2025 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team
| 2025 Incarnate Word Cardinals football | |
|---|---|
![]() | |
| Conference | Southland Conference |
| Ranking | |
| STATS | No. 5 |
| FCS Coaches | No. 4 |
| Record | 0–0 (0–0 Southland) |
| Head coach |
|
| Co-offensive coordinators |
|
| Defensive coordinator | Jim Gush (3rd season) |
| Co-defensive coordinators |
|
| Home stadium | Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Texas A&M | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston Christian | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lamar | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| McNeese | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicholls | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern State | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southeastern Louisiana | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23 Stephen F. Austin | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As of August 21, 2025 Rankings from STATS Poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2025 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represents the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Cardinals play their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They are led by third-year head coach Clint Killough.
Offseason
Transfers
Outgoing
| Player | Position | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Roy Alexander | WR | Texas Tech |
| Zach Calzada | QB | Kentucky |
| Chase Carter | DL | Memphis |
| Tylan Foster | LB | Eastern Illinois |
| River Gordon | OL | Abilene Christian |
| Devin Grant | DL | West Virginia |
| Tyler "TJ" Harold | DL | Tyler |
| Nolan Hay | OL | South Carolina |
| Solomon James | QB | UT Permian Basin |
| Rasheed Jackson | OL | TCU |
| Talon Lewin | QB | Ventura |
| Derrick Lewis | LB | Stephen F. Austin |
| Josh Pastrana | LB | Keiser |
| Isaiah Pedack | DL | Mississippi Valley State |
| Dekalon Taylor | RB | Colorado |
| Jaelon Travis | WR | Pittsburg State |
| Mister Williams | LB | San Diego State |
| Anquan Willis | RB | |
| Hunter Willis | LB | Trinity Valley |
Incoming
| Player | Position | Previous school |
|---|---|---|
| Deyon Batiste | QB | Wyoming |
| Joe Cadette | DE | Houston Christian |
| Pig Cage | DB | Louisiana Tech |
| EJ Colson Jr. | QB | UCF |
| Kobe Dillon | RB | Southern |
| Harlan Dixon | RB | Southeastern Louisiana |
| Jaylen Dotson | DB | Kent State |
| Tyrece Fairly-Diyem | WR | Cal Poly |
| Will Faris | K | Vanderbilt |
| Kai Fernandes | DB | Appalachian State |
| Cam Foster | OL | Southern |
| Dewey Greene | DE | Southern Illinois |
| Brayden Hay | LB | Houston Christian |
| Chedon James | WR | Fresno State |
| Dylan Kirby | OL | Southern Utah |
| Ben McCreary | RB | West Texas A&M |
| Zach Mitchell | WR | Southern Utah |
| Tyler Morton | DB | Nicholls |
| Michael Pleas Jr. | LB | UT Martin |
| David Powers | LB | Wofford |
| Jachai Pulley | LB | Pasadena City |
| Austin Samaha | TE | Texas State |
| Jawuan Singletary | OL | New Mexico |
| Jaylon Spears | RB | Nicholls |
| Mike Stoker | OL | TCU |
| Reece Sylvester | DB | Washington State |
| Danny Valenzuela | OL | Northern Arizona |
| Tomsen Vickery | DE | Air Force |
| Jeremiah Young | DE | Independence |
Preseason
Preseason poll
The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 21, 2025. The Cardinals were picked to finish first in the conference and received fifteen first-place votes.[4]
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Incarnate Word | 158 (15) |
| 2 | Stephen F. Austin | 137 (3) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 136 (1) |
| 4 | Lamar | 112 (1) |
| 5 | Nicholls | 91 |
| 6 | McNeese | 85 |
| T-7 | East Texas A&M | 59 |
| T-7 | Houston Christian | 59 |
| 9 | Northwestern State | 39 |
| 10 | UT Rio Grande Valley | 24 |
Preseason All–American Teams
The University of the Incarnate Word football team had six student-athletes named Stats Perform Preseason All-Americans ahead of the 2025 season.[5]
| Offense 1st Team
2nd Team
3rd Team
| Defense 2nd Team
3rd Team
|
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 23 | 12:00 p.m. | at Nicholls | No. 5 | ESPN2 | ||
| August 30 | 6:00 p.m. | Eastern Washington* | No. 5 | ESPN+ | ||
| September 13 | 2:30 p.m. | at UTSA* |
| ESPN+ | ||
| September 20 | 3:00 p.m. | at Northern Arizona* | ESPN+ | |||
| September 27 | 6:00 p.m. | Abilene Christian* |
| ESPN+ | ||
| October 4 | 6:00 p.m. | Stephen F. Austin |
| ESPN+ | ||
| October 18 | 4:30 p.m. | East Texas A&M |
| ESPN+ | ||
| October 25 | 7:00 p.m. | at UT Rio Grande Valley | ESPN+ | |||
| November 1 | 2:00 p.m. | Lamar |
| ESPN+ | ||
| November 8 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northwestern State | ESPN+ | |||
| November 15 | 2:00 p.m. | Southeastern Louisiana |
| ESPN+ | ||
| November 22 | 2:00 p.m. | at Houston Christian | ESPN+ | |||
| ||||||
Personnel
Coaching staff
Source: [9]
| Name | Position | Alma mater | Joined staff |
| Clint Killough | Head coach | Incarnate Word (2015) | 2018 |
| Jim Gush | Associate head coach / defensive coordinator | Bucknell (1981) | 2023 |
| Ben Olson | Co-defensive coordinator / run game coordinator / defensive line | Eastern Illinois (2013) | 2023 |
| Kenny Hill | Co-offensive coordinator / running backs | TCU (2017) | 2023 |
| Nick Young | Co-offensive coordinator / offensive line | Toledo (2012) | 2023 |
| Willis White | Assistant head coach / wide receivers | Alabama State (2018) | 2023 |
| Sam Bennett | Co-defensive coordinator / Linebackers / academic coordinator | Texas Tech (2010) | 2023 |
| George Sanders | Pass game coordinator / defensive backs | Southwest Baptist (2016) | 2023 |
| Luke Pardee | Quarterbacks | TCU (2023) | 2024 |
| Ryan Allgood | Tight ends / recruiting coordinator | Oklahoma (2011) | 2025 |
| Tre Spragg | Defensive quality control / assistant defensive backs | Incarnate Word (2015) | 2023 |
| John Scifers | Special teams quality control / video coordinator | Incarnate Word (2021) | 2023 |
| Taylor Grimes | Offensive quality control | Incarnate Word (2022) | 2024 |
