FLORENCE, Ala. (October 10, 2024) – Homecoming week has arrived, as the University of North Alabama football team will play host to No. 10 Abilene Christian on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. inside Braly Stadium.
 
Saturday's game will be a "Shine On, Gold" theme, as fans are encouraged to wear gold to the game. Fans can visit the UNA Bookstore this week on campus or at the home side concourse Saturday to purchase shirts promoting the "Shine On, Gold" campaign at UNA.
 
Here are the top things to know for Saturday's game.
 
1. KICKOFF TIME: The Lions and Wildcats will kickoff at 6:02 p.m. at Braly Stadium.
 
2. PRESENTING GAME SPONSORS: Saturday's presenting game sponsor is Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa. Fans can stop by the Pavilion on Spirit Hill to hear about the ongoing renovations at the hotel and grab a water to keep cool. The associate game sponsor is Domino's.
 
3. HOMECOMING: UNA will celebrate its 75th homecoming on Saturday. Since 1949, UNA has hosted one homecoming game each season with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19. The Lions have an all-time record of 52-21-1 in homecoming games. UNA has won 16 of the last 18 homecoming games since 2005.
 
4. GOLD RUSH: Like last year's homecoming game, fans are encouraged to wear gold to cheer on the Lions. Last October, UNA launched the historic "Shine On, Gold" $100 million comprehensive campaign. Click here to learn more.
 
5. KICKOFF KID: As part of a new partnership this season, Medical Associates of the Shoals will sponsor the 2024 Football Kickoff Kid at UNA home football games this season. At each home game, one lucky contestant between the ages of 6 and 12 will enjoy the opportunity to be on the sideline pre-game and retrieve the kickoff tee. Each winner will receive four game tickets, pre-game sideline access for the kickoff kid and a guardian, as well as a UNA Athletics T-Shirt. To register, click here.
 
6. TICKETS: Tickets are available by calling 256-765-5466 (LION) or by emailing athleticstickets@una.edu. Tickets to the game are available for as low as $20. For more information, click here.
 
7. ACCESS YOUR TICKETS: The UNA Ticket Office put together three videos to help fans download and access their tickets this season. Click the links below to access tickets on your device or call 256-765-5466 for assistance.
 
WEBSITE | ANDRIOD | APPLE
 
8. KNOW YOUR GATE: This season, UNA will have seven different entry points for fans. The top of Braly Stadium on the home side will have a main entrance gate, a season ticket holder gate, a gate for recruits and a mobile entry access gate. There are also two side entrances on the home side, with the North side (closest to the videoboard) serving as the student gate. The visiting team's fans will enter at Gate 7 along Royal Avenue on the North end zone side. To view a map, click here.
 
9. CASHLESS VENUE: Braly Stadium is a cashless venue. Fans are encouraged to prepare accordingly to make purchases by card.
 
10. BAG POLICY: Fans are encouraged to review the bag policy before arriving to the stadium, as many bag types are prohibited inside Braly Stadium. Approved bags include clear totes, resealable freezer storage bags, small clutch bags, seat cushions with no pockets and small diaper bags with the accompaniment of a child. For more information on which types of bags are approved and which types are prohibited, click here.
 
11. PARKING: Fans are able to purchase parking in Lot D at the old baseball field behind the South end zone or at the Royal Avenue Center swimming pools. The middle school parking lot and tennis court parking lot are sold out. For an updated parking map for Saturday's game, click here.
 
12. SHUTTLE BUS PARKING: UNA will have four parking lots available for fans to park and shuttle to the stadium — three of which are on UNA's campus. The shuttle lots include Jackson Heights Church of Christ, the front of Rice and Rivers Hall, Appleby Hall and the Wendall Gunn Commons parking lot. The shuttles will run from 4-10 p.m. and will run for one hour after the game. For more information, click here.
 
13. TAILGATING: A number of roads surrounding Braly Stadium will be closed in the morning for tailgating, specifically Royal Avenue. Fans are encouraged to plan accordingly. Parking lots open three hours prior to kickoff. Tailgating will take place on Spirit Hill presented by Bud Light and outside of Braly Stadium. Spirit Hill tailgating spots are sold out for Saturday's game, but fans are encouraged to join in on the festivities around the stadium.
 
