Abilene Christian has a history of success on the gridiron. Much of that success is posted on the outside walls and inside the press box at Wildcat Stadium. Unfortunately for current fans, most of that success was before the 1980s.

It’s no secret the transition to FCS has been difficult for ACU’s football program. The men’s basketball team that defeated Texas in the NCAA Tournament was worth more than $120 million to the university. The victory also shined a light on a football program that has outstanding facilities and a beautiful stadium.

Keith Patterson was hired in January 2022 after spending the previous three seasons as defensive coordinator at Texas Tech, intent on building a program to meet the expectations of Wildcats donors and fans. His first season was a solid start toward building a winning program. Last year, ACU earned its most wins (7) since transitioning to FCS in 2013 and appeared in the unofficial Western Athletic Conference championship game. The Wildcats showed the country they were a threat to earn a bid to the playoffs this year in a narrow loss to No. 9 UIW Saturday.

ACU’s coaching staff has attacked the transfer portal over the last two offseasons, which has been key to the Wildcats 9-5 record under Patterson. More specifically, Patterson’s connection to Texas Tech has produced the most dividends for ACU.

“I have a direct connection to Texas Tech, having coached there for three years. A lot of the players on their roster were recruited when I was there, so I know the type of player and person they have,” Patterson said. “It’s a relationship business, and we have a great relationship with Joey and his staff. We’ve been using the transfer portal similar to how we once used junior college football. We look at any player that enters the portal at Texas Tech. It’s almost a Texas Tech East, if you will.”

The Wildcats have seven former Red Raiders on the roster. Five of the seven players are on the two-deep roster, with three playing critical roles on offense.

Quarterback Maverick McIvor spent his first three seasons at Texas Tech following a standout career at San Angelo Central. Last year, McIvor completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,212 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Junior has produced 722 yards and five touchdowns in three games this season.

“He’s in a comfort zone this year and has better command of what we’re trying to do. He’s always been behind the eight-ball with injuries, and this is the first year he’s gone through a full offseason of spring, summer, and fall camp,” Patterson said. “I don’t think we’ve touched the tip of the iceberg of the team that we can become, and that’s encouraging.”

Tight end Jed Castles transferred to ACU after a redshirt season with Texas Tech. The sophomore from Wichita Falls Rider is averaging 13.5 yards per catch this season and is a matchup nightmare at 6-foot-6, 235 pounds.

“Who do you cover him with? You put a linebacker on him, and he can run away from them. You put a defensive back on him, and he’s a big target with a large catch radius,” Patterson said. “Add in his nice, soft hands, and he’s developed into a complete tight end.”

Patterson set out during the most recent offseason to improve ACU’s defensive line. Enter Syncere Massey, who redshirted in 2022 for the Red Raiders. The Cedar Hill native is listed at 6-foot-5, 325 pounds, and is nearly an immovable object at defensive tackle.

“I’m more proud of him than anyone on our football team," Patterson said. "He’s not the same person we recruited back in January. This has been a great fit for him, and his better days are ahead. Coach (Nick) Holt has done an incredible job developing him. We’re trying to adapt our scheme to fit what he does well instead of cramming him into a system.”

Punter Grant Nickel also spent a redshirt season at Texas Tech in 2021 and did not see any game action at ACU last year. However, the Spring native is a weapon for the Wildcats this season, averaging 47.8 yards per punt while placing four inside the 20-yard line.

“He had a punt in our first home game, which was the first time I’ve ever seen a punt go above our lights. It may have been the highest punt I’ve ever seen," Patterson said. "We challenged him all spring and summer because we knew the type of leg he had. Something clicked for him midway through fall camp, and he’s been kicking the ball with confidence.

The other transfers from Lubbock include starting center Tay Yanta, senior wide receiver Dax Neece, and redshirt-freshman quarterback Hut Graham. Patterson said the offensive coaches are trying to get Graham more involved in the offense with his elite athleticism. The veteran coach expects the Red Raider connection to continue as long as he’s in Abilene.

“There’s a lot of good players at the FBS level. That’s one of the positive things I’ve seen about the portal,” Patterson said. “If a kid from Texas Tech wants an opportunity to get playing time, we have an incredible opportunity down the road. We’re going to continue to use the portal and provide more opportunities for these young men.”