FCS Playoff Bracket (PDF)

United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football had a trio of teams chosen to participate in the 2024 FCS Championship Playoffs as announced by the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee on Sunday. UAC Champion Abilene Christian earned the 15-seed in the bracket and was joined by at-large selections Tarleton State (13-seed) and Eastern Kentucky.

For the first time in its history, 16 teams were seeded in the bracket with each earning the ability to host their first playoff game and the top eight receiving opening round byes.

"The United Athletic Conference is thrilled to have multiple institutions represented in this year’s FCS Playoffs," said UAC Chief Operations Officer Kyle Grooms. "It is evident that the Selection Committee recognized the depth and strength of our quality programs involved in the UAC. This recognition and validation for the dedicated effort and investment from each program's administration, coaches, staff and student-athletes is well-deserved. The UAC is proud to support each program and look forward to the continuation of their memorable seasons."

The Wildcats, making their first FCS playoff appearance, claimed the AQ bid into the field as the league champion after posting a 7-1 mark against UAC foes. ACU finished 8-4 overall with an 8-3 mark against FCS opponents and came up one-point shy of an overtime victory over FBS member Texas Tech. The Wildcats offense features one of the top passers in the FCS, Maverick McIvor (306.3 YPG) along with 1,000-yard rusher Sam Hicks and 1,000-yard receiver Nehemiah Martinez. The ACU defense is paced by Will Shaffer, the UAC's second-leading tackler with 108 stops this season.

In their first year of eligibility for FCS postseason play, the Texans earned the highest seed for a UAC squad after going 9-3 overall and 6-2 in conference play. Tarleton State was 9-2 against FCS foes with only losses to the other two league teams in the playoff field. TSU running back Kayvon Britten ranks second in the FCS with 1,750 rushing yards this season and over 4,000 yards for his career, while wideout Darius Cooper is fifth nationally with 1,099 yards receiving. The Texans defense ranks second in turnover margin (+15) for the FCS.

EKU will make its 23rd FCS Playoff appearance, which ranks as the second most in FCS history. The Colonels went 8-4 on the season and enter the playoffs on a five-game win streak. EKU was 6-2 in UAC competition and boasted an 8-2 mark against FCS squads including a pair of wins over ranked opponents. Eastern Kentucky features a solid balance with an offense led by running back Joshua Carter (1,106 yards rushing) and defensively by defensive backs Jordon Thomas (13 PBUs) and Mike Smith Jr. (4 INTs).

First round games in the FCS Playoffs are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30:
No. 13 Tarleton State vs Drake | 2 PM CT (ESPN+)
No. 15 Abilene Christian vs Northern Arizona | 2 PM CT (ESPN+)
EKU at No. 11 Villanova | 2 PM ET (ESPN+)

With a victory, Texans would advance to play at No. 4 seed South Dakota on Dec. 7 (3 PM ET)
With a victory, Wildcats would advance to face No. 2 seed North Dakota State on Dec. 7 (3 PM ET)
With a victory, EKU would advance to meet No. 6 seed UIW on Dec. 7 (2 PM ET)