Abilene Christian Wildcats

The Abilene Christian Wildcats bring a rich championship pedigree to the United Athletic Conference, playing at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium in Abilene, Texas. Historically one of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA history across all sports, ACU football carries that winning tradition with a physical, well-coached style. The purple and white Wildcats remain one of the region's most storied small-college programs.

Abilene Christian fielded its first football team in 1919 and won national titles in the NAIA ranks in 1973 and 1977 under coaches Wally Bullington and Dewitt Jones, respectively, with the 1973 squad featuring standout Wilbert Montgomery. The Wildcats also won seven Texas Conference titles between 1939 and 1953. ACU spent years in the Southland Conference before joining the WAC in 2021 and later the United Athletic Conference, continuing a long tradition as one of the winningest athletic programs in NCAA history.