For the first time since 2021, the OUAZ Football team will be heading to the NAIA Football Championship Series. The Spirit will enter as the 17th seed, and will face 16th-seeded Friends University on Saturday, November 23 in Wichita, Kan.

OUAZ finished the season 8-1, with all eight victories coming by two or more possessions. Offensively, the Spirit averaged the second-most points per game in the NAIA this season and had 70+ points in three victories. Defensively, the aggressive and intense unit held opponents to 14 points or less in five different games.

Friends University earned an automatic bid as one of two teams from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference with a 10-1 record. The winners of the KCAC's Dr. Ted Kessinger Division built its path to the tournament on defense, allowing the tenth-fewest points per game and allowing the fifth-fewest yards per game in 11 contests.

Kickoff on Saturday is set for 11 a.m. AZT/Noon CST. Come back to this story often for the most up-to-date information on things such as tickets and streaming.