| Cody Dunn | Director of performance statistics | McGill (2021) | 2022 |
| Brayden Strauss | Defensive graduate assistant - linebackers | Baylor | 2024 |
| Dalton Meyer | Offensive graduate assistant | Incarnate Word (2023) | 2025 |
| Shane Creamer | Offensive graduate assistant | Houston (2021) | 2025 |
| Davis Conley | Head strength and conditioning | LaGrange (2017) | 2022 |
| Dr. Kimberly Montez | Head football athletic trainer | 2025 | |
| Reagan Longoria | Football operations and recruiting assistant | 2025 |
Roster
Source: [10]
| 2025 Incarnate Word Cardinals football | ||||||||||
| Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Tight end
Long snapper
| Offensive line
Defensive line
| Linebacker
Defensive back
Kicker
Punter
Legend
| ||||||||
Game summaries
@ Nicholls
| Uniform combination | ||
| Helmet | Jersey | Pants |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 5 Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Colonels | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium, Thibodaux, LA
- Date: August 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | UIW | NICH |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Nicholls | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Eastern Washington
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| No. 5 Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX
- Date: August 30
- Game time: 6:00 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | EWU | UIW |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Washington | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
@ UTSA (FBS)
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Roadrunners | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
- Date: September 13
- Game time: 2:30 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | UIW | UTSA |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| UTSA | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
@ Northern Arizona
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Lumberjacks | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Walkup Skydome, Flagstaff, AZ
- Date: September 20
- Game time: TBA
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | UIW | NAU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Northern Arizona | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Abilene Christian
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcats | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX
- Date: September 27
- Game time: 6:00 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | ACU | UIW |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Stephen F. Austin
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumberjacks | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX
- Date: October 4
- Game time: 6:00 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | SFA | UIW |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
East Texas A&M
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX
- Date: October 18
- Game time: 4:30 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | ETAM | UIW |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Texas A&M | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
@ UT Rio Grande Valley
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Vaqueros | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium, Edinburg, TX
- Date: October 25
- Game time: 7:00 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | UIW | UTRGV |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| UT Rio Grande Valley | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Lamar
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals (LU) | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Cardinals (UIW) | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX
- Date: November 1
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | LU | UIW |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
@ Northwestern State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Demons | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, LA
- Date: November 8
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | UIW | NSU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Northwestern State | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Southeastern Louisiana
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX
- Date: November 15
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | SLU | UIW |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
@ Houston Christian
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Huskies | - | - | - | - | 0 |
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- TV: ESPN+
| Game information |
|---|
|
| Statistics | UIW | HCU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | ||
| Time of possession |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incarnate Word | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Houston Christian | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Rankings
| Week | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS FCS | 5 | |||||||||||||
| Coaches | 4 | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports.
- ^ "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
- ^ "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
- ^ "Football Picked to Win Southland Conference in 2025". University of the Incarnate Word Athletics. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "Six Cardinals Named Preseason All-Americans". uiwcardinals.com. July 15, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "2025 UIW Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
- ^ "Football Releases 2025 Schedule". University of the Incarnate Word Athletics. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ "Cardinals to take on Colonels on ESPN2". UIW Athletics. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ^ "Football Coaches". University of the Incarnate Word. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ "2025 Football Roster". University of the Incarnate Word Athletics. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
