CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay State University football team is riding high right now after knocking off conference foe West Florida on the road last weekend. It was a dominant showing by the Govs, who secured their biggest ranked road conference win in program history.
Even though conference play started last weekend, the Govs have another two weeks of non-conference opponents, beginning this weekend. On Saturday, the Govs are welcoming the UT Martin Skyhawks back to Clarksville for the first time since the 2020 season.
It’s been a while since the Skyhawks and Govs have played each other, so let’s dive in and see what we need to know about the Govs’ next opponent.
What to know about UT Martin
Coming into this matchup, the Skyhawks have a 1-3 record. The team picked up a loss to Austin Peay’s conference rival, Central Arkansas, in Week 1, and then lost to West Virginia and Memphis after that. The team’s lone win came against Chicago State, which is a program currently playing its first season of football.
The Skyhawks are a team that likes to run the ball. The team only averages 188.8 passing yards per game, while rushing for 159.8 yards per game. The Skyhawks lean on their two-headed monster of Tommy Ansley and Chris Franklin, who combined for over 1,000 yards in 2025.
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On defense, the Skyhawks have been giving up plenty of yards and points this season. The team allows 35.0 points per game and 439.8 total yards per game. UT Martin’s defense is allowing a whopping 220.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks 112th out of 124 FCS teams.
Entering this game, the Skyhawks are desperate for a win. The team will start OVC play after this weekend, so they’d love nothing more than to enter conference play with a big, ranked win.
The Skyhawks have had plenty of success against the Govs in the past. These former OVC rivals have played each other 13 times since 2009, with the Skyhawks winning 11 of those contests. The Govs’ only wins over the Skyhawks came in 2017 and 2019.
Game prediction: Govs cruise to another win
The Govs enter this game with all the momentum in the world. The team just went down to Florida and dominated a ranked conference opponent. Now, the team gets to come home to a place they haven’t lost at in almost two calendar years.
The Skyhawks’ defense has not exactly been a lockdown unit so far. The Govs had a great day on the ground against West Florida, and I expect that to continue against UT Martin. The Govs like to give snaps to four different running backs, and I’d expect them all to have success against this unit.
Chris Parson should also have plenty of opportunities to make big plays. The star quarterback only completed seven passes last weekend, so he may be anxious to take some shots this weekend.
On defense, the Govs simply have to stop the run. The Skyhawks don’t have much of a passing attack, and I don’t think a solid ground game will be enough to keep up with Austin Peay.
The game is at 1 p.m. Saturday at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville. For tickets, go to the Austin Peay page on Ticketmaster or call 931-221-PEAY (7329).
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