The FCS football season is fast approaching, so we’re going inside each conference race. With Central Arkansas and Tarleton State leading the way, here’s our 2024 UAC football preview.
After the ASUN and Western Athletic Conference rebranded their football partnership into the United Athletic Conference last year, they made close games a common occurrence.
Out of 27 conference matchups, three went to overtime and 10 were decided by three or fewer points, with another five coming down to four- to eight-point differences.
There should be similar results this season in the competitive UAC, and the title could be determined when Central Arkansas and Tarleton State meet on the final Saturday of the regular season. Tarleton begins its fifth Division I season and is eligible for the FCS playoffs for the first time.
Stephen F. Austin moved back to the Southland Conference this summer, but West Georgia moved up from Division II as a new member.
2024 United Athletic Conference Football Preview
Predicted Order of Finish
*-FCS Playoff Qualifier
*1. *Central Arkansas (2023 Record: 7-4, 4-2; No. 11 national preseason ranking) – Coach Nathan Brown returns a highly talented, veteran nucleus, but it’s come up short of expectations in recent seasons. Quarterback Will McElvain has passed for 9,022 yards and 64 TDs across five college seasons, and it’s hard to find an FCS running back duo as productive as ShunDerrick Powell and Darius Hale, who’ve combined for 5,938 yards and 59 TDs from scrimmage in their careers. Defensive end David Walker is a two-time Buck Buchanan Award finalist, while linebacker Demetrius Charles (72) and safety Tamaurian Wilson (64) ranked as the team’s No. 2 and 3 tacklers, respectively, last season.
2. *Tarleton State (8-3, 4-2; No. 21 national preseason ranking) – Last season, the Texans were involved in four games that were decided by a one- or two-point margin, and went to double overtime in another matchup. They are loaded in the offensive skills positions with QB Victor Gabalis; RBs Kayvon Britten, the 2023 UAC offensive player of the year, and Derrel Kelley III; and WRs Benjamin Omayebu (team-high 64 receptions last season) and Darius Cooper (54 catches, 1,057 yards, nine TDs in 2022). Defensive tackle Brandon Tolvert headlines the returnees on that side of the ball, where former Mississippi Valley State safety Omar Emmons also comes aboard.
3. Austin Peay (9-3, 6-0) – New coach Jeff Faris, a former Duke assistant spent the 2022 and ’23 seasons as UCLA’s tight ends coach, has taken over the defending UAC champ following Scotty Walden’s departure to UTEP. The starting lineup will be vastly different, with East Carolina QB transfer Mason Garcia (6-foot-5, 244 pounds) expected to direct the attack behind standout offensive lineman Chandler Kirton. The defense lost two 100-tackle standouts (Tyler Long and Sam Howard), leaving All-UAC hybrid Hosea Knifeley Jr. as the unit’s top returnee.
4. Eastern Kentucky (5-6, 4-2) – It will be so different without QB Parker McKinney, who finished No. 11 in FCS career passing yards (12,751). Western Illinois grad transfer Matt Morrissey is in the competition to be the season-opening starter. Whoever takes over will be glad for the protection of O-lineman Payton Collins and that he can target tight end Hunter Brown (33 catches). The Colonels also boast one of the FCS’ top place-kickers in All-American Patrick Nations (45 field goals and 248 points the last three seasons).
5. Abilene Christian (5-6, 3-3) – The Wildcats can rely on a number of veterans, from QB Maverick McIvor (33 TD passes over two seasons) to WR Blayne Taylor to OL Alan Hatten to last year’s top tacklers, LB Darius Moore (78), DB Elijah Moffett (75) and LB Cirby Coheley (61). They’ll want to build a cushion given their final three games are on the road (Austin Peay and Tarleton State within the UAC, then against SFA out of conference).
6. Southern Utah (6-5, 4-2) – Close non-conference losses at Arizona State and UC Davis suggested early on that SUU would have a solid season, and it was capped by a four-game winning streak. They’re tasked with replacing QB Justin Miller, who started 39 straight games, and the candidates include transfers Bronson Barron (Weber State/Western Kentucky) and Jordan Pachot (Missouri State). Linebacker Kohner Cullimore has begun his career with two big campaigns, and Rylen Sua-Filo provides size and power up front.
7. North Alabama (3-8, 1-5) – An upset of Southern Conference power Chattanooga in the Lions’ home opener didn’t carry over to the remainder of last season. They’ll seek more consistency in coach Brent Dearmon’s second season. They boast standouts in junior safety Edwin White Schultz, the UAC preseason defensive player of the year, and WR Takairee Kenebrew, who’s had at least 500 receiving yards and eight TDs in three straight seasons. UAB transfer linebacker Jackson Bratton is a key addition.
8. Utah Tech (2-9, 1-5) – Like Tarleton State, the Trailblazers are through their Division I transition to become playoff-eligible. Their new coach, Lance Anderson, spent the 2007-22 seasons on the Stanford staff. The defense has six returning starters, including LB Jared Fotu (team-high 82 tackles) and DB Jagger Williams. However, OL Bayo Kannike and WR Daniel Thomason are the only returning starters on offense. Quarterbacks Luke MacPhail (Syracuse) and Deacon Hill (Iowa) are part of a large class of transfers.
9. West Georgia (6-4 Division II) – The new FCS program has posted a winning record in every season since 2013, and the Wolves are eligible for the UAC title. Former Mercer defensive coordinator Joel Taylor has taken over as head coach. A veteran offensive line, anchored by David Bodden, is welcome news for RB Rajaez Mosley (1,581 career yards) and Alabama A&M transfer QB Quincy Casey. Defensive back Cael Bright made solos on 30 of his 35 tackles.
How the Conference Predicted the Race
Five Players to Know
Kayvon Britten, RB, Tarleton State (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – Britten rushed for over 1,000 yards and 16 TDs at Arkansas Pine-Bluff in 2022, then did the same with the Texans last year.
Payton Collins, OL, Eastern Kentucky – The 6-foot-7, 301-pound tackle has started 43 straight games for the Colonels. He earned All-America second-team honors this preseason.
ShunDerrick Powell, RB/KR, Central Arkansas (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – The elusive Powell had back-to-back games with 347 all-purpose yards against FCS power North Dakota State and 281 versus Abilene Christian.
David Walker, DE, Central Arkansas (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – Walker has 40 tackles for loss in 22 UCA games, an average of 1.82 per outing to lead all NCAA-level players.
Edwin White Schultz, S, North Alabama – In his first season after a transfer from Kansas, White Schultz had double-figure tackles against strong opponents (Mercer, Chattanooga, UT Martin and Eastern Kentucky).
Five Must-See Matchups
1. Central Arkansas at Tarleton State (Nov. 23) – The UAC revised its schedule following SFA’s departure, moving arguably the biggest conference game to the final Saturday of the regular season. Tarleton denied UCA of a two-point attempt with 14 seconds left to hold on for a 25-23 victory last season.
2. Austin Peay at Central Arkansas (Sept. 14)
3. Tarleton State at Austin Peay (Oct. 26)
4. West Georgia at Abilene Christian (Sept. 7)
5. Eastern Kentucky at Southern Utah (Oct. 12)
Fast Fact
None of the current UAC members owns an FCS playoff win in this decade. When the ASUN and WAC partnership began in 2021, former members Sam Houston (second-round win) and SFA (first-round loss) reached the second season. In the last two seasons, Eastern Kentucky (2022) and Austin Peay (last season) fell in the first round.
Did you like the 2024 UAC football preview? Follow all of our FCS football coverage, including on X, Facebook and Instagram.