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FLORENCE, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama will face one of the toughest football schedules in school history beginning next Thursday (August 29) with a home opener against Western Illinois at Braly Stadium at 7 p.m.

This year, as the Lions begin their first season as a Big South Conference member, UNA has an 11-game FCS schedule that includes
four opponents, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Montana and Monmouth, that are ranked in at least one FCS pre-season Top 25 poll.

Although Western Illinois is not nationally ranked entering the 2019 season, the Fighting Leathernecks are a perennial Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) power with 11 all-time playoff appearances. The most recent was in 2017.

A member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, Western Illinois is coming off a 5-6 season in 2018 in the school's first season under head coach Jared Elliott.

The Western Illinois game will mark the first time the Lions have hosted a Division I program at Braly Stadium since 1992. North Alabama has played its last 11 straight games against FCS opponents on the road, dating back to a 1992 game at Braly Stadium against Troy. The Lions lost that game 24-10. UNA's last win over an FCS opponent in Florence was a 17-3 win over Missouri State (then known as Southwest Missouri State), in 1982.  

UNA's only previous football contest against a team from the state of Illinois was in the 1980 NCAA Division II Playoff Semifinals against Eastern Illinois. The Lions lost 56-31 here at Braly Stadium.

The game also marks the 71st season-opening football game for UNA. The Lions have an all-time 41-25-4 record in their 70 previous season openers and are 14-2 in their last six openers.

The 2019 UNA Lions return eight offensive starters, including starting quarterback Christian Lopez who threw for 2,184 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for another five TDs.

He has a wealth of targets to throw to, including four redshirt sophomores who combined to catch 145 passes for 1,861 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago.

The race in the backfield is wide open with newcomer Ron Thompson leading the way and returnees Terence Humphrey and  Ja"won Howell in the mix.

The offensive line has several returnees but has been bolstered by the addition of transfers Ethan McMullan and Zach Davis.

On the defensive side, returning starters Will Evans at linebacker and K.J. Smith in the secondary, lead the way. In all, the Lions return 12 players who saw significant playing time a year ago on the defensive side.

The Lions will have four newcomers on the depth chart at the defensive line positions but the top eight players in the secondary are all returnees.

Next week the Lions will travel to Missoula, Mont., to take on perennial FCS power Montana. UNA will then return home to host Alabama A&M on Sept. 14.