BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (August 29, 2025) – The University of North Alabama football team begins its climb into a new football season with a visit to the Hill, opening the year Saturday against Western Kentucky in Bowling Green.
 
UNA enters its 77th season of football since the program's rebirth in 1949. This will also mark UNA's eighth season of FCS football since transitioning from Division II to Division I in 2018. The Lions enter their third season under head coach Brent Dearmon.
 
Saturday will mark the first all-time meeting between UNA and WKU. It will also mark UNA's first season opener against an FBS opponent since traveling to Liberty in 2020. The Hilltoppers enter 1-0 following a Week 0 conference win over Sam Houston.

For a list of "things to know" for Saturday's game, click here.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION 
North Alabama vs. Western Kentucky
Date: Saturday, August 30
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky 
Stadium: Houchens-Smith Stadium
Capacity: 22,113
TV: ESPN+ (Jesse Ough, Terry Obee)
Radio: Roar Lions Productions ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Bryan Neece)
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Tickets: Click Here
Social Media: @UNAFootball 
 
UNA Game Notes | Opponent Game Notes | UAC Notes 
 
 
NOTABLES
 
ABOUT THE LIONS: North Alabama finished with a 3-9 record last season, including wins over West Georgia, Utah Tech and No. 10 ranked Abilene Christian — the first ranked FCS win in program history. UNA returns 45 lettermen from last season, including seven starters on offense and four on defense. Last season, UNA played the 18th toughest strength of schedule, according the NCAA metric on combined win percentage. Over the last two seasons, UNA played 17 games against teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in an FBS or FCS poll, while playing just six that were not ranked or receiving votes. UNA is 4-2 in those games.
 
ABOUT THE HILLTOPPERS: WKU enters 1-0 following a 41-24 win over Sam Houston last week in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers finished 8-6 last season, including a 5-1 record at home and a 6-2 record in Conference USA. WKU is led by head coach Tyson Helton, who has led the team to six bowl games over his six seasons. He has also led the Hilltoppers to a pair of C-USA Championship Games, including last season against Jacksonville State.
 
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the first all-time meeting between UNA and WKU.
 
FAMILIAR FACE: The Hilltoppers might be a new opponent for UNA, but the quarterback is not. Maverick McIvor transferred from Abilene Christian to Western Kentucky this offseason and is projected to start on Saturday after throwing for 401 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Sam Houston last week. McIvor does not have fond memories of the Lions, as UNA defeated his Wildcats by a 47-34 final last season. This was ACU's only loss during conference play last season, as McIvor and company won the UAC and advanced to the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
 
GOODBYE RED HILL, HELLO SINGING RIVER: While WKU has a player familiar with UNA, the Lions have a player that's even more familiar with the Hilltoppers — senior running back LT Sanders. Sanders joined UNA this offseason after spending three years at WKU. Sanders rushed 96 times for 533 yards and two touchdowns over those three seasons.
 
LIONS IN SEASON OPENERS: UNA has a 42-30-4 record in season openers. However, this will be just the second time UNA has opened with an FBS opponent. This will also mark the first true road opener for UNA since the Liberty matchup in 2020. The Lions will hunt for their first season-opening victory since 2019 against Western Illinois.
 
MEET THE CAPTAINS: Last week near the end of fall camp, UNA players casted their votes for the 2025 team captains. This year's quartet of captains includes graduate quarterback Ari Patu, redshirt senior running back Jayvian Allen, junior linebacker Seth Hampton and junior defensive lineman Jyheam Ingram.
 
TALKING OFFENSE: Experience reigns supreme on the offensive side of the ball with every starter on the depth chart possessing at least three years of college football experience. This includes seven starters from last season — a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and three offensive linemen. Former running backs coach Morgan Cruce was promoted to offensive coordinator and tight ends coach this season and will retain his duties as the director of football operations.
 
QUARTERBACK CENTRAL: Patu started three games as UNA's QB last season before a season-ending injury, throwing for 328 yards and a score in his final start against No. 21 Illinois State. Another face in the quarterback room Lion fans will see is Colorado transfer Destin Wade, who enters his redshirt sophomore season. Prior to Colorado, Wade played at Kentucky and started the 2022 Music City Bowl. Redshirt sophomore Ty Watkins and redshirt senior DC Tabscott are also in the mix as returning players.
 
RUN IT BACK WITH THE RUNNING BACKS: Jayvian Allen, commonly known as "Juice," is expected to lead the backfield as a preseason all-conference selection. He rushed for 545 yards and five touchdowns last year. LT Sanders will also be expected to contribute as he will suit up against his former school on Saturday. A comeback story in the making, fans can expect to see a healthy redshirt senior Jalyn Daniels taking carries this season, while rising sophomore Jalen Fletcher returns to the backfield following a rookie campaign that saw three UAC Freshman of the Week awards. Roderick Taylor Jr. and Nic Strong are two others to watch.
 
WIDE ACHIEVERS: The wide receiver room is full of talent and experience this season, including redshirt senior Tanaka Scott who recorded 407 receiving yards and three touchdowns to lead all UNA returners. He ended last year with a career-high 109 receiving yards and a touchdown at EKU. Other returners to watch are redshirt senior Justin Luke, juniors KJ Fields and Kaden Cooper and redshirt freshman Noah Gregg, who played in a pair of games last season and looks to emerge in his first full season. The Lions added an electric slot receiver this offseason in senior Justin Pegues, who played at Bowling Green last season and was a CFN All-MAC kick returner.
 
