RICHMOND, Ky. (November 22, 2024) – The University of North Alabama football season will draw to a close on Saturday at No. 25 Eastern Kentucky, as the Lions look to play spoiler and end the season on a high note at Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond, Ky.
The Lions are 3-8 overall and 3-4 in United Athletic Conference play. Though the season will end, UNA still has much to play for. With a win on Saturday, the Lions will have four conference wins for the first time since 2017 — the final year at the NCAA Division II level.
Meanwhile, EKU enters 7-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play. The Colonels are still in the hunt for a playoff bid, but a loss would likely end the season. EKU is also 5-0 at home this season and will look to finish unbeaten at Roy Kidd Stadium on Senior Day.
For a list of "things to know" for Saturday's game,
click here.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
North Alabama vs. Eastern Kentucky
Date: Saturday, November 23
Time: 1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Richmond, Kentucky
Stadium: Roy Kidd Stadium
Capacity: 20,000
TV: ESPN+ (Greg Stotelmyer, Wes Chandler, Jim Tirey)
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Bryan Neece, Chase Glover)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
Social Media:
@UNAFootball
UNA Game Notes |
Opponent Game Notes |
UAC Website
NOTABLES
ABOUT THE LIONS: The Lions (3-8, 3-4) enter off a bye week. In the last two games against Austin Peay and Southern Utah, the Lions fell behind in the first half, mounted a third quarter comeback and fell in the fourth quarter. UNA will look to snap a three-game skid that came on the heels of a three-game win streak. The Lions' last win came on Oct. 12 over No. 10 Abilene Christian, who went 7-1 in conference play and earned the automatic qualifying bid for the UAC.
ABOUT THE COLONELS: EKU (7-4, 5-2) cracked the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 this week and are in the hunt for an at-large berth into the FCS Playoffs. The Colonels have a stout defense, ranking second in the UAC with just 23.4 points per game allowed in conference play. EKU rides a four-game win streak, including back-to-back nationally ranked wins over No. 7 Tarleton State and No. 16 Central Arkansas. Last week, EKU held off Austin Peay 30-27 in overtime.
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the third all-time meeting between UNA and EKU. The Colonels won both meetings, including a 56-53 thriller at home in 2022 and a 32-22 win to spoil UNA's Homecoming in 2023.
BACK IN KENTUCKY: UNA has a 6-5 record against the Bluegrass State, including a 5-3 record against Murray State from 1954-61 and a 39-0 victory over Kentucky Christian in 2012. UNA's 2022 trip to EKU was the team's first road game in Kentucky since going to Murray in 1961.
END OF AN ERA: Seventh-year senior
Takairee Kenebrew is set to play in his 46th career game this weekend. Kenebrew is the only player to experience all seven Division I seasons at UNA in any sport. The Childersburg, Ala. native hold the career school records for touchdowns in a season (10 in 2023) and a career (30). He currently ranks third all-time in career yardage with 2,574 and fourth in career receptions. He would need 11 catches for 270 yards to move into second on both lists. Dre Hall (2014-17) and Michael Edwards (1993-96) are one and two on both lists.
AIRING IT OUT: Redshirt senior quarterback
TJ Smith ranks second among UAC quarterbacks with 150.6 passing yards per conference game, including a Division I school record with 452 passing yards at Southern Utah. Kenebrew caught five passes for 187 yards and a score, as the 187 yards are also the most of the Division I era and second-most all-time.
FCS TEAM OF THE WEEK: Last month, UNA was honored as the Stats Perform FCS Team of the Week following a 47-34 win over No. 10 ranked Abilene Christian. This is the second time UNA has won the national award. The first recognition came in 2018 following the 34-30 win at Southern Utah, which was the first win at the Division I level in school history.
JERRY RICE WATCH LIST: UNA had two players named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list this season in freshman linebacker
Josh Anglin and freshman running back
Jalen Fletcher. The national award is given each year to the top freshman in FCS football. Past winners include NFL players Cooper Kupp, Trey Lance and Chase Edmonds, as well as Heisman contenders Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. UNA was the only team with two players on the 30-player list this year.
TOUGH SLEDDING: UNA has had one of the toughest schedules in all of FCS football the last two seasons. Last season, UNA ranked second in the nation in NCAA strength of schedule according to NCAA metrics (opponent win percentage) and 26th in the Massey Ratings. This year, UNA is ranked 12th in NCAA and 17th in Massey. Only six games the last two years have come against ranked or receiving vote opponents, and the Lions are 4-2 in those games. EKU will be the 17th ranked or receiving vote opponent in that span.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
