UACFOOTBALL -- For a third straight Saturday, all of the teams in the United Athletic Conference (UAC) will take the field but the level of excitement will be raised as league action kicks off when Tarleton State and Central Arkansas meet in the first head-to-head UAC contest of the season. Conference teams will also participate in two games versus ranked non-conference opponents along with a pair of FBS foes.

NOTEWORTHY
- In the latest FCS National Rankings, the UAC had a record eight different squads earn votes with four teams landing in a single Top 25 list for the first time in league history... Tarleton State held the highest ranking for the UAC and their program with a No. 3 standing in both polls (AFCA and StatsPerform)... Abilene Christian was listed No. 13 in both polls followed by Austin Peay (22nd/StatsPerform, 23rd/AFCA) and West Georgia (25th/StatsPerform) were the other ranked teams Central Arkansas, EKU, North Alabama and Southern Utah all garnering votes

- Recapping Week Two, the league claimed a pair of wins over ranked non-conference foes with the Wildcats topping No. 23/25 Stephen F. Austin (28-20) and the Wolves earning their first DI ranked victory over No. 22/25 Nicholls State (34-10)... Other winners included UCA vs UABP (41-17), Texans vs MVSU (59-3) and EKU vs Houston Christian (20-10)

- Utah Tech (0-2), facing its third consecutive nationally-ranked team, gets Saturday started with an afternoon tilt on the road at No. 8/10 Idaho... Fellow "Beehive State" member Southern Utah (1-1) faces the other ranked opponent with a home contest versus No. 18/19 Northern Arizona

- The Chase for the Championship officially begins Saturday on "The Stripes", as preseason league favorite and No. 3 ranked Tarleton State (3-0) visits Conway, Ark., for a clash with Central Arkansas (1-1)... Both squads enter the game following dominating performances last weekend

- After keeping things close at Georgia (FBS), No. 22 Austin Peay (1-1) makes its home debut at "The Fort" by hosting Morehead State while North Alabama (0-2) opens its home slate against Northeastern State with hopes of earning their first victory in 2025

- Playing as a nationally-ranked FCS squad for the first time in program history, No. 25 West Georgia (2-0) looks to extend its current win streak in a battle with ETSU

- Facing FBS opposition, No. 13 Abilene Christian (1-1) visits in-state rival TCU and EKU (1-1) heads to West Virginia for a meeting with Marshall

- For a third consecutive season the UAC had a member squad compete in Week 0 on national television as No. 8/10 Tarleton State blanked Portland State, 42-0, on ESPN2. The win marked the first shutout performance for an FCS team in Week 0 history... The league owns a 2-2 mark in Week 0 play

- Heading into the 2025 season, UAC lineups include a trio of players listed on national award watch lists with Tarleton State QB Victor Gabalis named to the Walter Payton Award list along with a pair of defensive standouts, Lando Brown of Southern Utah and Abilene Christian's Will Shaffer, part of the Buck Buchanan Award list... Gabalis (Offensive) and Shaffer (Defensive) were tabbed the preseason Player of the Year choices by the conference coaches.

- In its brief three-year history, UAC Football has already produced THREE FCS over FBS wins: TSU over Army, 30-27 2OT and APSU defeated MTSU, 34-14 this season | SUU topped UTEP, 27-24 OT in 2024... The UAC now boasts THREE wins over a ranked non-conference FCS foe: ACU over #23 SFA, 28-20 and UWG over #22 Nicholls, 34-10 this season | EKU defeated #16 SEMO, 41-38, in 2023... Additionally, the league owns a pair of FCS Playoff wins in 2024 by the Wildcats and Texans