CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay State University football team has big expectations for the 2026 season, that much is clear. The team finished with a 7-5 record in 2025, representing a significant improvement from the 4-8 record in 2024. However, nobody was satisfied with just being better, and the program expects another leap in 2026.
The Govs fell just short of earning a spot in the FCS Playoffs in 2025, and getting there in 2026 won’t be easy. The schedule is tough and includes games against Vanderbilt and UT Martin, in addition to the usual conference opponents. The good news is, the Govs are returning star quarterback Chris Parson and a whole host of other key pieces from 2025.
Parson sat down with Clarksville Now recently and explained that winning a championship is the goal for this year. It won’t be easy, but let’s explain three things that need to happen for the Govs to contend for a national championship.
1. Chris Parson has to be elite again
There’s no doubt about it, Parson had an elite 2025 season. The quarterback threw for 3,003 yards with 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Parson also rushed for 743 yards and 14 touchdowns, which set a record for the most single-season rushing touchdowns from a Govs’ quarterback.
Parson also set school records in total offense per game, pass efficiency, and rushing yards by a quarterback. After that season, Parson became the fourth Governor to ever be a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented to the FCS national offensive player of the year.
The Govs need more of that from Parson in 2026. The thing about championship-level teams is that they almost always have an elite quarterback. Parson has shown that he’s an elite talent and leader, and the Govs will go as far as he takes them.
2. Cut down on penalties
Nothing kills momentum faster than penalties. It happened far too often for the Govs in 2025, and that is not the kind of thing championship teams do. In 2025, the Govs had almost double the penalties of their opponents, which is unsustainable.
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In 2025, the Govs were penalized 87 times for 737 yards, while their opponents were penalized just 47 times for 431 yards. The Abilene Christian game, in particular, was negatively impacted by penalties last season. This kind of thing is expected when you have a young team with a ton of new players, but it needs to be better going forward. Losing a game because of poor play is one thing, but shooting yourself in the foot is another.
Head coach Jeff Faris wasn’t happy about the penalties last season, and this is a mature team with strong leadership, so I do expect this to be better. If the Govs don’t get in their own way, they’ll be very hard to stop.
3. Play better on the road
In 2025, the Govs went 1-5 in road games. If the team hadn’t dominated and gone 6-0 at home, it could have been a much different season. Ironically, the Govs’ best win of the season came on the road in Week 1 at Middle Tennessee State. So, the Govs didn’t win a single road game that wasn’t played in Tennessee in 2025.
The good news is, the Govs have their tougher opponents at home this year. UT Martin, Tarleton State, Eastern Kentucky, and Abilene Christian are all coming to Clarksville. If the Govs defend the Fort once again, they should be in good shape. However, with an easier road slate, the Govs have to take advantage.
Playing at North Alabama and Central Arkansas isn’t easy, but the Govs handled both teams last year. Even winning two more road games than they did last year could be the difference between making the playoffs and not.
APSU 2026 schedule
Here’s the full Austin Peay 2026 football schedule (conference opponents in bold):
- Aug. 27: vs. Gardner-Webb
- Sep. 5: at Vanderbilt
- Sep. 12: vs. Morehead State
- Sep. 19: at West Florida
- Sep. 26: vs. UT Martin
- Oct. 3: vs. New Haven
- Oct. 10: vs. Tarleton State
- Oct. 17: at West Georgia
- Oct. 24: at North Alabama
- Nov. 7: vs. Eastern Kentucky
- Nov. 14: vs. Abilene Christian
- Nov. 21: at Central Arkansas
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