The Incarnate Word Cardinals football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) located in San Antonio, Texas. The program began in 2009 and originally competed in NCAA Division II as members of the Lone Star Conference. In 2013, the school moved to Division I. For the 2013 season, UIW competed as a member of the Southland Conference for all sports except football. Football competed with an 11-game schedule as an Independent. UIW began playing Southland football in the 2014 season. The team plays its home games at the 6,000 seat Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
History UIW held its first team practice on August 27, 2008, and began competing as an NCAA Division II independent on August 29, 2009.
Conference Affiliations
2009: Division II Independent 2010–2012: Lone Star Conference 2013: FCS Independent 2014–present: Southland Conference
Coaches Name Seasons Record Pct. Mike Santiago 2009–2011 10–18 Todd Ivicic 2011* 0–3 Larry Kennan 2012–2017 20–46 Eric Morris 2018–2021 24–18 G. J. Kinne 2022 12–2 Clint Killough 2023–present 27–15 *Ivicic served as interim head coach for the final three games of 2011, completing Santiago's third season as coach
Conference Championships UIW has won 4 Southland Conference championships, two shared and two outright. Year Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record 2018† Southland Conference Eric Morris 6–5 6–2 2021 10–3 7–1 2022† G. J. Kinne 12–2 5–1 2024 Clint Killough 11–3 7–0 Total Conference Championships 4 † Co-champions
Playoff appearances NCAA Division I-AA/FCS The Cardinals have participated in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs four times. Their combined record is 4–4.
2018 First Round Montana State L, 14–35 2021 First RoundSecond Round Stephen F. AustinSam Houston W, 35–28 L, 42–49 2022 Second roundQuarterfinalsSemifinals FurmanSacramento StateNorth Dakota State W, 41–38W, 66–63 L, 32–35 2024 Second RoundQuarterfinals VillanovaSouth Dakota State W, 13–6L, 14–55
Year-by-year results Legend † Conference champions Playoff berth +List of Incarnate Word Cardinals football seasonsSeasonTeamHead coachConferenceDivisionRegular season resultsPostseason resultsFinal rankingOverallConferencePlayoff resultSTATS PollCoaches' PollWinLossPct.WinLossPct.FinishIncarnate Word Cardinals 2009 2009 Mike Santiago Division II Independent —55 .50000—N/A — — — 2010 2010 Lone Star South38.27337.30012th — — — 2011 2011 Mike Santiago / Todd Ivicic (Interim) —28.20025.2866th — — — 2012 2012 Larry Kennan29.18217.1259th — — — 2013 2013 FCS Independent65.54500—N/A — — — 2014 2014 Southland29.18226.2509th — — — 2015 2015 6 5.545 5 4.5564th — — — 2016 2016 3 8.273 3 6.333 8th — — — 2017 2017 1 10.091 1 7.125 9th — — — 2018 2018 † Eric Morris 6 5.545 6 2.750 T–1st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – first round — — 2019 2019 5 7.417 4 5.444 T–6th — — — 2020 2020 3 3.500 3 3.500 T–3rd — — — 2021 2021 † 10 3.769 6 1.857 1st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – second round 12 13 2022 2022 † G. J. Kinne 12 2.857 5 1.833 T–1st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – semifinals 3 3 2023 2023 Clint Killough 9 2 .818 6 1 .857 2nd — 22 14 2024 2024 † 11 3 .786 7 0 1.000 1st NCAA Division I FCS playoffs – quarterfinals 6 6 2025 2025 5 7 .417 3 5 .375 T–7th — — — 2026 2026 2 3 .400 1 1 .500 — — — Totals All-time:93–102() Conference:59–60()— Postseason:4–4()——
Stadium
UIW home football games are played on campus at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. Benson Stadium was dedicated on September 1, 2008 and currently seats 6,000 people. It is named after Tom Benson and his wife Gayle, whose generous monetary donations helped start up the UIW football program. Record stadium attendance of 6,498 was recorded in a game against Houston Baptist on November 17, 2016. UIW currently has an overall home record at the stadium of 55–38.
All-time record vs. Southland teams
Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current Southland opponents:
Opponent Won Lost Percentage Streak First Last East Texas A&M 6 1 Lost 1 2010 2025 Houston Christian 12 0 Won 12 2013 2026 Lamar 8 4 Won 6 2011 2025 McNeese 6 5 Won 3 2014 2024 Nicholls 6 7 Lost 1 2014 2025 Northwestern State 5 3 Won 3 2014 2025 Southeastern Louisiana 7 6 Lost 1 2013 2025 Stephen F. Austin 3 7 Lost 2 2014 2026 UT Rio Grande Valley 0 1 Lost 1 2025 2025 Totals 53 34
Record against FBS competition Overall (2–10) Season Opponent Division Result Score Record 2015 UTEP C-USA L 17–27 0–1 2016 Texas State Sun Belt L 17–48 0–2 2017 Fresno State Mountain West L 0–66 0–3 2018 New Mexico Mountain West L 30–62 0–4 2018 North Texas C-USA L 16–58 0–5 2019 UTSA C-USA L 7–35 0–6 2019 New Mexico State FBS Independent L 28–41 0–7 2021 Texas State Sun Belt W 42–34 1–7 2022 Nevada Mountain West W 55–41 2–7 2023 UTEP C-USA L 14–28 2–8 2025 UTSA American L 20–48 2–9 2026 Texas State Pac 12 L 10–63 2–10 2027 Baylor Big 12 2029 Texas Tech Big 12 Total 2–10
Individual awards Walter Payton Award winners
The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding college offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors. 2022 – Lindsey Scott Jr.
