediction: Austin Peay: 35 – Abilene Christian: 24
