Week one of the 2022 college football season is completed, but there are tons of takeaways from last weekend’s games. In the Southland Conference, three teams were victorious over the weekend. Only two were ranked in the Top 25 FCS Football Rankings, but only one of those teams upset a top 10 team in the FCS. If you’re looking for a team that can always find a way to win, the Southland provides at least one each year.
If you’re waiting for me to say the University of Incarnate Word, you would be correct.
Why UIW?
UIW produces next-level talent as one of the top teams in the Southland. This week, the Cardinals are ranked No. 8/9 in the FCS after taking down Southern Illinois in a 64-29 beatdown. What can propel them even further is their ability to keep UIW quarterback Lindsey Scott in the pocket and ready to unleash his magic. In one of the first few plays of last Saturday’s game against Southern Illinois, Scott throws a dart to UIW wide receiver Taylor Grimes for a 66 yard reception to the house. What happened next was a series of dominating drives which led to the 64-29 victory over Southern Illinois. It safe to say, against some of the best FCS schools in the nation, UIW brings a firepower that’s waiting to be unleashed.
The Cards Are In Their Favor
The Cardinals are the reigning SLC champions and can bring their same tactics from last year into this new year. For starters, Scott proved to be a powerhouse for Nicholls and has proven to be the guy at the helm for UIW. After the departure of quarterback Cameron Ward, Scott took the wheel for the Cardinals in 2022. With Scott comes a structured team under new head coach G.J. Kinne and a potential repeat champion. The QB/WR duo in Scott and Grimes can be very lethal heading into conference play in the next couple of weeks.
Southland Competition
UIW is one of three SLC schools that took a win over the weekend. The first week of football for any FCS program can be tough. UIW finds ways to become victorious in the end. Houston Baptist leads the table with Texas A&M Commerce and UIW, all three grabbing their first wins of the season. If the Cardinals can gear up games like last week’s beatdown, expect that consistency throughout 2022. After this Saturday’s match against Nevada, UIW plays one more non-conference opponent in Prairie View A&M. Southeastern will be the first test to wonder if UIW is elite enough to do it again.
UIW takes on Nevada in Reno, Nevada on Sept. 10 at 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
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