FLORENCE, Ala. (October 22, 2026) – The University of North Alabama football team will host a homecoming game on campus for the first time in program history Saturday night, welcoming Austin Peay to Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium.
The article below will detail the top things to know for fans coming to Bank Independent Stadium. Fans can also visit our official gameday website
at this link or the official stadium page
at this link. The gameday website includes updates for homecoming to help fans to prepare for the festivities.
It is also recommended that fans
watch this video for important gameday tips.
For a homecoming timeline,
click here.
Without further ado, these are the top things to know for Saturday's game on UNA's campus.
1. KICKOFF: The Lions and nationally-ranked Govs will kickoff at 6:02 p.m. from Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium.
2. TICKETS: Single game and season tickets are available for purchase through UNA's ticket office. Fans can
visit this link or call 256-765-5466 for the best and most up-to-date information. The UNA ticket office is located on 615 South Pine Street in the lobby of CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall. For help accessing your tickets, call 256-765-5466 or
watch this video.
3. PARKING: Perhaps the most frequently asked question among fans is parking. Fans can find all of the information they need
at this link. Pine Street will close at 5 a.m. on game day from Irvine Avenue to West Lelia Street. Parking lots will open at 1 p.m. for homecoming weekend. There will be day-of parking lots available for purchase with card only — no cash will be accepted. There is also ADA parking available by calling 256-765-5466. ADA parking will be first come first serve. There is also free parking available in downtown Florence at the new parking garage just minutes away from the stadium. Student parking is available in the parking garage across from CB&S Bank Arena just a short walk from the stadium entrance, as well as other spots around campus.
For homecoming weekend, some lots will not be available until 1 p.m. Fans are encouraged to visit the parking map and info link below and plan accordingly.
PARKING MAP AND INFO |
INFORMATIONAL VIDEO
4. SHUTTLE SERVICE: NACOLG ADA shuttle service begins at 1 p.m. and will transport fans from the downtown parking deck, green day-of parking lots, and the lower reserved gray lots. Shuttle drop-off will be located in front of the Burford Science & Technology Building. Golf cart transportation will also be available from the reserved Purple Lots.
5. WEAR PURPLE: For all six home games, UNA will have a special promotion and will indicate what color fans should wear that game to match the energy. For this week's game against Austin Peay, fans are encouraged to wear their favorite purple UNA gear. For more info,
click here.
6. HALL OF FAME WEEKEND: This Saturday, the UNA Athletics Hall of Fame will induct a new class with a special ceremony at 9 a.m. inside the Guillot University Center (GUC) Performance Center. The event is free of charge and parking will be available in Harrison Plaza by the fountain and commons building until 1 p.m. This year's class includes AJ Milwee, Lamonte Thompson, Luke Wingo, Chloe Richards, Fred Stafford and Robert Lopez. For more information,
click here.
7. PRESENTING SPONSOR: Saturday's game sponsor is Renaissance Shoals Resort and Spa, the newly-renovated waterfront hotel located at 10 Hightower Place in Florence, Ala. For more information,
click here.
8. KNOW WHERE TO GO: The main entrance to the stadium is located in Champions Plaza at the corner of Pine Street and Champions Way. There, fans will find two bronze lion statues and plaques that lead into the security entrance and ticket scanners. Premium entrance will also be located in this area to the left side. Fans may enter through the Helen Keller Main Entry or the Alumni & Friends Zone entrance near the Darwin D. Davis Videoboard. Gates will open at 4 p.m. To find your section in the stadium,
click here.
9. FOOD & BEVERAGE: There will be a number of food and beverage options at Bank Independent Stadium this season, including concessions throughout the concourse and grab-and-go options in the Milwee Family Endzone facility. Fans with valid ID can also enjoy beer and wine at multiple locations in the stadium. In addition, fans can enjoy Bojangles, Miami Ice or Fourth Planet BBQ in the Northeast corner of the stadium.
Click here to see all locations, as well as restroom areas.
10. CASHLESS VENUE: Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium is a cashless venue. Fans are encouraged to prepare accordingly to make purchases by card, including all concessions.
11. CLEAR BAG POLICY: Fans are encouraged to review the clear bag policy before arriving to the stadium, as many bag types are prohibited. Approved bags include clear totes, clear backpacks, clear drawstring bags, clear fanny packs, resealable freezer storage bags, small clutch bags, seat cushions with no pockets, approved medical bags and small diaper bags with the accompaniment of a child. Some bags will be subject to inspection. For more information on which types of bags are approved and which types are prohibited,
click here.
12. TAILGATING ON THE PINES: New to Bank Independent Stadium is "The Pines" — the ultimate tailgating destination located along Pine Street outside the stadium. Although tailgating reservations at The Pines are currently full for this season, UNA invites fans to tailgate from their vehicles in their designated parking lots or at other areas around campus. Fans should be sure to read the information
at this link as they prepare to tailgate on campus before arriving Saturday.
