10 CHAMPIONS WAY (October 23, 2026) – For the first time in history, a ranked opponent will take the field at Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium, as the University of North Alabama will host No. 9 Austin Peay in a highly-anticipated United Athletic Conference game.
The Lions and Govs will kickoff Saturday at 6 p.m. in Florence.
This will also be the first homecoming game at the new stadium, bringing all the festivities of homecoming — including the main attraction of a football game — to campus. Campus will also host the UNA Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony Saturday at 9 a.m. in the GUC Performance Center.
Fans are encouraged to wear purple for the homecoming game. Reserved seating is limited, and fans are encouraged to call the UNA Ticket Office at 256-765-5466 to purchase while available. Standing-room only and general admission tickets will remain available throughout Saturday.
For a list of "things to know" for Saturday's game,
click here.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
North Alabama vs. No. 9 Austin Peay
Date: Saturday, October 24
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
LAST TIME OUT: UNA lost a hard-fought game on a walk-off field goal against Abilene Christian this past Saturday, falling 31-28. Both the Lions and Wildcats were receiving votes in both national FCS polls. The game was evenly matched with both teams totaling 368 yards apiece — the first time UNA and an opponent have had the exact same total since 2002. The fourth quarter ultimately came down to who had the ball last, which was ACU in the final three minutes.
ABOUT THE LIONS: UNA is off to its best start since the school's first season of Division I in 2018, taking a 4-3 record into Saturday's game. Three of the four wins have come within the state lines with two wins in Florence and one over Samford at a neutral site in Huntsville. UNA also has a road conference win against EKU. UNA's bread and butter has been on the defensive side of the ball this season, ranking third in the nation in sacks and tackles for loss. However, the offense perhaps had more shine last week with its highest yard total since the home opener on Sept. 19.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: Austin Peay has a 6-2 record and a 2-1 record in UAC play. The only FCS loss for the team this season is to top-ranked Tarleton State, which came down to a dropped Hail Mary on the final play in a 40-32 loss. The Govs have conference wins over West Georgia and a ranked West Florida. The Govs lead the country in passing yards per completion behind the strong arm of quarterback Chris Parson. The Govs are also sound defensively, leading the UAC with 18.4 points per game and 337.9 yards per game allowed.
SERIES HISTORY: UNA leads the all-time series with a 13-10 record against Austin Peay. However, the Govs have won all four meetings since playing together in the same conference starting in 2022. Last season's game ended in a 56-28 win for Austin Peay. The Lions are on the hunt for their first win in the series since 1978.
RUN STOPPERS: UNA and APSU are not only the top two teams in the UAC when it comes to run defense, but both are also ranked top-10 nationally. The Govs allow just 101.3 rushing yards per game to rank sixth in FCS, while the Lions are not far behind in ninth at 103.7. UNA had previously hovered below the 100 yard mark before conference play. ACU ran for just 104 yards last week against UNA, while APSU held UWG to just eight yards last week in Georgia.
BATTLE IN THE TRENCHES: UNA and Austin Peay are both successful in the trenches this season, as the Lions rank third nationally in both sacks (3.29 per game) and tackles for loss (8.3), while Austin Peay is 13th in sacks (2.63) and 12th in tackles for loss (7.0) to rank second in the league. The offensive lines to counter have talented players, including the likes of redshirt senior
Collin Wright on the UNA side and FCS First Team All-American Joshua Sales anchoring the Govs at tackle.
FAMILIAR FOES: UNA's
Destin Wade and APSU's Chris Parson are extremely familiar, as they will battle for the fourth time in their careers. The first two meetings came in high school, as Wade was leading Summit High School out of Spring Hill, Tenn. while Parsons was the QB at Ravenwood in Brentwood, Tenn. Wade won both meetings. Both QBs went on to Power Four schools, but then reunited in the UAC last year. Parson got the better of Wade in last season's meeting with both starting at APSU and UNA, respectively.
FRESHMAN PHENOMS: Two members of the 2026 Jerry Rice Award Watchlist will face off this week in UNA's
Xavier Johnson and APSU's Denver Harper. Both Harper and Johnson are redshirt freshmen wide receivers and are the only two players from the UAC on the list. The Jerry Rice Award is given to the nation's top freshman in FCS for each of the last 16 seasons.
X GONNA GIVE IT TO YA: Xavier Johnson has taken the nation by storm this season, leading all of FCS with 593 receiving yards after five games. He currently ranks top five in the country with 97 yards per game. He is also one of just two players in FCS this season with a 75+ yard rush and 75+ yard catch this season along with Eli Gillman from Montana.
MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICANS: Phil Steele put out their midseason awards last week, naming two Lions to All-America teams. Johnson was named a fourth team All-American receiver, while redshirt junior defensive lineman
Avery Howard was named a second teamer. Howard has been one of the top defensive players in FCS — and the nation — ranking among the top seven players nationally and atop the league in both sacks (7) and tackles for loss (11).
OH SNAP: Redshirt sophomore
Snap Reed caught eight passes on 11 targets for 105 yards against Abilene Christian, marking his first 100-yard receiving game as a Lion and the second of his career. Reed had 107 receiving yards last season at Tennessee State against Gardner-Webb.
OH FORSHA: Redshirt junior
Nolan Forsha had a breakout game against ACU, making three tackles with two sacks from the linebacker spot. One of the two sacks was a strip sack, as teammate
Kamore Harris nearly finished off a sack before Forsha came in and forced a fumble recovered by defensive back
Dallas Johnson. The two sacks were the first two of Forsha's career, and the fumble was the first fumble that went for a turnover in stadium history
HOMECOMING GAMES: UNA has an all-time record of 54-21-1 in homecoming games dating back to 1949. The only season UNA did not play a homecoming game was in 2020 due to COVID-19. The Lions have won each of the last two homecoming games, including a 35-14 win over Eastern Kentucky in 2025 and a 47-34 win over No. 10 ranked ACU in 2024. The win over ACU marked the first — and so far only — ranked FCS win in UNA's history.
UAC ROUNDUP: Seven conference teams will be in action, including three conference games and one out of conference. Central Arkansas will host UTRGV in the one non-conference game, while ACU will be on a bye week. Top-ranked Tarleton State will travel to West Georgia, marking back-to-back weeks UWG has hosted a ranked team. EKU will welcome No. 23 West Florida.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
