EKU football’s playoff push depends on completing undefeated season at home
It’s been 14 years since the Eastern Kentucky football team went undefeated during the home portion of its season at Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond.
That piece of history will be on the line Saturday afternoon for EKU, as the Colonels continue a late-season push for a spot in the FCS playoffs.
Eastern Kentucky (7-4 overall and 5-2 in United Athletic Conference games) has won four straight entering Saturday’s regular season finale at home against North Alabama (3-8, 3-4).
EKU’s current winning run began with a Homecoming win in Richmond on Oct. 26 over Utah Tech. From there, the Colonels went on the road and defeated then-No. 7 Tarleton State on Nov. 2, returned home to topple then-No. 16 Central Arkansas on Nov. 9 and went back on the road last weekend to secure a dramatic overtime win over longtime rival Austin Peay.
Saturday’s 30-27 triumph saw the Colonels overcome a 17-point deficit in the second half against the Governors. EKU sent the game to overtime thanks to a 1-yard rushing score by quarterback Matt Morrissey with 13 seconds left.
In overtime, EKU got a winning score for the third straight week from redshirt senior running back Joshua Carter.
Against both Tarleton State and Central Arkansas, Carter scored the game-deciding touchdown with less than three minutes to go.
Against Austin Peay, Carter’s 23-yard romp to the end zone in overtime was a walk-off winner for the Colonels, who are now ranked No. 25 in the nation in the Stats Perform FCS poll.
Carter has scored a touchdown in nine straight games for EKU, and has now tallied more than 1,000 rushing yards for the season and more than 2,000 rushing yards for his college career. Carter has cracked the 100-yard mark in five games this season, and he currently has the most rushing yards (1,028) by an EKU player since 2019.
“He is an absolute stud, in my opinion. The guy is a lot of the heart and soul to our team,” EKU head coach Walt Wells said of Carter, who began his college career as a walk-on linebacker at South Alabama.
“When we get late in games, I pride myself on keeping my head where my feet are,” Carter said. “Just running hard, doing what I can to help the team win. … I know I’m able to provide a little bit of a spark to our offense.”
Thanks in part to Carter’s heroics, EKU’s final regular season game against North Alabama carries plenty of significance.
If the Colonels beat the Lions, then EKU will complete a 6-0 season at home. EKU has already defeated West Georgia, Morehead State, Robert Morris, Utah Tech and Central Arkansas at Roy Kidd Stadium this season. This would give Wells’ team its first undefeated home season since 2010.
“I think it’s important for a lot of people,” Wells said of potentially going undefeated at home. “It’s important for us. We set it as a goal for us to go undefeated at Roy Kidd Stadium.”
Through five home games, EKU is averaging more than 6,300 fans per game.
EKU football still has a chance to reach the FCS playoffs
Additionally, and arguably more importantly, EKU also needs to beat North Alabama to maintain its hopes of reaching the national postseason.
The only way for EKU to make the FCS playoffs is if the Colonels are chosen Sunday as one of 14 at-large selections to the 24-team field.
The end-of-year FCS playoffs includes 24 teams: 10 conference champions who automatically qualify and 14 at-large selections.
The UAC’s regular season championship, and the conference’s automatic bid into the national postseason, was decided last weekend. Both distinctions will go to No. 11 Abilene Christian (8-3, 7-1).
Wells previously took EKU to the FCS playoffs in 2022, when the Colonels lost at home in the first round.
For the Colonels to make a return trip this season, they’ll have to hope the Division I Football Championship Committee is sufficiently impressed with their postseason credentials.
There’s reason to think this could be the case.
Two of EKU’s four losses this season came on the road against FBS opponents (Mississippi State and Western Kentucky) to begin the season.
Once you toss aside those contests, the Colonels are 7-2 against comparable opposition. EKU’s only losses were on the road against Southern Utah (a team that’s currently receiving votes in the FCS poll) and Abilene Christian, the aforementioned conference champion.
EKU’s resume includes a win on the road over then-No. 7 Tarleton State and at home over then-No. 16 Central Arkansas.
“It’s like I say, ‘It’s rat poison.’ We can’t listen to all that,” Wells said of his team’s ranking and possible postseason chatter. “None of that matters. We have to take care of the task at hand. I thought last week, we really did that.”
Momentum is trending with EKU football as the regular season comes to a close. With a win Saturday over North Alabama, EKU would also secure its first five-game winning streak since 2021.
Saturday will be Senior Day in Richmond, with EKU celebrating 21 players who could be playing their final football game for the school.
Saturday
North Alabama at No. 25 Eastern Kentucky
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond.
Online: Watch ESPN
Records: North Alabama 3-8 (3-4 UAC); Eastern Kentucky 7-4 (5-2 UAC)
Radio: WCYO 100.7 FM
Series: Eastern Kentucky leads 2-0
Last meeting: Eastern Kentucky won 32-22 on Sept. 30, 2023, in Florence, Alabama.
Note: Eastern Kentucky can only reach the FCS playoffs by being one of 14 at-large selections for the national postseason. The FCS playoffs field will be announced Sunday.
This story was originally published November 21, 2024 at 6:45 AM.
