The University of West Florida football team is back in the NCAA playoffs for the fifth time in program history, and for the fourth consecutive season.
The Argos, unseeded in Super Region 2, will travel to second-seeded Delta State on Saturday for the second time this season. UWF came away with the tight 24-21 win in Cleveland, Mississippi. All-time against the Statesmen, the Argos have a 5-3 advantage, winning the last two games.
This isn’t the first time the Gulf South Conference rivals have met in the playoffs. Just last season, in the second round of the playoffs, UWF won 38-27 – getting revenge from a regular-season loss to the Statesmen a couple months prior in 2022.
‘Just Believe’:No. 18 UWF overcomes two-score halftime deficit to knock off No. 5 Delta State
UWF is coming off a dominant 52-6 win over Chowan University this past Saturday at Pen Air Field, which also served as the Argos’ Senior Day. Not only was the offense on fire, recording over 500 yards of total offense, but the defense came up with some big stops after allowing an early touchdown.
Delta State, in similar fashion, came away with a 41-3 home win against Mississippi College.
The Argos finished the 2023 regular season with an 8-3 (6-2 GSC) record, placing third in the GSC. Delta State has a 9-1 (7-1 GSC) record. The Statesmen claimed the GSC championship, tying with Valdosta State.
The Blazers (10-1, 7-1 GSC) are also in the 2023 playoffs as the No. 3 seed. Valdosta State hosts Limestone University on Saturday.
The winner of the Delta State-West Florida and Valdosta State-Limestone games will go head-to-head a week from Saturday in the second round.
Elsewhere in Super Region 2, undefeated Benedict University claimed the top spot and has a bye for the first round of the playoffs. Benedict will play the winner of fourth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne University, a team UWF is well-familiar with, and Shepherd University.
Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at [email protected].
