2021 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team

The 2021 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team represented Eastern Kentucky University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by Walt Wells in his second season. The Colonels played their home games at Roy Kidd Stadium and competed as a member of the ASUN Conference.

2021 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football
Opportunity Bowl champion
Conference	AQ7
Record	7–4 (4–2 AQ7)
Head coach	Walt Wells (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Andy Richman (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Jake Johnson (2nd season)
Home stadium	Roy Kidd Stadium
Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

2021 WAC–ASUN Challenge football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 5 Sam Houston $^		6	–	0					11	–	1
No. 21 Stephen F. Austin ^		4	–	2					8	–	4
Eastern Kentucky		4	–	2					7	–	4
Central Arkansas		3	–	3					5	–	6
Jacksonville State		3	–	3					5	–	6
Abilene Christian		1	–	5					5	–	6
Lamar		0	–	6					1	–	9
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

The ASUN Conference and Western Athletic Conference announced the formation of the WAC-ASUN Challenge (AQ7) for the 2021 season on February 23, 2021. The Challenge included the four fully qualified Division I (FCS) members of the WAC (Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin) and Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State of the ASUN Conference. The winner of the challenge received an auto-bid to the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs.^[1]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	6:00 p.m.	at Western Carolina*		Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC	ESPN+	W 31–28	9,647
September 11	7:00 pm	at Louisville*		Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	ACCNX	L 3–30	39,673
September 18	7:00 p.m.	Indiana State*		Roy Kidd Stadium Richmond, KY	ESPN+	L 21–23	14,173
September 25	3:00 p.m.	No. 19 Austin Peay*		Roy Kidd Stadium Richmond, KY	ESPN+	W 35–27	13,081
October 2	3:00 p.m.	Tarleton State		Roy Kidd Stadium Richmond, KY	ESPN+	W 20–3	13,174
October 9	6:00 p.m.	Abilene Christian		Roy Kidd Stadium Richmond, KY (ASUN/WAC Challenge)	ESPN+	W 30–15	8,659
October 16	5:00 p.m.	at Central Arkansas		Estes Stadium Conway, AR	ESPN+	W 38–35	5,438
October 30	2:00 p.m.	Lamar	No. 25	Roy Kidd Stadium Richmond, KY (ASUN/WAC Challenge)	ESPN+	W 42–10	8,462
November 6	5:00 p.m.	at Stephen F. Austin	No. 25	Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX (ASUN/WAC Challenge)	ESPN+	L 17–31	7,637
November 13	1:00 p.m.	at No. 1 Sam Houston		Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (ASUN/WAC Challenge)	ESPN+	L 28–42	6,570
November 20	2:00 p.m.	Jacksonville State		Roy Kidd Stadium Richmond, KY (Opportunity Bowl[2])	ESPN+	W 39–31 2OT	11,682
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[3][4]

References

1. "ASUN, WAC form 2021 alliance, seek FCS playoff bid". Verizon Media. February 23, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
2. "EKU To Host 2nd Annual Opportunity Bowl". Eastern Kentucky University. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
3. "2021 Eastern Kentucky Colonels Football Schedule". EKUSports.com.
4. "2021 Eastern Kentucky Colonels Football Schedule". FBSchedules.