CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay State University football team continues to roll in the 2026 season. On Saturday, the Govs picked up another dominant win, defeating the New Haven Chargers 42-17. The win moved the Govs to 5-1 on the season and extended the winning streak at Fortera Stadium to 10 games.
The win also moved the Govs higher in the national rankings. Last week, the Govs earned their first-ever top 10 regular-season ranking in the AFCA Coaches Poll. This week, the Govs are making history again, as they are now in the top 10 of the Stats Perform Media Poll as well.
The AFCA Coaches Poll has the Govs at No. 8, while the Stats Perform Media Poll has the Govs at No. 9. This is the first time the Austin Peay program has been a unanimous top 10 selection. Austin Peay also has its highest ranking in any poll since being ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press Division I-AA Coaches Poll in 1979.
Biggest home game in program history this weekend
What this means is that Austin Peay’s next home game, this Saturday against Tarleton State, will be one of the biggest in program history. This will be the first-ever showdown between top 10 opponents at Fortera Stadium, as Tarleton State enters at No. 2 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the Stats Perform Media Poll.
This will be third all-time meeting between Austin Peay and Tarleton. Tarleton won the first two contests, but both games came down to the wire. Last season, the Govs lost 45-44 after a failed two-point conversion. This year, if the Govs pull off the victory, they will make even more history and would likely find themselves inside of the top five for the first time.
The game is at 6 p.m. Saturday at Fortera Stadium in Clarksville. For tickets, go to the Austin Peay page on Ticketmaster or call 931-221-PEAY (7329).