The Abilene Christian offense gathered on the sideline and prepared to take the field after watching the Northern Colorado offense execute a 12-play, 69-yard drive to take a 22-21 lead over the Wildcats with 1:10 remaining in regulation. 

It was the type of game that ACU had made a habit of losing since moving to NCAA Division I FCS in 2013. Entering the game in Greeley, Colorado, the Wildcats were 6-16 in games against FCS competition decided by three points or less, including 2-10 on the road. During the Keith Patterson era, ACU was 1-4 in games decided by three points or less and 0-2 on the road. 

Patterson is well aware of ACU’s record in close games.

“We’ve talked a lot about taking the next step as a program,” Patterson said. “Since we’ve been here, we’re 14-7 against FCS competition, and five of those losses have been by seven points or less.”

The odds of victory seemed even worse for an ACU team that had one drive last more than four plays, heading into the final drive. The offense looked out of sync in the first half but scored three touchdowns in its last six drives heading into the potential game-winning drive. However, when he stepped into the offensive huddle, none of those stats were on Patterson’s mind.

“I said, ‘We do this every Thursday, and during the last three Thursdays, you guys have kicked a field goal and scored two touchdowns in our three two-minute situations in practice,’” Patterson said. “I told them just to do what they’ve done in practice.”

The offense drove down the field to the UNC 22-yard line with 11 seconds remaining on the clock. ACU ran one more play, which resulted in an incomplete pass and a questionable personal foul penalty on the left tackle. That pushed the ball to the UNC 37-yard line.

Patterson chose to leave the game on the foot of Midwestern State transfer kicker Ritse Vaes with five seconds showing on the clock for a 54-yard field goal attempt instead of trying to heave a pass into the end zone. Vaes is no stranger to being tasked to win a game with a 54-yard field goal. Nearly one year earlier, on Sept. 23, 2023, Vaes left no doubt in nailing a 54-yard field goal to send MSU to victory over Eastern New Mexico.

Once again, Vaes left no doubt.

“I listened for the sound when his foot hits the ball because you can tell without looking if he made it or missed it in practice simply by the sound,” Patterson said. “When he hit that (ball), I knew it would be good.”

ACU departed Nottingham Field with a 24-22 victory to add to what’s been a crazy year in only three weeks.

The Wildcats opened their 2024 campaign by nearly pulling off the biggest upset in program history. However, they fell 52-51 to Texas Tech in overtime after failing to convert the two-point conversion for the win. 

As the ACU team bus was leaving Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, a 19-year-old drunk driver disregarded the police escort and crashed into the bus, sending the bus into another vehicle and over the median. The accident left four people injured, including Patterson.

“I’m telling you, it’s one of the most violent things I’ve ever experienced,” Patterson said. “One second, I’m sitting there getting ready to eat a Chick-fil-A sandwich, and the next thing I know, I’m looking out the bus window from my back while on the floor of the bus.”

Leading into the Wildcats’ home opener against West Georgia, ACU had to drown out the noise from everyone wanting to discuss the Texas Tech game and the bus accident. The distractions around the program were compounded heading into the UNC contest after ACU entered the top 25 for the first time as a Division I program.

On Saturday night, Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium will be the site of another program first in FCS, when No. 4 Idaho visits No. 19 ACU for the stadium's first matchup between top 25 teams. 

Once again, Patterson knows the program’s struggles against top-25 competition since beginning the transition to Division I. ACU is 3-8 against top-25 foes, including a 1-5 mark at home. Under Patterson, the Wildcats are 0-3 against top-25 opponents but have been within a touchdown in all three contests.

A win over an Idaho team that lost by 10 at Oregon and won by four at Wyoming before destroying No. 17 UAlbany 41-13 last week would be another significant step forward for the program.

“They’re a great football team. We have nothing but respect for their program and the challenge they will present to us this week. We’re looking forward to it, and it’s a great barometer of where we are as a program,” Patterson said. “We’ve had opportunities to beat top-25 teams since we’ve been here, but we didn’t get it done. If we beat Idaho, we’ll instantly gain national respect for our program. We’ve had eras of success when Wally Bullington and Chris Thompson were here, and we’re trying to bring another era of success. 

“I’m hoping the crowd shows up and is excited and into the game. It’s going to be a quality brand of football. We don’t have to hype this game to our players. They will see the need to elevate our mental intensity this week when they watch Idaho’s film. Our goal for this season wasn’t to beat Texas Tech or Idaho. Our goal is to go undefeated at home and win a conference championship. This week’s game is simply an incredible opportunity to showcase where we are as a football program.”