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Incarnate Word Cardinals football

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Incarnate Word Cardinals football
2026 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team
First season2009; 17 years ago
Head coachClint Killough
4th season, 25–12 (.676)
LocationSan Antonio, Texas
StadiumGayle and Tom Benson Stadium
(capacity: 6,000)
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceSouthland
ColorsRed, white, and black[1]
     
All-time record91–99 (.479)
Conference championships
SLC: 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024
Fight song"Cardinal Fight"
MascotRed Cardinal
Marching bandMarching Cardinals
OutfitterAdidas
Websiteuiwcardinals.com

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

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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

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Coaches

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NameSeasonsRecordPct.
Mike Santiago 2009–2011 10–18 .357
Todd Ivicic 2011* 0–3 .000
Larry Kennan 2012–2017 20–46 .303
Eric Morris 2018–2021 24–18 .571
G. J. Kinne 2022 12–2 .857
Clint Killough 2023–present 25–12 .676

*Ivicic served as interim head coach for the final three games of 2011, completing Santiago's third season as coach[2]

A Cardinals football game in 2022

Conference Championships

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UIW has won 4 Southland Conference championships, two shared and two outright.

Year Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
2018†Southland ConferenceEric Morris6–56–2
202110–37–1
2022†G. J. Kinne12–25–1
2024Clint Killough11–37–0
Total Conference Championships 4

† Co-champions

Playoff appearances

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NCAA Division I-AA/FCS

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The Cardinals have participated in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs four times. Their combined record is 4–4.

Year Round Opponent Result
2018First RoundMontana StateL, 14–35
2021 First Round
Second Round		 Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston		 W, 35–28 OT
L, 42–49
2022 Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Furman
Sacramento State
North Dakota State		 W, 41–38
W, 66–63
L, 32–35
2024Second Round
Quarterfinals		Villanova
South Dakota State		W, 13–6
L, 14–55

Year-by-year results

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Legend

  † Conference champions
  Playoff berth

List of Incarnate Word Cardinals football seasons
Season Team Head coach Conference Division Regular season results Postseason results Final ranking
Overall Conference Playoff result STATS Poll Coaches' Poll
Win Loss Pct. Win Loss Pct. Finish
Incarnate Word Cardinals
2009 2009 Mike Santiago Division II Independent — 5 5 .500 0 0 — N/A — — —
2010 2010 Lone Star South 3 8 .273 3 7 .300 12th — — —
2011 2011 Mike Santiago / Todd Ivicic (Interim) — 2 8 .200 2 5 .286 6th — — —
2012 2012 Larry Kennan 2 9 .182 1 7 .125 9th — — —
2013 2013 FCS Independent 6 5 .545 0 0 — N/A — — —
2014 2014 Southland 2 9 .182 2 6 .250 9th — — —
2015 2015 6 5 .545 5 4 .556 4th — — —
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 — — —
Totals All-time:
91–99
(.479)		 Conference:
58–59
(.496)		 — Postseason:
4–4
(.500)		 — —

[3]

Stadium

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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.[4] UIW currently has an overall home record at the stadium of 53–38.

All-time record vs. Southland teams

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Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current Southland opponents:

Opponent Won Lost Percentage Streak First Last
East Texas A&M61.857Lost 120102025
Houston Christian1101.000Won 1120132025
Lamar84.667Won 620112025
McNeese65.545Won 320142024
Nicholls67.462Lost 120142025
Northwestern State53.625Won 320142025
Southeastern Louisiana76.538Lost 120132025
Stephen F. Austin36.333Lost 120142025
UT Rio Grande Valley01.000Lost 120252025
Totals 52 33 .612

Record against FBS competition

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Overall (2–8)

Season Opponent Division Result Score Record
2015UTEPC-USAL17–270–1
2016Texas StateSun BeltL17–480–2
2017Fresno StateMountain WestL0–660–3
2018New MexicoMountain WestL30–620–4
2018North TexasC-USAL16–580–5
2019UTSAC-USAL7–350–6
2019New Mexico StateFBS IndependentL28–410–7
2021Texas StateSun BeltW42–341–7
2022NevadaMountain WestW55–412–7
2023UTEPC-USAL14–282–8
2025UTSAAmericanL20–482–9
2026Texas StatePac 12
2027BaylorBig 12
2029Texas TechBig 12
Total 2–9

Individual awards

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Walter Payton Award winners

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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.

Jerry Rice Award winners

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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.

