FLORENCE, Ala. -- Excitement is building for the third season of gridiron action in the United Athletic Conference (UAC) and as a lead into the kickoff of the 2025 campaign, we will preview each of the nine league members with a daily countdown in the "Chase for the Crown". North Alabama had some historic events in 2024 and has it sights set on closing out its stay at Braly Stadium with some final season fireworks.

NORTH ALABAMA QUICK FACTS
2025 Predicted Finish: T-7th
2024 Record: 3-9 (3-5 UAC / T6th)
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: 16-8 (4th Season) / 6-13 at UNA (3rd Season)

KEY RETURNERS
- JAYVIAN ALLEN (RB, R-SR) - Lions leading rusher in 2024 amassing 545 yards on 135 carries (4.0 ypr) while reaching the endzone five times; also had 15 catches (1 TD) for 161 yards
- ADAM WATFORD (P, JR) - Consistent weapon on special teams for UNA boasting a 40.80 yard punt average on the season; booted 8 punts for 50+ yards including personal best 63-yard effort and forced 21 fair catches while pinning opponent inside the 20 on 9 occasions

NOTEWORTHY
1. This will be the final year for UNA at Braly Stadium. Braly Stadium has been home to the UNA football program since 1949 and is located less than a mile away from the heart of UNA's campus. The Lions will move into an on-campus stadium in 2026, which will be called Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium. For the final season at Braly, UNA will honor different eras of the football program during select games. The Lions will wear five different helmet decals for the five home games to represent each era.

2. UNA returns both leading running backs from last year in redshirt senior Jayvian "Juice" Allen and true sophomore Jalen Fletcher. The pair combined for 868 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Allen is a second-year transfer from Tennessee Tech that played both defensive back and running back before joining the Lions as a full-time starter at running back. Fletcher, a local product from nearby West Morgan High School, was a three-time UAC Freshman of the Week winner last season — tied for the most in the conference.

3. The Lions defeated #10 Abilene Christian on Homecoming for the first win over a ranked FCS opponent in program history. The Lions were named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week and Coach Brent Dearmon was named the FCS National Coach of the Week by Our Coaching Network. ACU went on to win every other conference game to win the UAC Championship while making the second round of the FCS playoffs.

4. North Alabama added seven new coaches to the staff this season, all of which have a connection either to UNA or to a UNA staff member. Also, former running backs coach Morgan Cruce was promoted to offensive coordinator this offseason.

5. UNA has played one of the top 20 toughest schedules in FCS in each of the last two seasons under Coach Dearmon, including the 18th toughest in 2024 and the 5th toughest in 2023. Last season, UNA battled six teams that finished in the national rankings and six teams that made the FCS playoffs, including four that advanced to the second round. The 2025 schedule will commence with a Week 1 matchup against FBS opponent Western Kentucky, now led by former Abilene Christian quarterback Maverick McIvor. The 2025 schedule will also be headlined by five teams that made the FCS playoffs last season. Only one of the five games will be at home — EKU on Homecoming.

2025 SCHEDULE
Aug. 30 | @Western Kentucky
Sept. 6 | @Southeast Missouri
Sept. 13 | Northeastern State
Sept. 20 | @Illinois State
Oct. 4 | @Abilene Christian*
Oct. 11 | Central Arkansas*
Oct. 18 | EKU*
Oct. 25 | @Austin Peay*
Nov. 1 | @Utah Tech*
Nov. 8 | West Georgia*
Nov. 15 | @Tarleton State*
Nov. 22 | Southern Utah*

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