This fall’s homecoming game at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will essentially be considered an exhibition by the NCAA.
Westgate Christian University, which UAPB will host for homecoming on Oct. 11 at Simmons Bank Field, is on the NCAA’s list of “noncountable opponents,” meaning the NCAA won’t recognize the matchup as an official game for record- and stat-keeping purposes.
The list of noncountable opponents states the Houston-based institution “does not meet accreditation or membership requirements.”
According to the NCAA, an institution must grant four-year degrees, compete against such schools and be considered a varsity team by NCAA bylaws.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
If a school meets those requirements and is a member of the NCAA, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or National Christian College Athletic Association, then it is a countable opponent. If a U.S.-based school is not a member of one of those associations, then it must be accredited by one of eight NCAA-approved accrediting bodies, all of which are recognized by the United States Department of Education.
According to the WCU website, the school offers a full range of degrees from associate to doctorate, but it is accredited by the National Bible College Association, which is not recognized by the Department of Education.
The Ravens are also not a member of the NCAA, NAIA or NCCAA. They instead compete in the independent New South Athletic Conference, which they joined in 2024 for track and field. WCU played its inaugural football season as an independent last year and will make its NSAC football debut this fall.
Accreditation is a key difference between WCU and UAPB’s first home opponent of the season, California’s Lincoln University, which is not on the noncountable opponents list.
Although the Oakland school is also not a member of the NCAA, NAIA or NCCAA, it is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission. Since that accreditation body is on the NCAA’s list, games against the Oaklanders count as official.
WCU’s debut season last year ended 3-5. Two of WCU’s wins came against junior varsity teams: one from a Division III school and one from an NAIA school. The Ravens’ lone varsity victory was a 55-14 win against John Melvin University, a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
WCU’s closest loss was a 54-3 defeat at Texas College of the NAIA. The Ravens lost 85-6, 75-0 and 55-6 to Division III competition and finished the year with a 56-0 loss to a Division II school, Quincy University of Illinois.
UAPB’s homecoming game will be WCU’s first against a Division I opponent. Besides UAPB and the Ravens’ four conference games, WCU will play one Division II school, two Division III schools, a third Division III school restarting its football program this fall and an NAIA school.
Prior to this game, the Golden Lions will have played at home once in the first six weeks of the season. Homecoming will be the first of four home games over the next five weeks.
This will be the first time UAPB has hosted a non-SWAC opponent for homecoming since Division II foe Lane College in 2019. That 45-38 victory had been the Golden Lions’ most recent homecoming victory until UAPB defeated Mississippi Valley State 35-21 last season.