Jerry Rice Award winners
The Jerry Rice Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding freshman player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) of college football as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors. 2020–21 – Cam Ward
Southland Conference Award winners
Player of the Year 2022 – Lindsey Scott Jr., Quarterback 2024 – Zach Calzada, Quarterback
Offensive Player of the Year 2021 – Cam Ward, Quarterback 2023 – Brandon Porter, Wide receiver 2024 – Jalen Walthall, Wide receiver
Defensive Player of the Year 2022 – Kelechi Anyalebechi, Linebacker
Newcomer of the Year 2015 – Myke Tavarres, Linebacker 2021 – Taylor Grimes, Wide receiver 2023 – Zach Calzada, Quarterback
Freshman of the Year 2018 – Jon Copeland, Quarterback 2020–21 – Cam Ward, Quarterback
Coach of the Year 2018 – Eric Morris 2021 – Eric Morris 2024 – Clint Killough
Football Student-Athlete of the Year 2022 – Kelechi Anyalebechi, Linebacker 2024 – Roy Alexander, Wide Receiver
FCS All-Americans YearPlayerPositionFirst teamSecond teamThird team 2015 Myke Tavarres LB STATS, AFCA AP — 2017 Joseph Zema P AP, STATS, HERO AFCA — 2017 Desmond Hite KR — STATS, HERO — 2018 Ra’Quanne Dickens RB — — STATS, HERO 2020 Kevin Brown RB / AP — STATS, AFCA — 2021 Cam Ward QB — STATS — 2021 Taylor Grimes WR — AP, STATS, HERO — 2021 Kelechi Anyalebechi LB — — AP, STATS 2022 Lindsey Scott Jr. QB AP, STATS, HERO, AFCA — — 2022 Darion Chafin WR — — AP, STATS 2022 Taylor Grimes WR — AP, STATS — 2022 Caleb Johnson OL — — AP 2022 Kelechi Anyalebechi LB — AP, STATS — 2023 Brandon Porter WR — AP, STATS, FCS Football Central — 2023 Steven Parker DL PFF AFCA STATS, FCS Football Central 2024 Roy Alexander WR — — STATS, FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout 2024 Zach Calzada QB — STATS AP, FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout 2024 Mason Chambers DB STATS FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout AP 2024 Jalen Walthall WR AP, STATS, FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout — — 2025 Jalen Walthall WR — — STATS, AP
Players in the NFL
Player namePositionYears at UIWYears in NFLNFL team Justin Alexandre DE 2017–2018 2019 Jets Kelechi Anyalebechi LB 2018–2022 2023 Rams Elliott Davison DB 2020–2022 2025 Saints Taylor Grimes WR 2021–2022 2023 Broncos Alex Jenkins DE 2013–2016 2017–2019 Saints, Giants Nash Jones OL 2020–2022 2025 Chargers, Broncos B.J. Mayes DB 2021–2022 2025 Eagles Silas Stewart LB 2017–2018 2019 Ravens Myke Tavarres LB 2014–2015 2016 Eagles Cam Ward QB 2020–2021 2025–present Titans Jalen Walthall WR 2024–2025 2026 Texans, Jets Cole Wick TE 2012–2015 2016–2020 Lions, 49ers, Titans, Raiders, Saints National Football League (NFL)
Players in the CFL
Player namePositionYears at UIWYears in CFLCFL Team Kelechi Anyalebechi LB 2018-2022 2025–present Calgary Stampeders Kevin Brown RB 2019–2021 2022–2025 Edmonton Elks, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats Trevor Begue WR 2021 2023 Edmonton Elks Olivier Charles–Pierre DT 2022 2023 Edmonton Elks Jamari Gilbert DB 2013–2017 2019 Calgary Stampeders Robert Hayes, Jr. DB 2016 2022 Montreal Alouettes Nash Jones OL 2020–2022 2026–present Edmonton Elks Silas Stewart DL 2017–2018 2021–2024 Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Redblacks Myke Tavarres LB 2014–2015 2017 Hamilton Tiger-Cats Joseph Zema P 2017 2021–present Montreal Alouettes Canadian Football League (CFL)
Future non-conference opponents Announced non-conference opponents as of May 20, 2026.
at Baylor Montana at Texas Tech Northern Arizona at Montana at Eastern Washington
See also List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs
References
External links