Tailgating? Tickets? What you need to know for UWF regional championship game Saturday

Just one week after an intense 14-point comeback in the 4th quarter against Delta State, the University of West Florida football team will square off against Wingate University in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoff.

No. 3 UWF managed to rattle off 14 points against No. 2 Delta State in the final quarter of Saturday's playoff game to win 38-27, sending them to this week's NCAA Regional Championship game against Wingate.

A win over Wingate Saturday would put UWF back in the semifinal of the NCAA Championship tournament for the first time since 2019, the year UWF won the national championship game, where they would play the winner of No. 1 Indiana (PA) and No. 2 Shepherd.

As the quarterfinal game approaches, here's what you need to know.

NCAA Playoffs: No. 3 UWF overcomes 14-point fourth-quarter deficit in win over No. 2 Delta State

Where to see the game

UWF will host Saturday's playoff game at Pen-Air Field on UWF's campus, a change that occurred before the 2022 football season when the university announced they will play all home games on campus rather than at Blue Wahoos Stadium in downtown Pensacola.

"We are excited to host this NCAA Regional Championship and are wanting a big crowd to help create the best home field advantage for our student/athletes," wrote Garron Lucius, UWF associate athletic director, in a release. "This is the biggest game we have hosted at home in our short history."

How to get tickets to UWF playoff game

Kickoff is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for the game are available at goargos.universitytickets.com starting at $10.

UWF has implemented a clear bag policy, meaning bags will not be accepted inside the stadium unless they are clear. They also have a no reentry policy to maintain safety.

"If you leave the stadium you'll have to buy another ticket or you won't be able to come in," Lucius said. "We have to scan everyone, and once that ticket is scanned it won't scan again.

"That's a fan safety thing," he continued. "A lot of times people are going back to their cars to grab something, so it really is a fan safety thing."

Parking and Tailgating info

It wouldn't be postseason football without tailgating, and fans of UWF football can get the pregame party started at 9 a.m. in one of five parking lots near the stadium. All parking lots are $10, cash only.

"All of our lots will open at 9 a.m. for people to tailgate at that time," Lucius told the News Journal. "They can either tailgate at their car or they can tailgate in Argo Village."

Lucius said Argo Village is where UWF's sponsors normally setup and where West Florida's students typically tailgate, making it "a pretty cool area."

Glass bottles are not allowed while tailgating.

Argos merchandise

During the tailgating hours of 9 a.m. until kickoff at 1 p.m., the university bookstore will be selling UWF playoff merchandise.

"Outside the venue in the tailgating lots right outside the main gates we'll have out bookstore selling UWF gear and official NCAA football championship gear," Lucius said. "Inside the stadium will just be NCAA gear."

Saturday's weather will be perfect for tailgating, as the temperature will hit 75 degrees and will be a mostly sunny day, according to the National Weather Service of Mobile forecast.

Lucius ultimately sees this game as a fun experience for the fans and community of Pensacola while they rally behind the Argonauts during the quarterfinal.

"We really want the community to come out," he said. "We're really looking forward to that, and we just want people to come out and be loud, you know be proud of the Argonauts, be proud of Pensacola and we're really trying to pack Pen-Air on Saturday."

Benjamin Johnson can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com or 850-435-8578

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: UWF regional championship game Saturday: Tickets, tailgating, merch