The United Athletic Conference looks to be an FCS playoff multi-bid conference in 2024.
Here’s a look at the upcoming UAC season, including names to know and our predicted order of finish.
RELATED: FCS Preseason Preview Central
Preseason All-Americans
Central Arkansas (3) — RB ShunDerrick Powell (1st Team), DE David Walker (1st Team), S TaMuarion Wilson (2nd Team)
Tarleton State (2) — WR Darius Cooper (1st Team), Kayvon Britten (2nd Team)
Eastern Kentucky (1) — OL Payton Collins (2nd Team)
Teams Bringing In The Most D1 Transfers
FBS-to-FCS Transfers & FCS-to-FCS Transfers
Austin Peay — 29 (21 FBS, 8 FCS)
West Georgia — 29 (13 FBS, 16 FCS)
North Alabama — 21 (13 FBS, 8 FCS)
Abilene Christian — 20 (19 FBS, 1 FCS)
Utah Tech — 16 (13 FBS, 3 FCS)
Names To Know
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Kayvon Britten, Tarleton State RB — Britten is a back-to-back All-Conference First Team selection for two different teams. In 2022 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, he rushed for 1,063 yards and 16 touchdowns. Britten transferred to Tarleton State last year and had another dynamite season. The 5-foot-7 and 195-pounder rushed for 1,150 yards on 183 carries (6.3 YPC) and 16 TDs, earning two All-American honors.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: David Walker, Central Arkansas DE — In 2022, Walker totaled 66 tackles, 22 TFLs, and 12 sacks, finishing third in the Buck Buchanan Award voting, earning ASUN Defensive Player of the Year honors, and being named to six All-American teams. Last fall, the 6-foot-2 and 260-pounder totaled 57 tackles, 18 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks. He graded out as PFF’s No. 9 overall FCS edge defender. Walker earned three more All-American accolades and was named the UAC’s Defensive Player of the Year.
TOP NFL PROSPECT: David Walker, Central Arkansas DE — Walker’s skillset and tape have landed him on NFL radars. He was recently named to the 2025 Senior Bowl Watchlist.
HERO Sports’ Predicted Order of Finish
1. Central Arkansas
2. Tarleton State
3. Southern Utah
4. Austin Peay
5. Eastern Kentucky
6. North Alabama
7. Abilene Christian
8. Utah Tech
9. West Georgia
Central Arkansas and Tarleton State are two preseason Top 25 FCS programs entering this fall.
Tarleton is already off to a 1-0 start, beating McNeese 26-23 in Week 0, a game it led 26-7 at halftime. Quarterback Victor Gabalis did not play in the second half due to a thumb injury. His status moving forward will be key in Tarleton living up to its preseason hype. The offense and defense both return a bulk of their starters from last year’s 8-3 team, led by star wide receiver Darius Cooper and All-American running back Kayvon Britten.
Central Arkansas is getting some preseason Top 10 FCS love. And deservedly so. The talent is there to be much better than its 7-4 record last fall. Two of those were two-point losses to conference opponents. UCA returns its multi-year starting quarterback (Will McElvain), top two running backs with past All-American accolades (ShunDerrick Powell and Darius Hale), and four starting offensive linemen. The defense brings back seven of the 15 players who recorded at least 200 snaps last year, highlighted by standout David Walker at defensive end and TaMuarion Wilson at safety.
These top two teams should be pushed by the next few squads in our preseason rankings.
Southern Utah has been rising under head coach DeLane Fitzgerald and expects to continue that rise this fall, led by DL Rylen Sua-Filo and LB Kohner Cullimore. The QB room features two guys who have started for other FCS programs — Bronson Barron at Weber State and Jordan Pachot at Missouri State.
Austin Peay lost the bulk of its starting lineup due to graduation or the transfer portal. The Governors brought in 29 D1 transfers to rejuvenate its roster, including several guys who were impact players on their previous team. Chandler Kirton is a returning standout looking to set the ton on the o-line. Eastern Kentucky will always have good individual talent, but it needs to overcome the loss of all-time great QB Parker McKinney. EKU offensive linemen Payton Collins and DB Mike Smith Jr. are two guys on the NFL radar.
North Alabama has plenty of experience returning, including standout DB Edwin White Schultz and WR Takairee Kenebrew, plus 21 D1 transfers coming in. But it had a disappointing performance in a Week 0 loss to SEMO. Abilene Christian was competitive last year, finishing 3-3 in the conference standings, while Utah Tech has struggled in its transition to D1.
West Georgia is a new FCS member looking to bring its D2 success to the FCS. The program is overhauling its roster, bringing in 29 D1 transfers.
