CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – It’s been a long offseason for Austin Peay State University football, but we’re finally just one month away from the kickoff of the 2026 season. If you’ve been keeping up with the Governors, you know that expectations are high, and for good reason.
The Govs came just one win short of making the FCS Playoffs in 2025, and quarterback Chris Parson had a historic season. The biggest news of the offseason came over the winter when it was revealed that Parson was signing on to stay with the Govs for the 2026 season.
With Parson and several other key players returning, it’s easy to see why there’s so much optimism around the Govs. It’s not just fans of the Govs who are excited about Parson, either, as the quarterback has now earned multiple honors this offseason.
UAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
This week, the United Athletic Conference held its annual Media Days. This is a chance for the media to speak with coaches and select players from each UAC team, and it’s also when the coaches vote for preseason honors.
On Tuesday, the UAC coaches voted Parson as the UAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Parson becomes the first Gov to earn league preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors since Draylen Ellis did so in 2021. It’s not surprising that Parson got the nod after his incredible 2025. The quarterback threw for over 3,000 yards with 23 touchdown passes, while also rushing for 743 yards and 14 more scores.
Additionally, last week, Parson was named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Award Watch List. The Walter Payton Award honors the national offensive player of the year in FCS college football, so this is another key honor for the star passer. Parson ended 2025 as a finalist for the award, but he starts this season as one of the favorites to win it.
Finally, Parson was one of four Govs to be selected to preseason All-UAC teams, along with tight end Jackson Head, wide receiver Jaden Robinson, and offensive lineman Joshua Sales Jr. Head, Robinson, and Sales were all important contributors in 2025 who agreed to return with Parson in 2026.
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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