RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky faces its first test of the ASUN/WAC Challenge as the Colonels square off against Abilene Christian on Saturday night at Roy Kidd Stadium.
 
The game will air live on ESPN+ with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Greg Stotelmyer will handle play-by-play duties with Jim Tirey serving as the analyst and Wes Chandler working as the sideline reporter. The audio broadcast will also be simulcast in the Richmond area on WCYO 100.7 FM, and can be heard worldwide on EKUSports.com.

INSIDE THE SERIES
-  Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between EKU and Abilene Christian. 
 
-  EKU is playing its fourth consecutive home game. The Colonels have not had four straight home games in the regular season since 1955. 
 
THE COLONELS
-  Eastern Kentucky is 51-21 all-time in conference openers. EKU won 19 consecutive conference openers from 1981-99. 
 
-  Davion Ross has broken up an FCS-best nine passes this season.
 
-  EKU picked three ASUN weekly awards after defeating Tarleton last Saturday. Linebacker Eli Hairston was named ASUN Defensive Player of the Week, kicker Patrick Nations earned ASUN Special Teams Player of the Week, and running back Da'Joun Hewitt was selected ASUN Freshman of the Week. 
 
-  Eastern Kentucky held Tarleton to three points, the fewest allowed by the Colonels since a 31-0 victory over Austin Peay on Oct. 4, 2014. 

-  EKU rushed for 217 yards in the win over Tarleton, which marked Eastern Kentucky's highest rushing total since the Colonels ran for 230 yards in a 22-10 against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 16, 2019. 
 
-  In his first career start on Saturday, Jayden Higgins hauled in four catches for 62 yards, both career highs. 
 
-  40,428 fans attended the Colonels first three home games, the most over any three-game home stretch since the first three home games of 2003.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Abilene Christian enters Saturday's game with a 3-2 record, including an 0-1 mark in the ASUN/WAC Challenge. The Wildcats own victories over Louisiana College (62-7), UT Permian Basin (34-9), and Lamar (56-0).
 
-  The Wildcats have three defensive touchdowns on the season and are tied for the national lead in that category with EKU, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Campbell, Jacksonville State, and Stephen F. Austin. 
 
-  Wide receiver Kobe Clark ranks sixth in the nation with five receiving touchdowns. 
 
-  Quarterback Stone Earle is currently seventh nationally in completion percentage and passing touchdowns. 
 
-  Abilene Christian is allowing just 10.7 yards per kickoff return.