United Athletic Conference (UAC)-(FCS)
Overview: Despite only being in existence since 2023, the United Athletic Conference (UAC) has quickly established itself as one of the strongest conferences at the FCS level.
One case in point came in 2025, with five of the UAC's nine teams posting winning overall records last fall. Two of those teams, Tarleton State (12-2 overall in 2025) and Abilene Christian (9-5), both advanced to the FCS playoffs last season, with the Texans defeating North Dakota, 31-13, in the second round before succumbing to Villanova, 26-21, in the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, the Wildcats from Abilene, Texas, outlasted Lamar, 38-20 in the first round, only to see their season come to a heartbreaking end in a 41-34 loss to Stephen F. Austin in the second round. ACU handed Tarleton State its lone regular-season loss in a 31-28 upset win over the Texans on November 1. That win helped ACU win the UAC's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.
The upcoming 2026 season will bring significant changes to the UAC line-up, with Southern Utah and Utah leaving to rejoin the Big Sky Conference, while the University of West Florida moves up from NCAA Division II to the FCS ranks. The addition of UWF will bring instant credibility to this up-and-coming conference, as the Argonauts from Pensacola, Florida, won the Division II national championship in 2019.
West Florida**
*-West Georgia is starting the transition process from the NCAA Division II to the NCAA Division I (FCS) level and is ineligible for postseason play during the next two seasons. UWG's first full season of FCS postseason eligibility is 2027.
**-West Florida is also beginning the transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I (FCS) and is ineligible for postseason play until at least the 2030 season.
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