TIGHT GROUP: Senior Kaleb Heatherly enters his senior season and is projected to be a four-year starter for UNA at the tight end position. Though his receiving stats do not jump out the page, Heatherly is highly-regarded by the coaching staff as one of the top blocking tight ends at his level. This offseason, redshirt junior Christian Burkhalter was added to the mix and is expected to impact the offense. Burkhalter was a three-star prospect out of Spanish Fort High School and spent time at both UCLA and Georgia Tech. Redshirt sophomores Nathan Brockway and Amarie Rogers also return to the group and have playing experience in Dearmon's offense.
 
EXPERIENCE ON THE LINE: The Lions return four players who have started multiple games on the offensive line in Dearmon's system, led by Phil Steele Freshman All-American and UAC Preseason All-Conference selection Ryan Walker at right guard. Walker is the youngest of the projected starters as a redshirt sophomore, but enters his third season with the Lions. The left side of the line will be led by familiar faces in Kansas State transfer Witt Mitchum and Muscle Shoals product Colin Wright. Southern Miss transfer Drew Lawson, a former Bob Jones High School standout, is expected to start at center as a graduate transfer. He started all 12 games for the Golden Eagles last season. Redshirt senior Gage Saint is also back as a redshirt senior and started nine games last season. Expected to start at right tackle is graduate transfer Noah Bolticoff, who spent time at both Indiana and TCU before coming to UNA this offseason.  
 
TALKING DEFENSE: The Lions return 18 lettermen on defense this season, as defensive coordinator Brock Caraboa looks to replace seven starters. Every position group boasts experience, led by a pair of starters on the interior line, a seasoned linebacker core and a fresh group of experienced players in the secondary. Caraboa enters his third season leading the defense and primarily oversees the linebacker group.
 
DEEP IN THE TRENCHES: Junior Jyheam Ingram and redshirt senior Kaleb Brown are the clear-cut leaders on the defensive line this season, as both enter their third seasons with the program. Brown, a JUCO transfer, was granted a fifth-year of eligibility and was the top tackler among this season's returners with 39 tackles and 8.0 for loss. Sophomore Fred Vili, redshirt sophomore Avery Howard and redshirt senior EJ Colbert are returning breakout candidates at the end positions, coupled with Power Four transfers Jamari Payne from Purdue and BJ Diakite from Vanderbilt. Kansas transfer Lance Bassett will provide a strong presence on the interior, as well as returning sophomore Walter Goggins, who prepped at Deshler High School.
 
HEAVY HITTERS: The mike and will linebacker positions are loaded with interchangeable talent, captained by rising junior Seth Hampton. The former Thompson standout emerged late last season, finishing with 25 tackles and a career-high eight tackles in the home finale against Austin Peay. He is joined at the mike position by Tango McCauley Jr., a sophomore transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. FAU transfer Jahbari Hill enters his second season and is expected to start at the will position and is joined by first year transfer Demarcious Robinson, who spent two seasons at the JUCO level and one season at Georgia Southern. This group also includes a strong mix of freshmen that hope to contribute.  
 
SECONDARY PRIMARIES: The Lions will look to replace three starters in the secondary this season, but return senior Jermaine Ray Jr. following a 2024 campaign where he had 26 tackles and five pass break-ups. Opposite him at the other corner is redshirt senior Davon Martin, who last played at Murray State and Arkansas State. Redshirt junior Brian Dilworth transferred in from Kansas this summer and is the projected starter at the nickel position. This will move returning senior Cameron Jamar to the safety position to join junior transfers Lonell Cunningham II and Justin Davis. Redshirt freshmen Leo Glover and Drake Fowler will also look to take a step forward this season after a solid fall camp. Returning corners Michael Jordan Jr. and Anthony Young and freshman nickel Tae Martin are also players to watch.
 
SPECIAL TEAM SAVVY: Junior punter Adam Watford and junior longsnapper Nathan Curry are both projected to become three-year starters for the Lions on special teams this season. Watford earned FCS Football Central Freshman All-American honors in 2023. Curry was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection and caught a two-point conversion pass last season. The Lions graduated both kickers from last season and will be led by Auburn transfer Ian Vachon, redshirt junior Jack Rice and a pair of true freshmen in Tyler Wallace and Florence product Chandler Dixon. Canadian longsnapper Braden Forscutt enters his redshirt freshman year and could also see time at longsnapper. Quarterback Ty Watkins is expected to be the holder, while Justin Pegues is expected to lead the return group after earning All-Mac honors at Bowling Green last season.
 
COACHING STAFF CONNECTIONS: Coach Dearmon went to work building a staff this season, adding a number of new coaches that either had ties to UNA or ties to his hometown of Mobile. This season marks the first that UNA has had two assistant coaches in the UNA Athletic Hall of Fame — defensive line coach Steve Carter (2010) and running backs coach Michael Johnson (2021). Another UNA tie comes from offensive line coach Ben Thomas, who played at UNA from 2012-15 and recently coached under UNA Hall of Famer Will Hall at Southern Miss. While not directly tied to UNA, quarterbacks coach Craig Schurig spent 22 seasons as the head coach at Washburn University and coached current UNA Athletic Director Dr. Josh Looney as a linebacker from 2002-05. Wide receiver coach KJ Maye and Director of Sport Performance Tiger Jones both had successful professional football careers and have ties to the Mobile area, as well as safeties coach DeeAndra Ervin who played for Dearmon at Arkansas Tech.
 
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