Southland Conference Award winners

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FCS All-Americans

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Year Player Position First team Second team Third team
2015Myke TavarresLBSTATS, AFCAAP—
2017Joseph ZemaPAP, STATS, HEROAFCA—
2017Desmond HiteKR—STATS, HERO—
2018Ra’Quanne DickensRB——STATS, HERO
2020Kevin BrownRB / AP—STATS, AFCA—
2021Cam WardQB—STATS—
2021Taylor GrimesWR—AP, STATS, HERO—
2021Kelechi AnyalebechiLB——AP, STATS
2022Lindsey Scott Jr.QBAP, STATS, HERO, AFCA——
2022Darion ChafinWR——AP, STATS
2022Taylor GrimesWR—AP, STATS—
2022Caleb JohnsonOL——AP
2022Kelechi AnyalebechiLB—AP, STATS—
2023Brandon PorterWR—AP, STATS, FCS Football Central—
2023Steven ParkerDLPFFAFCASTATS, FCS Football Central
2024Roy AlexanderWR——STATS, FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout
2024Zach CalzadaQB—STATSAP, FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout
2024Mason ChambersDBSTATSFCS Football Central, Phil Steele/DraftscoutAP
2024Jalen WalthallWRAP, STATS, FCS Football Central, Phil Steele/Draftscout——
2025Jalen WalthallWR——STATS, AP

[10][11][12][13][14][15]

Players in the NFL

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Player name Position Years at UIW Years in NFL NFL team
Justin AlexandreDE2017–20182019Jets
Kelechi AnyalebechiLB2018–20222023Rams
Elliott DavisonDB2020–20222025Saints
Taylor GrimesWR2021–20222023Broncos
Alex JenkinsDE2013–20162017–2019Saints, Giants
Nash JonesOL2020–20222025Chargers
B.J. MayesDB2021–20222025Eagles
Silas StewartLB2017–20182019Ravens
Myke TavarresLB2014–20152016Eagles
Cam WardQB2020–20212025–presentTitans
Jalen WalthallWR2024–20252026–presentTexans, Jets
Cole WickTE2012–20152016–2020Lions, 49ers, Titans, Raiders, Saints
National Football League (NFL)

[16] [17][18] [19]

Players in the CFL

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Player name Position Years at UIW Years in CFL CFL Team
Kelechi AnyalebechiLB2018-20222025–presentCalgary Stampeders
Kevin BrownRB2019–20212022–2025Edmonton Elks, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Trevor BegueWR20212023Edmonton Elks
Olivier Charles–PierreDT20222023Edmonton Elks
Robert Hayes, Jr.DB20162022Montreal Alouettes
Jamari GilbertDB2013–20172019Calgary Stampeders
Silas StewartDL2017–20182021–2024Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Redblacks
Myke TavarresLB2014–20152017Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Joseph ZemaP20172021–presentMontreal Alouettes
Canadian Football League (CFL)

[20][21][22][23][24][25]

Future non-conference opponents

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Announced non-conference opponents as of May 20, 2026.[26]

2026 2027 2028 2029
Oklahoma Panhandle State at Baylor at Texas Tech
at Northern Arizona Northern Arizona Montana at Montana
at Texas State at Eastern Washington

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ 2019 UIW Athletics Style Guide (PDF). April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Santiago out as UIW football coach; defensive coordinator to replace him". KENS 5. October 25, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Incarnate Word Cardinals Football Statistics". University of the Incarnate Word. 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Football vs Houston Baptist on 11/17/2016 - Box Score".
  5. ↑ "UIW QB Lindsey Scott Jr. Receives 2022 Walter Payton Award as FCS Offensive Player of the Year". theanalyst.com. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ "UIW's Cameron Ward Wins 10th Jerry Rice Award as FCS Freshman of the Year". theanalyst.com. May 3, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Southland Announces 2023 All-Conference Football Team and Superlatives". November 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ "UIW's Anyalebechi is Southland Football Student-Athlete of the Year, leading all-academic team".
  9. ↑ "UIW's Roy Alexander Named Southland Football Student-Athlete of the Year; All-Academic Team Announced".
  10. ↑ "UIW Football's Zema Selected to AP All-America First Team". uiwcardinals.com. University of the Incarnate Word. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Two Cardinals Named to AP FCS All-America Team". uiwcardinals.com. University of the Incarnate Word. December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Veteran QB Lindsey Scott of UIW leads FCS All-America team". Associated Press. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  13. ↑ "2023 FCS Football Central All-American Team". Associated Press. December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Widespread Talent Fills 2023 Stats Perform FCS All-America, Freshman Teams". Associated Press. December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Montana St QB Tommy Mellott, Southern Utah RB Targhee Lambson lead FCS AP All-America team". Associated Press. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Momentous Day for UIW Football". UIW Athletics. April 30, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Jenkins Promoted from UIW Cardinal to New Orleans Saint". UIW Athletics. May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Going Pro: Five Cardinals Get Closer to NFL Dreams". UIW Athletics. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ "2025 NFL Draft: Titans select Miami QB Cam Ward with No. 1 overall pick". NFL.com. April 24, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Jamari Gilbert".
  21. ↑ "Silas Stewart".
  22. ↑ "Joseph Zema".
  23. ↑ "Kevin Brown".
  24. ↑ "Trevor Begue".
  25. ↑ "Olivier Charles-Pierre".
  26. ↑ "Incarnate Word Cardinals Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
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