CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The long football offseason is almost over, as the Austin Peay Governors are set to kick off their 2026 season in just three weeks. The Govs begin their season with a home game against Gardner-Webb in Week 0, and then a short road trip to Vanderbilt in Week 1.

Head coach Jeff Faris is entering his third season at the helm for the Govs. Faris’ squad took a big step forward in 2025 and came just one win shy of making the FCS Playoffs. With several key players returning, and some impactful offseason additions, the vibes are positive and expectations are sky-high for 2026.

With that being said, there are some big questions still surrounding the team:

1. Can Govs get past Tarleton State/Abilene Christian?

Tarleton State and Abilene Christian have been the best teams in the United Athletic Conference over the last two seasons. They’ve both been playoff teams as well and represent some of the toughest teams in the FCS.

In 2024, Faris’ first season at the helm, the Govs lost to Tarleton 27-17 and lost to Abilene 35-34. Last season, the Govs lost to Abilene 45-31 and then lost to Tarleton 45-44 in an overtime heartbreaker. It’s tough to be so close but not get over the hump, so the hope is that 2026 is the year it finally happens.

If the Govs want to return to the postseason and be taken seriously as an FCS contender, they have to beat the best of the best.

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2. Will Govs’ road woes be fixed in 2026?

The Govs didn’t win a single game outside the state of Tennessee in 2025. The team went a perfect 6-0 at home, and 1-5 on the road. Interestingly, the Govs’ lone road win was against Middle Tennessee State, an FBS team.

Teams are almost always much better playing at home than on the road. However, the Govs’ disparity in home and road games is bigger than most, and that’s not conducive to being a contender. If the Govs make the playoffs, they’ll have to step up away from Fortera Stadium. If the team goes winless in conference road games again, that will be a major problem.

3. How good can Chris Parson be?

By now, we all know that Chris Parson had one of the best single seasons from an Austin Peay quarterback in 2025. The quarterback was dominant through the air and was also the team’s best rusher. Parson is also the unquestioned locker room leader and the ultimate teammate.

This offseason, Parson has received plenty of hype and preseason honors. Everybody expects the quarterback to have a massive season, but how good can he actually be? If Parson somehow exceeds his 2025 performance, there’s no limit to how far the Govs can go.

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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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