CLARKSVILLE, TN – A six-game home slate and a pair of games against FBS opponents highlight Austin Peay State University’s football schedule presented Monday in conjunction with the United Athletic Conference’s 2025 conference football schedule release.

The second season of the Jeff Faris era kicks off when the Governors take on in-state foe and former conference rival Middle Tennessee, Aug. 30, in Murfreesboro. The Govs then battle their second-straight FBS opponent when they travel to Georgia, Sept. 6, to take on the 2021 and 2022 College Football Playoff Champions in Athens, Georgia.

Austin Peay then renews acquaintances with another former conference opponent when it takes on Morehead State, Sept. 13, in its home opener at Fortera Stadium. The Governors then hit the road for the third time in the first four weeks of the season when they square off with 2024 UAC Champion Abilene Christian, Sept. 20, in Abilene, Texas.

A pair of home games are up next with the Governors welcoming Utah Tech, Sept. 27, and West Georgia, Oct. 4, to Clarksville to wrap up the first half of the 2025 season. The second half of the season starts when Austin Peay battles longtime conference rival Eastern Kentucky, Oct. 11, in Richmond, Kentucky, before taking its bye in Week 8.

Following the bye week, the Govs are back at Fortera Stadium to host the 2025 Homecoming game against North Alabama, Oct. 25. After Homecoming, the Governors make their second-ever trip to Cedar City, Utah, to take on Southern Utah, Nov. 1, in UAC action.

After the trip west, Austin Peay kicks off a two-game homestand at Fortera Stadium when it plays Central Arkansas, Nov. 8, on Military Appreciation Day. The 2025 regular-season home finale is up next when the Govs play their final nonconference game against Samford, Nov. 15.

Finally, the Governors wrap up the 2025 regular season when they take on Tarleton State, Nov. 22, in their first-ever trip to Stephenville, Texas.

Information regarding 2025 season ticket plans will be available at a later date.

Scouting the field

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Aug. 30 | Floyd Stadium | Murfreesboro, Tennessee

  • 2024 season: 3-9 overall (2-4 home), 2-4 Conference USA (t-8th)
  • Middle Tennessee leads the series, 39-12-2
  • Govs are 7-22-1 all-time against MTSU in Murfreesboro
  • First meeting since a 56-33 MTSU victory on Sept. 11, 2010
  • Govs last win against Blue Raiders was a 7-0 overtime victory on Oct. 4, 1986
  • Govs last win at Floyd Stadium was a 16-7 victory on Oct. 20, 1984
  • Govs are 0-3 all-time against Conference USA opponents

Georgia Bulldogs
Sept. 6 | Sanford Stadium | Athens, Georgia

  • 2024 season: 10-2 overall (6-0 home), 6-2 SEC (t-2nd)
  • Georgia leads the series, 1-0
  • Govs fell to Bulldogs, 45-0, in the 2018 season opener at Sanford Stadium
  • Govs are 0-8 all-time against Southeastern Conference opponents
  • APSU’s lone win against an FBS program was a 26-22 win against Kansas State on Sept. 5, 1987 in Manhattan, Kansas

Morehead State Eagles
Sept. 13 | Fortera Stadium | Clarksville

  • 2024 season: 7-5 (2-4 road), 5-3 PFL (t-3rd)
  • Morehead State leads the series, 27-20
  • APSU is 12-9 vs. Morehead State in Clarksville
  • Govs have won four-straight against the Eagles, including a 59-35 victory in the last meeting on Sept. 18, 2021
  • Tenth nonconference games between Austin Peay and Morehead State, APSU is 4-5 vs. MSU in nonconference contests
  • Morehead State also returns to Fortera Stadium for a game on Sept. 12, 2026

Abilene Christian Wildcats
Sept. 20 | Wildcat Stadium | Abilene, Texas

  • 2024 season: 9-4 overall (5-1 home), 7-1 UAC (1st)
  • Abilene Christian leads the series, 1-0
  • ACU won the first-ever meeting, 35-34, on Nov. 9, 2024, in Fortera Stadium
  • Govs are 1-0 all-time in the State of Texas
  • Matchup between the 2023 and 2024 UAC Champions

