CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay football team picked up another big conference win last weekend over West Georgia. That win improved the team to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play as they prepare for the stretch run of the season.
This Saturday, the Govs are on the road again. The team is heading down to Florence, Alabama, to take on rival North Alabama. The Lions enter the rivalry game with a 4-3 record and a 1-1 conference record after losing a heartbreaker to Abilene Christian last weekend.
This will be the 24th meeting between Austin Peay and North Alabama all time. The Lions have a 13-10 lead in the series, but the Govs have won four meetings in a row, including a big 56-28 win last season. North Alabama isn’t ranked right now, but they certainly would be with a win over the Govs. The Govs enter at No. 9 in both polls.
Now, let’s dive in and find out more about North Alabama.
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What to know about North Alabama
As mentioned above, the Lions enter with four overall wins and one conference win. The team came so close to pulling off a major upset last weekend, but Abilene Christian walked away with a three-point win thanks to a game-winning, last-second field goal.
North Alabama has wins over Samford, Alcorn State, Western Illinois, and Eastern Kentucky. The team’s losses have come to Arkansas, Southeastern Louisiana, and Abilene Christian.
The Lions are led by quarterback Destin Wade, who has thrown for 1,402 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions this season. The quarterback is also plenty mobile, as he has over 200 rushing yards and nine rushing scores in 2026.
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The Lions also have one of the best receivers in the FCS in Xavier Johnson. Johnson has 35 catches for 679 yards and two touchdowns so far this year. Currently, only five FCS receivers have more receiving yards than Johnson.
On defense, the Lions have been consistently solid against the run and pass. The unit is led by defensive lineman Avery Howard and defensive back Leo Glover. Glover leads the Lions with 46 tackles and also has two interceptions and two tackles for loss, while Howard has 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
The Lions lead the UAC in tackles for loss and sacks, which is concerning for a Govs’ inconsistent offensive line. This will also be North Alabama’s homecoming game, and they expect a sellout crowd.
Game prediction: Govs win a close one
This will not be an easy game for the Govs. The Lions have already surpassed their 2025 win total, and they’re hungry for a big win after falling just short last weekend.
Both of these teams have stout defenses that are in the top half of the conference in most categories. The difference is on offense, where the Govs hold a sizable edge. Austin Peay is averaging 10 points per game more than the Lions and also averages about 60 more yards of offense.
The key here will be a fast start. The Govs have been prone to slow starts this season, and it’s going to be hard to win this one if that happens again. North Alabama is talented enough to run away if the Govs start sloppily. Ultimately, I think the Govs know what’s in front of them, and they’ll be able to make enough big plays to win.
The game is at 6 p.m. Saturday at Bank Independent Stadium in Florence, Alabama. For tickets, go to the Austin Peay page on Ticketmaster or call 931-221-PEAY (7329).
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