RICHMOND, Ky. -- 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". EKU looks to continue building and growing their established history of FCS success.

NOTEWORTHY
* The Colonels were one of four teams that shared runner-up honors in the inaugural season of UAC play having posted a 4-2 mark in league action and a 5-6 overall record in 2023... EKU's four losses in FCS competition last season were all by three points including a pair of conference clashes

* Head Coach WALT WELLS comes into his fifth season leading Eastern Kentucky with a 22-21 overall record and looking to return the proud Colonels program back to the top of the FCS... Wells owns over a quarter century of coaching experience primarily as an offensive coordinator and line coach with career stops at Kentucky, Tennessee, South Florida, Western Kentucky, New Mexico State, Cumberland as well as a previous stint on the EKU sidelines (1997-2002, 2015) 

* EKU had five players named first-team All-UAC honorees last season with a pair of those recognized returning this season and appearing on the preseason All-UAC list: Hunter Brown (TE) and Payton Collins (OL)... The Colonels also welcomed back placekicker Patrick Nations, a preseason All-Conference choice, who was the league's field goal (19 FGM) and scoring (88 points) leader

* Eastern Kentucky has one of the most storied histories of any program in the UAC as the Colonels have made 22 appearances in the FCS Playoffs with four trips to the final game and a pair of National Championships... EKU is also the last UAC squad to top an FBS opponent having handed Bowling Green a 59-57 defeat in seven overtimes iin 2022 

EKU QUICK FACTS
2023 Record: 5-6 (4-2 UAC / T2nd)
Program Best FCS Record: 13-0 (1982) 
NCAA FCS Playoff Appearances: 22 (Last: 2022); 2-time FCS National Champion (1979, 1982)
Head Coach: Walt Wells
Career Record: 22-21 (5th Season)

KEY RETURNERS
- PATRICK NATIONS (K, RS-SR) - UAC's scoring leader (8.0 PPG) last season while also pacing the league in FG made with 19... Finished the season 19-of-25 on FGs with a long of 49 yards along with making 31-of-32 PAT attempts
- MIKE SMITH JR. (DB, SR) - Preseason All-UAC honoree and the squad's top returning tackler with 56 stops including 34 solo tackles... Shared the UAC lead with 11 PBUs and also had two interceptions and a fumble recovery 

2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 | @Mississippi State
Sept. 7 | @Western Kentucky
Sept. 14 | West Georgia*
Sept. 21 | Morehead State
Sept. 28 | Robert Morris
Oct. 12 | @Southern Utah*
Oct. 19 | @Abilene Christian*
Oct. 26 | Utah Tech*
Nov. 2 | @Tarleton State*
Nov. 9 | Central Arkansas*
Nov. 16 | @Austin Peay*
Nov. 23 | North Alabama

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