The Austin Peay Governors football program is the college football team for Austin Peay State University (Peay or APSU), located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC). In July 2026, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) rebranded as the UAC, absorbing a football-only UAC that operated in the 2023–2025 seasons as an alliance between the WAC and Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN). Peay was one of five ASUN members, all of which had played in the football-only UAC, to join the all-sports UAC.

Before joining the football-only UAC, Peay played the 2022 season in the ASUN. Before that time, Peay was previously a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (1963–1996, 2007–2021) and the Pioneer Football League (2001–2005). The school's first football team was fielded in 1930. Austin Peay Governors football plays its home games at the 10,000 seat Fortera Stadium.

History Classifications 1957–1972: NCAA College Division 1973–1977: NCAA Division II 1978–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships 1930–1946: Independent 1947–1962: Volunteer State Athletic Conference 1963–1996: Ohio Valley Conference 1997–2000: NCAA Division I–AA Independent 2001–2005: Pioneer Football League 2006: NCAA Division I FCS Independent 2007–2021: Ohio Valley Conference 2022: ASUN Conference 2023–2025: United Athletic Conference (football-only) 2026–present: United Athletic Conference (all-sports)

Though not competing in OVC football from 1997 to 2006, Peay remained a full OVC member during this period.

Rivalries

Sgt. York Trophy The trophy goes to the team in Tennessee that has the best record against the other three teams. Austin Peay has won the trophy three times, in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Battle of the Border The battle of the border is a trophy awarded to the team with the most points based on wins between all the sporting events between Austin Peay and Murray State. Murray State leads the series 36–16.

Notable former players Notable alumni include:

Jeff Gooch Michael Swift Kirk Pointer Kyran Moore Bonnie Sloan, first deaf player in NFL history Percy Howard (whose only NFL TD catch came in Super Bowl X, as a member of the Dallas Cowboys) Lewis Lastik, featured actor in Remember the Titans, offensive lineman. (Also member of the APSU track and field teams, shot put, and javelin.)

Retired numbers

Austin Peay Governors retired numbers No. Player Pos. Tenure Ref. 30 John Ogles RB 1963–1966 84 Harold Roberts WR 1967–1970

Honored jerseys Numbers honored, but not retired and available for any player: Austin Peay Governors honored jerseys No. Player Pos. Tenure 3 Terrence Holt RB 2007–2010 8 Chris Fletcher RB 2004–2007 10 Carolton Flatt QB 1963–1964 13 Kordell Jackson RB 2017-2021 44 Jay Bailey RB 2000–2002 46 Bob Bible LB 1974–1978

Conference championships Austin Peay has won five conference championships, three outright, and two shared with Southeast Missouri State in the OVC, Central Arkansas and Eastern Kentucky in the ASUN 1948 David B. Aaron Volunteer State Athletic Conference 8–2 2–0 1977 Boots Donnelly Ohio Valley Conference 8–3 6–1 2019 Mark Hudspeth 11–4 7–1 2022 Scotty Walden ASUN Conference 7–4 3–2 2023 United Athletic Conference 9–3 6–0

Postseason FCS playoffs The Governors have made two appearances in the FCS Playoffs, their first being in 2019; their record is 2–2.

2019 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals FurmanSacramento StateMontana State W 42–6W 42–28L 10–24 2023 First Round Chattanooga L 21–24

Future non-conference opponents Future non-conference opponents announced as of August 7, 2026.

Gardner–Webb Davidson Butler at Murray State Murray State at Tennessee Murray State at Murray State Murray State at Murray State Murray State at Murray State at Vanderbilt at Murray State at Indiana at Troy at Marshall at Murray State Morehead State at Auburn Murray State UT Martin at UT Martin at Samford New Haven

References

External links