A full slate of head-to-head United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football games highlights Week 11 action as several squads chase a share of the conference title and postseason futures.
WEEK 11 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY SLATE | Nov. 9
2 PM ET | #14 TARLETON STATE at WEST GEORGIA* (ESPN+)
2 PM ET | #16 CENTRAL ARKANSAS at EKU* (ESPN+)
1 PM MT | NORTH ALABAMA at SOUTHERN UTAH* (ESPN+)
3 PM CT | #15 ABILENE CHRISTIAN at AUSTIN PEAY* (ESPN+)
GAME OF THE WEEK: #16 Central Arkansas (3-2 UAC) and EKU (3-2 UAC) both hold hopes of earning a piece of the UAC Championship as they are set to square off Saturday in Richmond. The Bears looks to rebound from a disappointing loss at Utah Tech a week ago while the Colonels hope to build on their upset victory on the road at then #7 Tarleton State. UCA and EKU will be meeting for the sixth time in a back-and-forth series led 3-2 by the Bears following a thriller last year Conway capped by a “Hail Mary” finish.
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE
– Headed down the home stretch in 2024, a trio of UAC squads are still undefeated on their home fields as Central Arkansas (4-0) and EKU (4-0) have successfully defended their homes all year, while Abilene Christian (4-0) went undefeated at home in league contests
BORN TO RUN
-The UAC is home to the TOP THREE running backs in FCS rushing with SUU’s Targhee Lambson (1,431 yds), TSU’s Kavyon Britten (1,420 yds) and UCA’s ShunDerrick Powell (1,177 yds) … In all of Division I Football (FCS & FBS) only Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty (1,525 yards) of Boise State has more yards
NOTEWORTHY
– Eight UAC league games have been decided by one score including three in the past two weeks
– APSU’s Chandler Kirton was named a finalist for the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award
– Stats Perform named a trio of UAC rookies to the “Watch List” for the Jerry Rice Award, presented to the FCS Freshman of the Year… Honorees: UNA’s Josh Anglin and Jalen Fletcher, SUU’s Jayden Robertson
– Oct. 5 clash between #5 Central Arkansas and #16 Abilene Christian was just the second head-to-head UAC battle of ranked squads in league history… UCA has been part of both competitions, having faced #12 Austin Peay, ranked 20th last season
– With Southern Utah’s 27-24 OT win over UTEP on Sept. 7, the T-Birds secured the league’s first victory against an FBS foe… Abilene Christian (52-51 loss at Texas Tech) and Central Arkansas (34-31 loss at Arkansas State) both nearly accomplished the feat as well this season
– UCA’s 34-14 victory over #19 Lamar (Sept. 29) marked just the second UAC win against a ranked non-conference foe… EKU topped #16 Southeast Missouri, 41-38, last year
– Thunderbirds head coach DeLane Fitzgerald earned the 100th of his career with SUU’s victory over EKU… Fitzgerald joined TSU’s Todd Whitten (135 wins) in the Century Win Club
HOW DO WE STACK UP?
– A trio of UAC teams were again ranked in the Top 25 nationally as ACU, UCA and TSU were all recognized. The Texans were listed 14th (STATS & AFCA), the Bears were 19th (AFCA)/ 16th (STATS) while the Wildcats were 15th (STATS)/ 16th (AFCA)… APSU & SUU received votes in a poll this week
– The league has seen three teams ranked in the Top 25 for eight consecutive weeks … Three teams ranked in one week is a league high benchmark
– In the Sept. 30 STATS Ranking, Central Arkansas was listed No. 5, marking the highest ever rank for a UAC program
– Including the Preseason Poll, eight of the nine teams in the conference have received votes for the Top 25 in one or both of the National Rankings (STATS Peform & AFCA)
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
– No. 14 Tarleton State (4-1 UAC) look to bounce back after the loss to EKU when the Texans travel to the “Peach State” to face league newcomer West Georgia (0-6 UAC). The Wolves are coming off a record-setting 88-point explosion in a non-conference victory over Lincoln (CA) last week. This marks the first meeting on the gridiron between the two squads in historic seasons for both as UWG is making its DI FCS debut in 2024 while TSU is playing its first fully-eligible season in FCS competition.
– North Alabama (3-3 UAC) travels across country to face-off with Southern Utah (3-2 UAC) in Cedar City, Utah. The Lions have dropped two straight after posting three consecutive UAC wins in the middle of the season. The Thunderbirds seek to stay in the hunt for a conference crown following a hard fought loss at then #17 Abilene Christian. This will be the second all-time meeting between UNA and Southern Utah. The first meeting was UNA’s first-ever game as a member of FCS, as the Lions defeated the Thunderbirds by a 34-30 final for the first win of the FCS era
– Saturday wraps up with #15 Abilene Christian (5-1 UAC) visiting Austin Peay (3-3 UAC) for a battle at “The Fort” between the current conference leader and the defending UAC Champs. The Wildcats have won four straight coming into the clash and look to maintain their spot on top of the standings heading into the closing weeks of the regular season. The Govs, who have won three straight UAC road games, are still looking to post a win in league play at home. This will mark the first all-time meeting between the two squads.