Utah Tech Trailblazers
Sept. 27 | Fortera Stadium | Clarksville

  • 2024 season: 1-11 overall (0-6 road), 1-7 UAC (t-8th)
  • Austin Peay leads the series, 2-0
  • Austin Peay beat Utah Tech, 30-17, on Nov. 11, 2023, in the Trailblazers’ first trip to Fortera Stadium

West Georgia Wolves
Oct. 4 | Fortera Stadium | Clarksville

  • 2024 season: 4-7 overall (1-3 road), 1-7 UAC (t-8th)
  • Austin Peay leads the series, 1-0
  • Govs beat West Georgia, 20-16, on Oct. 5, 2024, in Carrollton, Georgia
  • The 2024 season was UWG’s first as a Division I program

Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Oct. 11 | Roy Kidd Stadium | Richmond, Kentucky

  • 2024 season: 8-5 overall (6-0 road), 6-2 UAC (t-2nd)
  • Govs and Colonels met for the 56th time this season, the most of any team on APSU’s schedule
  • Eastern Kentucky leads the series, 48-8
  • Austin Peay is 4-25 all-time against EKU in Richmond, Kentucky
  • Govs last win against Colonels was a 33-30 overtime victory on Nov. 4, 2023, in Richmond
  • APSU has won four of the last seven meetings in the series, all since 2017
  • APSU has won three of the last four meetings at Roy Kidd Stadium

North Alabama Lions
Oct. 25 | Fortera Stadium | Clarksville

  • Homecoming 2025
  • 2024 season: 3-9 overall (1-5 road), 3-5 UAC (t-5th)
  • North Alabama leads the series, 13-9
  • Austin Peay is 5-6 all-time against UNA in Clarksville
  • Govs are 3-0 vs. Lions in conference contests
  • Govs have won three-straight games against the Lions, including a 31-17 victory on Nov. 2, 2024, in Florence, Alabama
  • Austin Peay is 31-47-1 all-time in Homecoming games
  • The Govs are 1-0 against North Alabama in Homecoming games after beating the Lions, 49-39, on Oct. 28, 2023

Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Nov. 1 | Eccles Coliseum | Cedar City, Utah

  • 2024 season: 7-5 overall (3-2 home), 6-2 UAC (t-2nd)
  • Series is tied, 1-1
  • The road team has won both meetings between the Govs and Thunderbirds
  • Austin Peay beat Southern Utah, 48-45, in double overtime on Oct. 21, 2023, in Cedar City, Utah

Central Arkansas Bears
Nov. 8 | Fortera Stadium | Clarksville

  • 2024 season: 6-6 overall (2-5 road), 3-5 UAC (t-5th)
  • Central Arkansas leads the series, 5-1
  • Govs are 1-2 all-time against the Bears in Clarksville
  • Austin Peay beat Central Arkansas, 14-12, on Nov. 18, 2023, to clinch the 2023 UAC Championship and pick up its only win in the series

Samford Bulldogs
Nov. 15 | Fortera Stadium | Clarksville

  • 2024 season: 4-7 overall (1-4 road), 3-4 SoCon (5th)
  • Samford leads the series, 7-1
  • Govs won their last meeting with the Samford, 28-25, on Oct. 20, 2007, in Birmingham in the lone Ohio Valley Conference contest between the programs
  • Samford makes its first trip to Clarksville since it beat APSU, 17-10, on Sept. 14, 2006
  • Austin Peay is set to play a home-and-home series against Samford with the return trip set for Sept. 16, 2028, at Seibert Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.

Tarleton State Texans
Nov. 22 | Memorial Stadium | Stephenville, Texas

  • 2024 season: 10-3 overall (5-2 home), 6-2 UAC (t-2nd)
  • Tarleton State leads the series, 1-0
  • Govs fell to Texans, 27-17, on Oct. 26, 2023, in first-ever meeting in Clarksville
  • Govs are 1-0 all-time in the State of Texas