FLORENCE, Ala. -- As part of the ASUN Conference and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) partnership, the University of North Alabama has released the conference portion of its 2023 football schedule.
The ASUN-WAC partnership will function in the manner of a single sport conference beginning January 1, 2023. The 2023 schedule, based on existing commitments, will be limited to six conference games.
That six-game slate for North Alabama, with three home dates and three on the road, will be part of the third consecutive year of the two-conference partnership.
"Evolving the ASUN-WAC partnership into a single sport Division I conference is a significant and exciting next step for North Alabama Football," said UNA Director Athletics Dr. Josh Looney. "The 2023 football season brings an expanded conference schedule, new conference opponents, and a new-look Lion football program to the gridiron as we attack this next era for the University of North Alabama."
"Announcing our 2023 schedule is a major step in the evolution of this partnership," said WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton. "Operating in this single sport model creates the legitimacy and strength shared by similarly structured conferences."
The ASUN-WAC Football partnership began with a combined group that built the ASUN-WAC Challenge in 2021.
Featuring an automatic qualifier (AQ) into the FCS playoff each of the past two years, the football group enters year three with nine participating institutions: Abilene Christian University, Austin Peay State University, University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, University of North Alabama, Southern Utah University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Tarleton State University and Utah Tech University.
The group will add the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in the fall of 2025 when it begins sponsorship of football.
"This partnership has built competitive opportunities, created a new AQ for the FCS playoffs, and brought a great group of like-minded institutions together to play football," said ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart. "We are planning for a long and strong relationship in this group and it provides certainty and security for our football programs and for the strength of both the WAC and the ASUN in all sports."
The group is currently building the 2024 schedule which will feature a full eight-game single round robin. Future schedules are also being constructed as part of the multi-year conference agreement.
North Alabama's 2023 ASUN-WAC slate will open when the Lions travel to Stephenville, Texas to face Tarleton State on September 9.
The Lions will host their first league game on September 30 when Eastern Kentucky pays its first-ever visit to Florence. UNA will then play at Abilene Christian on October 14, host Utah Tech on October 21, play at Austin Peay on October 28 and host Central Arkansas for the first time since 2004 on November 4.
North Alabama will announce its remaining five non-conference games at a future date.
North Alabama's 2023 ASUN-WAC Schedule
Sept. 9Â Â Â Â Â Â at Tarleton State
Sept. 30Â Â Â EASTERN KENTUCKY
Oct. 14Â Â Â Â Â Â at Abilene Christian
Oct. 21Â Â Â Â Â Â UTAH TECH
Oct. 28Â Â Â Â Â Â at Austin Peay
Nov. 4Â Â Â Â Â Â CENTRAL ARKANSAS
