United Athletic Conference (UAC)-(FCS)
Overview: On April 17, 2023, what used to be known as the ASun-WAC Alliance became the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The new football-only circuit will consist of nine schools from six states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah), as well as three of the four time zone in the continental United States (Eastern, Central, and Mountain).
The UAC came about mainly because two soon-to-be former ASun members in Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State, as well as Sam Houston State from the WAC, all chose to make the move forward from the FCS to the FBS level. JSU and SHSU will join Conference USA for the first time this fall (2023), while KSU will move into the FBS and C-USA fold next fall (2024).
As for the nine teams that will form the newly-branded UAC, the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels will look to advance to postseason play again after winning the ASun-WAC's sole automatic bid to the FCS playoffs last fall. The Colonels fell to Gardner-Webb 52-41 in the first round to finish their season at 7-5 overall, as well as at 3-2 in ASun action.
On the "WAC" side of things, the Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks overcame a slow start to their 2022 season to finish 3-1 on that side of the alliance, as well as at 6-5 overall. SFA knocked off Abilene Christian (7-4, 3-1) 24-21 on the final day of the regular season (November 19) to win the league title.
The plan for the "inaugural" 2023 season is all nine UAC squads to play six conference games, with a full eight-game round-robin schedule to take effect for the 2024 season. Additionally, the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is expected to start its football program in time for the 2025 season, giving the conference 10 members in all.
As far as 2023 is concerned, however, expect Central Arkansas (6-5, 3-1), as well as Tarleton State (6-5, 1-3), and Utah Tech (4-7, 2-2) among other squads, to be a part of the UAC championship conversation.
Regardless of who ultimately ends up representing the UAC as the automatic qualifier to the FCS playoffs, expect a tight race from start to finish.
NOTE: If the link to the team's schedule is not highlighted, it means that the team has not submitted its schedule for the 2023 season. The link (s) will appear in each blog post when the team's schedule is submitted. Also, please visit the RFC blog at realfootballcentral.blogspot.com for schedules, schedule updates, preseason previews, and much more.
Abilene Christian
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