Two years ago South Dakota State and Incarnate Word were one game away from meeting in the FCS National Championship. The Jackrabbits ended up winning the title, but the Cardinals fell to North Dakota State in the semifinals.

Saturday, the two teams will meet at 6 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium and UIW is looking to continue to move up the FCS ranks.

The UIW football program began in 2009 and the Cardinals quickly moved from Division II to the FCS in 2013. Since then they have made the FCS Playoffs three times and have won eight or more games in each of the last three seasons.

Eric Morris led the Cardinals to a 10-3 record and the second round of the playoffs in 2021 and then took the offensive coordinator position at Washington State. G.J. Kinne took over as the UIW head coach in 2022 and the Cardinals went 12-2 and all the way to the FCS semifinals. He then left at the end of the season to take over the head coaching position at Texas State.

That led to UIW hiring 31-year-old Clint Killough. Killough grew up in San Antonio, where UIW is located, and played wide receiver for the Cardinals from 2012-2015. He went 9-2 in his first season at UIW last year, but the Cardinals missed out on the playoffs due to strength of schedule.

UIW, who is ranked No. 12 in the FCS, won its season opener against Northern Colorado on Saturday 28-7. SDSU head coach Jimmy Rogers said UIW is going to be a very tough opponent because the Cardinals know how to win.

“This is one of the most successful programs in the country from 2021 on. I think they’re up there with the most wins with several of the top programs that people talk about. Our guys will not overlook this. [The Cardinals] were left out of the playoffs last year and probably should have been in at 9-2. Looking at the film they were surely deserving to be in,” Rogers said.

UIW is led by fifth year senior quarterback Zach Calzada. Calzada is a transfer from Auburn but he did not play a game for the Tigers in 2022. However, he started 10 games for Texas A&M in 2021. Last season for the Cardinals he threw for 2,598 yards and was third in the FCS in pass yards per game. He had 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2023.

In the Cardinals season opener Calzada was 21-for-35 with 205 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. SDSU junior safety Tucker Large said Calzada is going to be tough to go against because he’s experienced.

“[Calzada] is a big guy. He steps in and makes some really good throws. He’s experienced and you can tell he can read a defense. We have to do a good job of disguising what we’re in and just be us,” Large said.

Calzada has new weapons this season as UIW added five transfer receivers. Jalen Wathall came from Hawaii and led the Cardinals on Saturday with five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Roy Alexander, who the Jacks saw in the semifinals last season against UAlbany, had six catches for 64 yards in the win over UNC. The Cardinals also have Anthony Stell from Eastern Washington, Jaren Mitchell from Northwestern State and Mason Pierce from Marshall.

“They have great skill and they spread you out,” Rogers said. “When [teams] do that, it creates a lot of one-on-one’s and all it takes is for one guy not to make a play and it can be a huge gain in the game. They’re really explosive on the perimeter and do a good job of separating. They have several players that have played elsewhere and have had [success].”

UIW’s top three running backs returned for 2024. However, the Cardinals fourth leading rusher in 2023 was their leading rusher in the season opener as Dekalon Taylor ran for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Isaiah Robinson also ran for 82 yards.

The Cardinals lost their three most experienced offensive lineman. Rasheed Jackson and Caleb Flores returned to UIW after logging over 500 snaps as freshman. The Cardinals added Houston Christian’s Nolan Hay, Southern’s Traveon Newsome and WKU’s Mason Williams to add depth to the line as well.

The Cardinals returned five of their top 11 tacklers from a defense that ranked 15th in scoring (19.5 points per game), sixth in passing (157.2 yards per game) and 46th in rushing (141 yards per game). Linebacker Tylan Foster and safety Ronald Wilson lead the UIW defense. Foster was a First Team All-Southland Conference selection last year and Wilson made the second team.

UIW gave up 360 yards on Saturday but forced four turnovers in the victory. The Bears only made it to the red zone once and did not convert. Their lone touchdown was a 58-yard run in the first quarter.

SDSU is 6-1 against current members of the Southland Conference. The Jacks last matchup against a current member of the Southland came in 2013 when they beat Southeastern Louisiana in Brookings. SDSU plays at Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 21.