10 CHAMPIONS WAY (October 16, 2026) – Coming off a bye week, the University of North Alabama football teams takes a three-game win streak into a pivotal United Athletic Conference contest against Abilene Christian set for Saturday in Florence.
This will be the first-ever conference game for UNA's football team at the newly-constructed Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on campus.
Saturday's game is a "Gold Rush" game as fans are encouraged to wear gold. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. with "Voice of the Lions"
Benjamin Ray, Bryan Neece and
Gyvan Hammons on the call. Fans can also listen on Roar Lions Productions with Jordan Campbell, former UNA quarterback Jacob Tucker and
Chase Glover. The "Countdown to Kickoff" presented by Bank Independent begins at 4 p.m.
For a list of "things to know" for Saturday's game,
click here.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
North Alabama vs. Abilene Christian
Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Florence, Alabama
Stadium: Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium
Capacity: 10,000
TV: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions"
Benjamin Ray, Bryan Neece,
Gyvan Hammons)
Radio: Roar Lions Productions ("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 Notes
NOTABLES
BACK FROM THE BYE: UNA's bye week came at the exact midway point of the season, as the Lions have played six of 12 regular season games. The first half of the season brought immense success, as the Lions went 4-2 overall and started 1-0 in conference play. The Lions are currently receiving votes in both the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: ACU comes in with a 3-4 record, playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation with all four losses coming to nationally-ranked FBS or FCS teams — No. 9 Texas Tech, No. 3 Stephen F. Austin, No. 10 Lamar and No. 18 Mercer. The Wildcats have quality wins over then-ranked West Florida, Idaho and Central Arkansas. ACU edged out UCA last week with a 20-14 win in Abilene, led by tight end Jayden York with over 100 receiving yards.
DEFENSIVE SHOWDOWN: So far in conference play, ACU and UNA are the top two scoring defenses with under 20.0 points per game allowed so far. UNA allowed just 16 to EKU, while ACU is averaging 10.5 PPG allowed over two games with West Florida and Central Arkansas. Every other team in the UAC is averaging over 20.0 PPG allowed in league play so far.
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday will be the fifth all-time meeting between UNA and Abilene Christian. The series is tied 2-2. Bank Independent Stadium will also be the fourth different venue this game has been played at, as the Lions and Wildcats have met twice at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium in Abilene, once at Braly Stadium in Florence and once at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — home of the Dallas Cowboys.
LAST TIME IN FLORENCE: UNA made history the last time ACU came to town, as the Lions upset the No. 10 Wildcats with a 47-34 victory inside historic Braly Stadium. This marked UNA's first win over a ranked-FCS opponent in program history. UNA was named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week after this victory. As for ACU, this was the only loss in a 7-1 conference season that ended with a conference championship and a second round playoff appearance.
LAST TIME OUT: UNA traveled to EKU on Oct. 3 to open conference play, coming away with a hard-fought 20-16 victory for UNA's first win in a conference opener since 2017. The Lions trailed 13-3 at halftime before kicking into gear in the third quarter with two go-ahead touchdowns — one off a pass to defensive lineman
Kamore Harris in a jumbo package and the other a quarterback sneak by
Destin Wade. The Lions finished with four interceptions with two each from redshirt sophomores
Leo Glover and
Anthony Young.
LOVE FOR LEO GLOVER: Following his two interceptions and game-high 11 tackles at EKU, Glover was named UAC Defensive Player of the Week. This marked the first-career weekly award for the Florence native. Glover also finished with eight solo tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass break-up.
ROOKIE SENSATION: Redshirt freshman wide receiver
Xavier Johnson has taken the nation by storm this season, leading all of FCS with 593 receiving yards after five games. After the bye week, Johnson ranks fifth with 606 receiving yards. He became the first player in UAC history to win four freshman of the week awards, doing so within the first five games of the season.
MAYBE IT'S AVERY: Redshirt junior
Avery Howard is having a sensational season for the Lions, ranking third in the nation with seven sacks for 1.2 per game. He has already set the single-season FCS school record at UNA and continues to lead a defense that ranks third in the country for tackles for loss per game, fourth in sacks per game and 10th in rushing defense.
STREAKING: UNA has won its last three games dating back to the opening of Bank Independent Stadium on Sept. 19, including wins over Alcorn State, Western Illinois and EKU. This marks UNA's first three-game win streak since 2024 that included wins over West Georgia, Utah Tech and Abilene Christian.
ALL ABOUT THE U-A-C: The UAC is one of the top conferences in FCS this season, ranking among the top three conferences along with the Missouri Valley and the Big Sky in the Massey Ratings. Two teams from the league are ranked in No. 2 Tarleton State and No. 11 Austin Peay, while ACU, UNA and West Florida are receiving votes. Eastern Kentucky and Central Arkansas also received votes earlier this season.
UAC ROUNDUP: All eight teams are in action this week with three conference matchups and two games outside the league. West Florida will host a classic Gulf South Conference rival with West Alabama coming to town, while EKU will play at nationally-ranked Tennessee Tech out of the SoCon. Within league play, UNA and ACU will not be the only purple schools going at it, as No. 2 Tarleton State will host Central Arkansas. West Georgia will host No. 11 Austin Peay. UNA and ACU will be the only game between two unbeaten league play teams and will also be the only game between two teams both on multi-game win streaks.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
