RICHMOND, Ky. – In a season of ups and downs, close games, thrilling wins, and record-breaking performances it is safe to say that the 2024 season of Eastern Kentucky University Football is one that Colonel fans will not forget anytime soon.
 
With the season having reached its end, it is time to look back at the season that was and dive into just some of the stats and numbers from the past 13 games, and the larger story behind them.
 
8 – First and foremost, EKU ended the 2024 season with eight wins with a final record of 8-5, going 6-2 in United Athletic Conference Play.
 
The eight wins is the most in the Walt Wells era for the Colonels, with a large portion of the wins coming in a five-game winning streak to end the regular season including two over then nationally ranked teams in the UAC in Tarleton State and Central Arkansas.
 
23 – EKU's 8-4 resume in the regular season was enough to earn the Colonels an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs marking the 23rd time in program history that EKU had made it to the postseason, the second under coach Wells.
 
EKU's 23 appearances all-time is the second most all-time at the FCS/I-AA level trailing only Montana.
 
0 – Zero is the number of teams that defeated the Colonels in Richmond at Roy Kidd Stadium this season as EKU went a perfect 6-0 at home in 2024.
 
The six wins in front of Colonel Nation marked the first time EKU has gone perfect at home since 2010.
 
23.7 – The Colonels' stout defense was on display all season, holding opponents to an average of just 23.7 points per game the second-best mark in the UAC.
 
The "bend but don't break" defense came up huge in multiple games in 2024 keeping teams off the board late in games leading to the nearly 10-point improvement from 2023.
 
The figure is also the fewest points per game allowed since 2019.
 
3 – That's how many consecutive game-winning touchdowns running back Joshua Carter scored in EKU's wins over Tarleton State, Central Arkansas, and Austin Peay.
 
In the wins the "Comeback Colonels" led for only a combined four minutes and 50 seconds in the three wins.
 
In the final win over Austin Peay, Carter saved his best for last with a thrilling walk-off winner in overtime breaking through multiple APSU defenders on a 23-yard touchdown run on the second play of EKU's overtime possession lifting the Colonels to a 30-27 win.
 
Against APSU, Josh Carter eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards this season and 2,000 rushing yards in a career.
 
He became the 17th and 18th individual to accomplish those feats at EKU.
 
4 – Defensive back and captain Mike Smith Jr. ended the 2024 season with 4 interceptions, tied for the most in the UAC.

189 – Despite losing the two projected starters at inside linebackers either before or early in the season, EKU found an answer in two young stars, Maddox Marcellus and Braden Sullivan.

Together the two led the team in tackles combining for 189 total tackles as a duo.

2 – A surprising figure for some, but defensive lineman Darrian Baker ended the season with two interceptions.

The first coming in the red zone in EKU's win over Robert Morris, and the other in the First Round of the FCS Playoffs against Villanova.

In his final season at EKU, Baker finished with 43 total tackles, 10.5 for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble.

309 – Kicker Patrick Nations ended his four-year Colonel career with the school record for field goals made in a career with 54 and the most kicking points in a career with 309.
 
17 – Punter Jacob Baker had 17 punts of 50 or more yards this season the most in the UAC while also leading the conference in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (24) and punting average (43.7).
 
5,178.21 – That's the total number of miles the Colonels traveled to play their opponents on the road this season with the longest trip coming in week seven when EKU traveled 1,787 miles to face the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah.
 
35,961 – The official total attendance of our home games this season in front of Colonel Nation.
 
As the calendar begins to turn to 2025, so does the focus for EKU football with 2025's schedule being announced and National Signing Day starting on Wednesday, Dec. 4 thus closing the book on a memorable 2024 season.