CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Five home games, the program’s first-ever trips to Texas and Utah, and a game against an in-state FBS rival highlight the 2023 Austin Peay State University football schedule, presented Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the first ASUN-Western Athletic Conference football slate.
Austin Peay’s 2023 schedule features six teams that have qualified for the FCS Playoffs since 2017 and five teams that have qualified in the past two seasons.
The only FCS teams on the Govs schedule that have not qualified for the FCS Playoffs in the past five years are North Alabama – who just completed its first postseason-eligible season in 2022 – and Lindenwood and Utah Tech – who are ineligible for the FCS Playoffs during their transition to the subdivision.
The Governors open the season with back-to-back games on the road, starting Sept. 2 with their first game against Southern Illinois since 1992 when they travel to Carbondale, Illinois. Austin Peay’s only FBS contest of the 2023 season is next when it squares off with Tennessee in a Sept. 9 game at Neyland Stadium.
2023-24 home opener
For the Govs’ home 2023 opener, ETSU finally makes the return trip from the 2019 meeting when they travel to Fortera Stadium on Sept. 16. Austin Peay then hits the road for two more games, starting with its first ASUN-WAC contest against Stephen F. Austin, Sept. 23, in Nacogdoches, Texas.
The Govs travel to Lindenwood for a Sept. 30 meeting that will be the first-ever game between the two programs.
After a Week 6 bye, Gardner-Webb visits Fortera Stadium for an Oct. 14 nonconference battle. The Governors then play five-straight ASUN-WAC contests to close the season, starting with an Oct. 21 showdown at Southern Utah and an Oct. 28 Homecoming contest against North Alabama in Clarksville.
Austin Peay hits the road for the final time in the regular season when it travels to Eastern Kentucky, Nov. 4. The Governors close the regular-season slate with their only back-to-back home games when they host Utah Tech, Nov. 11, and Central Arkansas, Nov. 18, at Fortera Stadium.
ASUN-WAC partnership
The ASUN-WAC partnership will function in the manner of a single sport conference beginning January 1, 2023. The 2023 schedule, based on existing commitments, will be limited to six conference games.
The ASUN-WAC Football partnership began with a combined group that built the ASUN-WAC Challenge in 2021.
Featuring an automatic qualifier (AQ) into the FCS playoff each of the past two years, the football group enters year three with nine participating institutions: Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin State, Tarleton, and Utah Tech.
The group will add the Texas Rio Grande Valley in the fall of 2025 when it begins sponsorship of football.
The group is currently building the 2024 schedule which will feature a full eight-game single round robin. Future schedules are also being constructed as part of the multi-year conference agreement.
Austin Peay season ticket information, game times, and full broadcast information for the 2023 season will be available at a later date. For more offseason news and updates on Austin Peay football, follow along on Twitter and Instagram or be sure to check back at LetsGoPeay.com.