The official start of the 2026 United Athletic Conference Football season commenced today with the start of Kickoff with Abilene Christian and Tarleton State fighting for the top spot in the coaches poll while Austin Peay and EKU claim major preseason awards.
Austin Peay’s Chris Parson was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after finishing the 2025 season ranked third in FCS in total offense (3,746), fourth in total offense per game (312.2) fourth in points responsible for (222) fifth in points responsible for per game (18.5) – all of which led the UAC. The redshirt junior was named First Team All-UAC, was a Third Team Stats Perform/Football Central All-American honoree and was selected as a Walter Payton Award Finalist.
Parson led the Govs in four different categories (carries, yards, touchdowns and rushing yards per game) and ranked 11th in FCS (third among quarterbacks) and second in the UAC in rushing touchdowns. The Brentwood, Tennessee native was also the only player in the UAC last season to post 400+ yards of total offense in a game with 487 against No. 5 Tarleton State.
EKU’s Kaden Smith was a unanimous decision for Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after the linebacker made 77 total tackles, 37 of them as solo efforts, with 4.5 tackles for loss during the 2025 season. A Buck Buchanan Award Watchlist honoree for this season, Smith added in a fumble recovery in the Colonels season finale win over Utah Tech and had a 16-yard pick-six against Nicholls with eight tackles for the game.
The Campbellsville, Ky. native had seven games of seven or more tackles with a season-best against Marshall where Smith totaled 11 tackles.
A total of 26 players were chosen for the All-Conference squad led by eight selections from Abilene Christian while Tarleton State had five named to the list.
In the coaches poll, Abilene Christian and Tarleton State split the votes evenly, both receiving three first-place votes each, while Austin Peay was voted third by the coaches with two first-place votes each.
Abilene Christian (7-1 last season) and Tarleton State (7-1 last season) finished with a share of the conference championship last season with ACU taking the automatic qualifier bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs.
EKU, Central Arkansas and West Georgia came in fourth, fifth and sixth places, respectively, while North Alabama and newcomer West Florida rounded out the teams at seventh and eighth.
United Athletic Conference Football Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Parson, Austin Peay
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Kaden Smith, EKU*
All-UAC Preseason Offensive Team
QB: Chris Parson, Austin Peay*
RB: Tylan Hines, Tarleton State
RB: Brayden Latham, EKU
WR: Jaden Robinson, Austin Peay
WR: Dallas Dudley, Abilene Christian
TE: Jackson Head, Austin Peay
OL: Joshua Sales Jr, Austin Peay
OL: Aidan Moe, Tarleton State
OL: Luke Roaten, Abilene Christian
OL: Landon Roaten, Abilene Christian
C: Colter Lynch, Abilene Christian*
All-UAC Preseason Defensive Team
DL: Kortlin Rausaw, Abilene Christian
DL: Trevion Traylor, Central Arkansas
DL: Fred Vili, North Alabama
DL: Chris Herpin, Abilene Christian
LB: Kaden Smith, EKU
LB: Ashtyn Williams, Central Arkansas
LB: Tango McCauley Jr., North Alabama
DB: Omar Emmons, Tarleton State
DB: Dillon Williams, Abilene Christian
DB: Marcus Washington, Central Arkansas
DB: Derek Taylor, EKU
All-UAC Preseason Specialists Team
K: Brandon Perez, Abilene Christian
P: Charlie Mullen, Tarleton State
LS: Quaid Luginbill, EKU
RS: DeAndre Buchannon, Tarleton State*
*indicates a unanimous decision
United Athletic Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll
T1. Abilene Christian (3) 65
T1. Tarleton State (3) 65
3. Austin Peay (2) 62
4. EKU 48
5. Central Arkansas 43
6. West Georgia 39
7. North Alabama 37
8. West Florida 33
Images Courtesy of EKU Football on X