There will be a number of festivities going on at The Pines this weekend, including a Bicentennial Launch Party Concert from 2-3:30 p.m. featuring the Kirkman Combo.
13. FOOD TRUCKS: There will be five food trucks this week on The Pines, including Bojangles, Mane Nutrition, Papa Danos, Sweets by Ken and Donut NV.
14. LION WALK & PEP RALLY: One of the most storied traditions for UNA's football team is the Lion Walk. At the new stadium, Lion Walk will begin two-and-a-half hours prior to kickoff, which will be 3:30 p.m. this week. The football team, UNA Marching Pride and Spirit Squads will make their way down Pine Street from the Guillot University Center (GUC) toward Bank Independent Stadium. Fans are encouraged to line Champions Way and welcome the Lions to the stadium! Following Lion Walk, stick around for the pregame pep rally featuring the UNA Marching Pride and UNA Cheer & Dance Teams.
15. THE MAIN STAGE: For the first game at the new stadium, Foundry Live provided a state-of-the-art stage on The Pines for UNA to host a special four-hour gameday show on Roar Lions Productions. Since then, the Foundry Live stage has been at every tailgate with televisions showing some of the top college football games around the country. Be sure to stop by on The Pines.
16. UNA BOOKSTORE OPEN AT BANK INDEPENDENT STADIUM: Fans can pick up the latest licensed North Alabama apparel at the UNA Bookstore, located near the main entrance. Each week, the bookstore will select an "Item of the Game" which will be discounted 20 percent if purchased on gameday.
17. STUDENT INFO: UNA is excited to welcome students to the Listerhill Credit Union Student Section, located in the southwest end zone at Bank Independent Stadium. All eligible UNA students receive free admission to home games at Bank Independent Stadium. For more information,
click here.
18. PLAYER ENTRANCE = LOUD NOISES: When UNA comes out of the locker room before kickoff, the team will touch pride rock before entering the Bone & Joint Player Entry Tunnel onto Bobby Wallace Field. Fans can expect pyro and fireworks during this entrance and at other parts of the game and are encouraged to be prepared for loud noises. In addition, both the UNA Marching Pride and Austin Peay's marching band will be at Saturday's game.
19. WATCH ON ESPN+: The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions"
Benjamin Ray and Bryan Neece on the call.
Gyvan Hammons will serve as the sideline reporter for all UNA home games this season. Ray and Neece will broadcast all home games on ESPN+ and all road games on Roar Lions Productions, making them the longest-tenured radio voices in UNA Football history in their 10th season. The broadcast will begin at 6 p.m. and can be found
at this link or on the ESPN app.
20. LISTEN ON ROAR LIONS PRODUCTIONS: For a second straight season, the Lions are on the fastest growing digital radio platform in college football, The Varsity Network. Fans can listen free of charge to all UNA football games on the Varsity Network app or on
roarlions.com/watch. The "booth cam" broadcast is also available on the UNA Athletics Facebook, X, YouTube and Twitch pages. Jordan Campbell and former UNA quarterback Jacob Tucker will be in the booth, while
Chase Glover will serve as the pregame and halftime host and sideline reporter. The "Countdown to Kickoff" presented by Bank Independent will now begin two hours before kickoff at 4 p.m. To find your preferred listening platform,
click here.
21. HOW TO KEEP UP: In addition to ESPN+ and radio, fans can follow the game through live stats, read up on both teams through game notes, check out the game program and find much more information — all
at this link.
22. DOWNLOAD OUR APP: Fans are encouraged to download the Roar Lions app, available on
Google Play and the
Apple App Store. The app was launched in 2023 and includes ticket information, team shop, game programs, schedules, rosters and links to watch and listen to the games online.
23. SERIES HISTORY: Saturday will be the 24th meeting between UNA and Austin Peay. UNA has a 13-10 record against the Govs all-time with the first meeting coming all the way back in 1949. The Govs have won the last four meetings. UNA hunts its first win over APSU since 1978.
24. MUGSHOTS WATCH PARTY: Can't make it to the road games? Head over to Mugshots Grill & Bar in downtown Florence for the official watch party. Mugshots is located at 321 North Court Steet and will be the official watch party location for all road games this season. Fans are also encouraged to stop in before home games.
25. UNA FOOTBALL NIGHT AT LOST PIZZA: Fans are reminded to head over to Lost Pizza Shoals in downtown Florence on Monday nights during football season for the UNA Football Hour with Coach
Brent Dearmon and select guests, including coaches and student-athletes. The show begins at 7 p.m. and will air on 93.9 FM The Score and on all Roar Lions Productions outlets. The show will also air live inside Lost Pizza. Fans are encouraged to check out their tailgate options at the
Lost Pizza Shoals website or by calling 256-415-8693.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
