UIW Football Team Earns Southland Conference Title and Advances to Playoffs

Picture credits to Southland Conference

On Saturday, Nov. 16 the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) football team clinched the Southland Conference Championship after winning the highly anticipated game against Stephan F. Austin (SFA). The game concluded with a final score of 27-20, securing UIW’s 9th win of the season. The Cardinals aim to be the first team in program history to finish undefeated in conference play this Saturday, Nov. 23.

Although the game was close, each player put up a valiant fight to take home the win. Their victory was official once senior Darius Sanders made a final interception, securing a win and the team’s title as conference champions.

“I knew in my mind how much this game meant to my team and me,” said Sanders. “For us to be named conference champs, we had to make plays when plays came our way, so it was important to capitalize on the momentum we had already gained. A lot of peers asked me, ‘What were you on this game?’ My reply, Gods timing. In my eyes it wasn't out of the ordinary, it was destined and already written.”

In addition to this being the University’s third Southland Conference Championship title in four years, the win also secured a spot for the team in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. This Sunday, Nov. 24, the team will watch the live 2024 FCS Selection Show on ESPNU to find out when and where they will play next.

“The young men in our program are a tremendous representation of UIW,” shared Clinton Killough, UIW head football coach. “They pursue their dreams with intention and exercise the core values of the University on a daily basis. We take pride in our craft and have a chip on our shoulder to continue proving  our ability as a team. Winning with intention is who we are and we will continue to do that every day in pursuit of a National Championship.”

Catch the final game of the regular season on ESPNU this Saturday, Nov. 23 as the Cardinals face East Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas. Click here to learn more about the upcoming game.

Watch the Selection Show live at 11:30 a.m. this Sunday, November 24 on ESPNU to see what’s next for the Cardinals. Click here to view Selection Show information, brackets and dates.