SATURDAY’S AREA COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES
FCS NO. 5 INCARNATE WORD (9-1, 4-1) AT NORTHWESTERN ST. (4-6, 4-1)
When/where: 1 p.m. at Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, La.
TV: ESPN+.
Update: The winner will claim a share of the Southland Conference championship along with Southeastern Louisiana, which closed its season with a 40-17 win over Nicholls State on Thursday. … UIW’S scoring margin of +313 is the best in Division I. … Cardinals quarterback Lindsey Scott ranks second nationally with 340.9 passing yards per game and 45 passing touchdowns. His marks of 11.67 yards per attempt and 220.2 passing efficiency are on pace to set FCS records. … UIW is coming off an open week and will look to recapture the explosive output of a 70-point first half in a win over Houston Christian on Nov. 5.
ARKANSAS STATE (3-7, 1-5) AT TEXAS STATE (3-7, 1-5)
When/where: 4 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos. Tv/radio: ESPN3; 89.9 FM.
Update: The Bobcats enter on a four-game losing streak. Texas State finished 0-6 on the road with last week’s loss at South Alabama, but the Bobcats are 3-1 at home. … Texas State enters the week ranked No. 47 nationally in total defense, allowing 360.4 yards per game. The Bobcats never have finished higher than 53rd nationally at the FBS level. … Texas State defensive lineman Levi Bell has 11½ tackles for loss — 1½ shy of an Fbs-era school record. He also leads the team with five sacks.
D-III NO. 9 HARDIN-SIMMONS (9-1) AT D-III NO. 6 TRINITY (10-0)
When/where: Noon at Trinity University Football Stadium.
Update: Trinity is hosting a Division III playoff game for the first time since 2011 after completing its ninth undefeated regular season since 1994 to claim the Southern Athletic Association title for the third time in the past four seasons. … Sophomore receiver BJ Stewart returned two punts for touchdowns last week, earning SAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors and making him the only player in Division III with three punt return touchdowns this year. … Trinity ranks third in Division III in rushing defense with 46.2 yards per game allowed and seventh in total defense at 205.3 yards per game.