Clint Killough was convinced his UIW team would receive an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs last year. The Cardinals held a 9-2 record, with one loss at FBS UTEP in the season opener. The other was a home defeat to a Nicholls squad that went undefeated through the Southland Conference to claim its first outright conference title and the conference’s automatic bid.

The Cardinals appeared in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 and the FCS Stats Perform Top 25 for 37 consecutive weeks, the fifth-longest streak in the country behind North Dakota State, two-time reigning national champion South Dakota State, Montana, and Montana State.

Minutes before entering the room where ESPN had cameras set up to capture the watch party, Killough was told that UIW would not hear its name called as an at-large bid. After the show concluded, the first-year head coach dismissed those from the room who weren’t players or coaches. What followed was an emotional scene.

“I had to sit through the whole thing with not great thoughts in my head,” Killough said. “I don’t remember what I said to the team. I talked for about five minutes and let all the emotion come out. But the emotion in that room - I won’t forget. Just - the tears.”

As someone who admittedly has a natural chip on his shoulder, that experience only added to the Cardinals' determination entering 2024.

“I am grateful for that moment because it’s one of those moments when I realize these guys are looking to me to lead them through this tough time, and that’s humbling,” Killough said. “I was in there for an hour, hugging every kid as he walked out. Some of those guys had their careers end at that moment. But it’s created a real chip on my shoulder — not just for me but this entire team.”

Upon further review, UIW being one win short of a third consecutive Southland title and appearance in the playoffs was nothing short of spectacular, considering the first-year head coach and his staff were forced to replace 66 members from the 2022 national semifinalist.

“You don’t replace 66 players mid-year. This time last year, we were looking to sign 12 to 15 more players who we were counting on to be impact players for us in the fall,” Killough said. “Those guys had to build a relationship with their teammates and coaches and learn a new scheme in a new setting in three months.”

Humility has a way of refocusing oneself, and the selection committee’s snub humbled UIW.

“We kind of rode the wave of what the ‘21, ‘22, and ‘23 teams accomplished,” he said. “We were talking about winning a third straight Southland championship. But the humility that came last year created a blue-collar mentality within our program. We’ve been very detail-oriented, and we’re going to check every box every single day. This mentality is who UIW has been and why this program accelerated so rapidly. We’re bringing our lunch box to work every day.”

Many pundits pointed to UIW’s strength of schedule as the culprit that kept the Cardinals out of the playoffs. That shouldn’t be an excuse in 2024, with the Cardinals traveling to meet a South Dakota State squad on a 29-game winning streak in Week 2, followed by a trip to Southern Illinois in Week 3. UIW’s administration chose to forego a “money” game this year against an FBS opponent to help its strength of schedule. 

“I scheduled a couple of Missouri Valley schools in the non-conference because I heard loud and clear what the committee said about our strength of schedule,” Killough said. “At the end of the day, we didn’t make the playoffs because we didn’t win the Southland, period.”

UIW has 17 players who started a game last season, not including specialists. Killough believes the continuity of the roster and coaching staff will propel the Cardinals back to the playoffs this season.

“We do everything with intention and a purpose, whether on or off the field, in the classroom, or the weight room,” Killough said. “These guys have taken ownership and accountability of the process, and I think that and our blue-collar mentality will be the biggest difference for us this year.”

DCTF’s Take

Many coaches and pundits will pick Nicholls to repeat as Southland Conference champions in 2024. However, UIW is the team to watch this season. Playing against South Dakota State and Southern Illinois in non-conference will expose the areas the Cardinals need to improve before facing conference opponents.

The Cardinals will be focused on preparing for every Southland foe this season and return 12 players who were starters for a 2023 squad that finished second in the nation in total and passing offense. The defense led the nation in team passing efficiency last year and was 10th in total defense. A focused, motivated, and talented UIW is primed for another deep run through the playoffs, similar to 2022.