14. FOOD TRUCKS: This week's food trucks will be Quench, Sparks's Sweet Smoke BBQ and DonutNV. These vendors will be located along North Royal Avenue during pre-game.
 
15. UNA BOOKSTORE OPEN AT BRALY: Fans can pick up the latest licensed North Alabama apparel at the UNA Bookstore on the concourse under the main grandstands. Each week, the bookstore will select and "Item of the Game" which will be discounted 20% if purchased on gameday.
 
16. PEP RALLY: UNA will host a pep rally at 3:30 p.m. on Spirit Hill with the North Alabama Marching Pride, the UNA cheer and dance team and mascots Leo and Una. This will take place just before the team arrives via buses for the Lion Walk — which take place two hours and 15 minutes before all home games.
 
17. LION WALK: One of UNA's oldest traditions, the Lion Walk will take place at 3:45 p.m. starting at Spirit Hill and ending when the team enters the stadium through the North end zone — the side with the videoboard. During Lion Walk, UNA's cheer and dance teams will be throwing out T-Shirts courtesy of Martin's Family Clothing. Fans are encouraged to cheer on the Lions as they walk toward the stadium.
 
18. GAME PROGRAM: This season, game day programs are free of charge and are only available in electronic format. QR codes will be available to fans throughout the stadium to download the program, which includes rosters, depth charts, players to watch and more. Fans can also access game programs at roarlions.com.
 
19. DOWNLOAD OUR APP: Fans are also encouraged to download the Roar Lions app, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. The app was launched last season and includes ticket information, team shop, game programs, schedules, rosters and links to watch and listen to the games online.
 
20. WATCH ON ESPN+: Saturday's game will stream on ESPN+ featuring "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray on play-by-play and Bryan Neece as the color analyst. Fans can tune in at 6 p.m. at this link or on the ESPN app.
 
21. CATCH THE LIONS ON THE RADIO: Fans are encouraged to listen to the UNA Lions Sports Network all season long on WLX Radio — 98.3 FM and 103.5 FM in the Shoals, worldwide on the WLX App or at this link. Play-by-play announcer Jordan Campbell will be joined by former UNA quarterback Jacob Tucker in the booth. Chase Glover will be on the sidelines. The UNA radio broadcast will begin at 3 p.m. with the "Countdown to Kickoff" featuring interviews with the coaches and live pre-game segments with Jordan and Jacob.
 
22. LIVE STATS: Fans who are interested in following live stats can do so via StatBroadcast.
 
23. 76TH SEASON OF UNA FOOTBALL: The 2024 season marks the 76th year of North Alabama Football. UNA has an all-time record of 485-311-16, while boasting 21 NCAA playoff appearances, 17 conference championships and three national championships. This season marks UNA's seventh at the FCS level and just the third as a full-fledged member.
 
24. SERIES HISTORY: The Lions and Wildcats will meet for the third time on Saturday. In 2011, UNA defeated Abilene Christian 23-17 at Cowboy Stadium (now known as AT&T Stadium). That season, ACU was the third-ranked team and UNA was the fourth-ranked team in NCAA Division II. Last season, the two met again in Abilene and the Wildcats won 30-13. This will be ACU's first trip to Braly Stadium and just the fourth all-time trip to Alabama. The Lions are 8-6 against Texas schools, while the Wildcats are 5-3 against the state of Alabama.
 
25. UNA LUNCH HOUR ON WEDNESDAYS AT 306 BBQ: Fans are reminded to head over to 306 Barbecue in downtown Florence every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. during football season. The show begins at 11 a.m. and will air on WLX Radio (98.3/103.5 FM) and on the WLX app. The show will also air live at 306 BBQ hosted by Benjamin Ray and Mike Ezekiel. The show will feature a weekly appearance from Coach Brent Dearmon and visits from other coaches, student-athletes and staff members from the athletic department.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.