Maverick McIvor Comes Off Bench to Lead Comeback Win in New Orleans Bowl

NEW ORLEANS, LA — Former San Angelo Central star Maverick McIvor came off the bench to lead Western Kentucky to a 27-16 comeback win over Southern Mississippi on Tuesday in the New Orleans Bowl. 

After being injured earlier this season, McIvor lost the starting job to freshman Rodney Tisdale, and he began his final college game on the sideline.

When Tisdale was injured after a hard hit late in the second quarter, however, McIvor stepped on the field and finished his college career with a memorable performance.

He completed 12 of 19 passes for 199 yards and ran for a season-high 48 yards and a TD on eight carries.

His 11-yard TD run tied the game at 13-13 with 6:57 left in the third quarter.

McIvor then had a 23-yard run that put the Hilltoppers at the 1-yard line before George Hart scored from a yard out to give Western Kentucky a 20-16 lead with 7:51 remaining.

McIvor led Western Kentucky to a 5-1 start, but he was injured in the seventh game of the year and never started again.

McIvor began his high school career as a six-man football player at Fort Davis before transferring to San Angelo Central, where he immediately became a starting wide receiver as a sophomore.

He had a breakout season as a junior — throwing for 3,415 yards and 43 TDs, while rushing for 870 yards in 12 games — to earn scholarship offers from more than 20 NCAA Division I schools, including USC and Ole Miss.

He signed with Texas Tech but was injured in a preseason practice in 2019 and never saw game action.

McIvor finally returned to the field in 2022 after transferring to Abilene Christian University, where he led the Wildcats last year to their first-ever conference championship at the NCAA Division I FCS level.

He threw for 3,828 passing yards and 30 TDs with seven interceptions while completing 63% of his passes.

McIvor entered the transfer portal after the season and was offered by Wake Forest, North Texas and Miami (Ohio), but he settled on Western Kentucky.

Tuesday’s win in the New Orleans Bowl allowed his winding football career to end on a high note.