FLORENCE, Ala. -- As season 2.0 for United Athletic Conference (UAC) Football gets set to kickoff, we will preview each of the nine league members as we countdown to the opening of the 2024 campaign and the "Chase for the Crown". North Alabama looks to make a climb in the standings and continue its championship pedigree.

NOTEWORTHY
* The Lions look to rebound from a tough first season in the UAC after going 3-8 overall (1-5 UAC) and finishing tied for 7th in league play... North Alabama did post an impressive 41-27 victory in 2023 over Chattanooga, an FCS Playoff participant... UNA was a dominant program during its DII Era having claimed three consecutive National Championships (1993-95)

* Head Coach BRENT DEARMON, in his second season at the helm in Florence, returns 44 letterwinners including 18 starters (7 offensive, 8 defensive) for the upcoming season... Dearmon owns a career 13-9 record as a collegiate head coach having notched a 10-1 mark in his lone season guiding his alma mater, Bethel

* North Alabama will open the season in Week 0 for the second straight campaign with the Lions set to battle Southeast Missouri State at the FCS Kickoff in Montgomery, Ala., on Aug. 24... Last season UNA squared off against No. 20 Mercer in the FCS Kickoff falling late 17-7

* UNA boasted a pair of preseason All-UAC selections in wideout Takairee Kenebrew and defensive back Edwin White Schultz, who was named the league's preseason Defensive Player of the Year

NORTH ALABAMA QUICK FACTS
2023 Record: 3-8 (1-5 UAC / T7th)
Program Best FCS Record: 7-3 (2018) 
NCAA FCS Playoff Appearances: 0 (21x NCAA DII Playoffs & 3x NCAA DII National Champions)
Head Coach: Brent Dearmon
Career Record: 13-9 (3rd Season) / 3-8 at UNA (2nd Season)

KEY RETURNERS
- TAKAIREE KENEBREW (WR, SR) - Preseason All-UAC selection and the Lions top returning pass catcher with 669 yards on 42 receptions (15.9 ypr)... Finished last season with 10 TDs and owns the program record with 26 career TD receptions
- EDWIN WHITE SCHULTZ (DB, RS-JR) - UAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honoree after pacing the UNA defense with 87 tackles (49 solo stops) in 2023... Recorded six TFLs and two sacks while also notching three PBUs with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery

2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 24 | vs Southeast Missouri (FCS Kickoff - Montgomery, Ala.)
Aug. 31 | @Memphis
Sept. 7 | Illinois State
Sept. 14 | @UT Martin
Sept. 21 | Tarleton State*
Sept. 28 | @West Georgia*
Oct. 5 | Utah Tech*
Oct. 12 | Abilene Christian*
Oct. 26 | @Central Arkansas*
Nov. 2 | Austin Peay*
Nov. 9 | @Southern Utah*
Nov. 23 | @EKU*

Bold = Home | * = UAC