CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay football team picked up a huge win over UT Martin in Week 4. The win moved the Governors to 4-1 overall, and as a result, they’re surging up in the rankings.
In the latest AFCA Coaches Poll, the Govs are ranked 9th. This is the highest regular-season ranking for the Govs in modern program history. When the Govs suit up against New Haven in Week 5, it will be the program’s first-ever regular-season game as a top 10 team in the country.
This is the fifth time in program history the Govs have earned a top 10 ranking. When the Govs made the FCS Playoffs in 2023, they were the 10th-ranked team in the country, and they also finished as a top 10 team after the 2019 FCS Playoffs. The first two times the Govs earned top 10 rankings were during the 1978 (No. 10) and 1979 (No. 8) seasons, when the coaches poll was under the care of the Associated Press
While the Govs are a top 10 team according to the AFCA, they aren’t far behind in the other poll. In the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, the Govs are now 11th in the country, moving up from 13th.
What’s next for Govs?
The Govs are not trying to only be inside of the top 10 for one game. The team plays New Haven this weekend, in another game the Govs should win. Assuming they move to 5-1, depending on what else happens around the FCS, the Govs could get another slight bump after this weekend.
After this weekend, all eyes will be on Oct. 10. The Tarleton State Texans are coming to Clarksville to take on the Govs in what will probably be a top 10 matchup. In the latest AFCA poll, the Texans are six spots ahead of the Govs at No. 3 in the country. The Texans are the only team still remaining on the Govs’ regular-season schedule who is currently ranked in the top 25.