Western Athletic Conference

 

Abilene Christian jumped to third in the latest ASUN-WAC Power Ranking that was released on Nov. 14, posting a 0.6791 rating with a 6-2 record in countable games while leading the WAC at 3-0 in conference games. If the season ended today Abilene Christian would earn the NCAA automatic bid over ASUN leader Central Arkansas (0.5530 power ranking, 5-4 record in countable games), but Eastern Kentucky (first in current power ranking) and Austin Peay (second in current power ranking) remain in the mix for the ASUN title entering the season’s final week and could leap the WAC champion based on the current ranking. The ASUN-WAC Power Ranking is calculated by bracketologist Warren Nolan utilizing a measure similar to the NCAA RPI to determine the recipient of the automatic bid from the WAC and ASUN for the FCS Playoffs. Countable Games include any scheduled contests against FCS teams eligible for the FCS Championship, any team that is reclassifying to FCS and is in the reclassification process, or any FBS or FBS reclassifying teams. Tarleton, Utah Tech, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State are ineligible for the 2022 FCS Playoffs due to reclassification.

 

The final week of the 2022 regular season will see four games on tap involving WAC programs, including Southern Utah at Sam Houston (noon CT), Utah Tech at Brigham Young (1:30 p.m. MT) and Houston Christian at Tarleton (2 p.m. CT) on Nov. 19. The key game of the day is the only official WAC matchup of the closing weekend, Stephen F. Austin traveling to Abilene Christian for a 2:30 p.m. CT kick on ESPN+. ACU remains in the driver’s seat for the conference title with a 3-0 league record and would clinch the 2022 WAC championship with a win. SFA, entering the game at 2-1 in WAC games, can capture the conference crown with a victory in Abilene via head-to-head tiebreaker if both teams tie at 3-1. In a matchup between the teams on Oct. 8 that was not tabulated in the conference standings, ACU rallied from a 21-0 deficit before SFA won 41-38 on a 51-yard Chris Campos field goal as time expired.

 

Abilene Christian’s successful season continued with a key 45-28 road victory at Sam Houston on Nov. 12, moving the Wildcats to 7-3 in 2022. ACU led 38-14 at halftime and forced four Sam Houston turnovers.

 

Ethan Long enjoyed a stellar game at quarterback in the ACU win, completing 30-of-48 passes for 262 yards and four first half touchdowns to power the Wildcat offense. Tristan Golightly was on the receiving end of a pair of scores from Long, and Anthony Smith and Rovaughn Banks each added rushing touchdowns for ACU.

 

Keegan Shoemaker accounted for 348 total yards and four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) for Sam Houston in defeat. Kavian Gaither made 12 total tackles, including two for loss, and added an interception for the Bearkats on defense. 

 

Utah Tech extended its winning streak to three games overall and leveled its WAC record at 2-2 with a 34-28 win at home over Tarleton on Nov. 12. The Trailblazers gained 502 yards of total offense and averaged 7.4 yards per play.

 

Victor Gabalis completed 22-of-36 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns for Utah Tech. Quali Conley established a conference season high with 215 rushing yards on 25 carries (8.6 ypc), and Joey Hobert pulled in 10 receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Beau Allen accounted for 404 total yards of offense and a touchdown pass to Darius Cooper, who finished the contest with 10 catches for 173 yards receiving.

 

Southern Utah closed its 2022 home schedule with a dominant 55-0 win against Lincoln (Calif.) on Nov. 12. The Thunderbirds gained 450 yards of total offense and limited Lincoln to just 74 yards and 1.2 yards per play from scrimmage.

 

Justin Miller completed 22-of-25 passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns in the Southern Utah Win, as eight different Thunderbird receivers registered at least one reception in the victory. Braedon Wissler (88 yards) and Jayden Perkins (63 yards) led a balanced rushing attack that gained 229 net yards at an average of 6.2 yards per carry. Aubrey Nellems led Southern Utah with 10 total tackles, which included a tackle for loss, forced fumble and fumble recovery, and Francis Bemiy made 3.5 tackles for loss against Lincoln.

 

With one week remaining in the 2022 regular season, numerous WAC players have reached or are on the verge of statistical milestones as the campaign draws to a close. Quali Conley from Utah Tech is the conference’s leading rusher with 1,034 yards (103.4 yards per game) over 10 games played, making Conley the 144th WAC player all time to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a single season. Conley’s 215-yard rushing performance against Tarleton on Nov. 12 was the most by a WAC ball carrier thus far this season. Both Justin Miller (2,661) from Southern Utah and Beau Allen (2,631) from Tarleton have already crossed the 2,500-yard passing plateau, with Allen at 20 touchdowns and Miller at 19 touchdowns with one game to play. Utah Tech’s Joey Hobert is the conference leader with both 1,158 yards receiving and 14 receiving touchdowns. Hobert became the 93rd 1,000-yard receiver in conference history. Xavier Gipson from Stephen F. Austin (950 yards) and Darius Cooper from Tarleton (908 yards) each have realistic chances of joining Hobert over 1,000 receiving yards this season, with Tarleton’s Jaden Smith fourth in that pack with 821 yards entering play on Nov. 19. The WAC’s leading scorer is SFA kicker Chris Campos, who sits seven points away (93) from reaching the 100-point mark this season. Campos has hit all 42 of his PAT attempts and has converted 17-of-22 field goals thus far for the Lumberjacks over 10 games played.

 

The 2022 FCS playoff selection show will take place on Nov. 20 at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT, as the 24 teams who gain entry into the 2022 NCAA Division I Football Championship field learn their fate on ESPNU.