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FLORENCE, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama will  begin competition in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) on Saturday as the Lions travel to Cedar City, Utah to take on defending Big Sky Conference Champion Southern Utah University.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Central at Eccles Coliseum.

A charter member of the Gulf South Conference and the NCAA Division II, North Alabama produced one of the most successful football programs in the history of the league and division. The Lions officially moved to Division I status on July 1 and open their FCS football play against a formidable opponent in Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds return 14 starters from a team that finished the 2017 season with a 9-3 record and advanced to the FCS playoffs.

Southern Utah has advanced to the FSC playoffs three times in the last five years, competing in the post-season in 2013, 2015 and 2017.

The Thunderbirds have been picked to finish sixth out of 13 schools in the Big Sky Conference pre-season poll.

"It is obviously a big game in the history of our program and we are traveling across the country to play, but right now as a coach, I'm just focused on this as our first game of the season and stressing to our team that we have to focus on what we're doing and eliminate penalties and mistakes," UNA Head Coach Chris Willis said. "We are facing a program in Southern Utah that was a playoff team and won nine games a year ago.  They have most of their offense back and are a very experienced team.

"We're underdogs but I feel like we can match-up with them in a lot of areas," Willis continued. "My  biggest concerns are up front on both offense and defense where they return all-conference players and All-Americans and we are a little less experienced. So again, we can't give them any help with penalties and turnovers and hope to have a chance to try and win the game in the fourth quarter."

North Alabama is coming off a 5-5 season in 2017 where the Lions boasted one of the premier defenses in Division II but struggled offensively after losing their top three quarterbacks during the course of the year.

The Lions return seven defensive starters, including three all-conference performers from that unit. UNA also returns six offensive starters and both of its kicking specialists.

"I don't know where we are as a football team," Willis said. "We need to play a game to get a gauge on our team right now."

Willis has not named a starting quarterback for Saturday's game with transfers Christian Lopez from Mesa State Community College and Chris Weaver from Jones Community College emerging as the top two contenders in pre-season drills.

North Alabama advanced to the Division II Playoffs 12 times in its final 15 seasons in Division II and made 21 total playoff appearances, winning 35 post-season games and three national championships.

North Alabama's last game against an FCS opponent was a 31-12 loss at Jacksonville State in 2016. The Lions' last win over an FCS school was 28-16 at Jacksonville State in 2003 in a season that saw the Gamecocks go on to win the Ohio Valley Conference Championship.

Overall North Alabama is 6-7 against FCS schools since 1978 and the Lions hold a 2-2 record against FBS schools, including a 48-42, four overtime win at Lousiana-Lafayette in 1997.

North Alabama has played collegiate football against teams from 24 different states but has never played in the state of Utah or against a school from Utah.

Following its trip to Southern Utah, the Lions will continue on the road with a game at Alabama A&M on Sept. 8 and a contest with defending FCS National Champion, No. 1 ranked North Dakota State.