The 2026 North Alabama Lions football team represent the University of North Alabama as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Lions are led by fourth-year head coach Brent Dearmon and will play their home games at the on campus Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium in Florence, Alabama. The season is the first season for the Lions at Bank Independent Stadium as they leave Braly Municipal Stadium, the program's home since creation in the 1949 season.
Offseason Transfers
Outgoing The Lions lost nine players to the transfer portal. PlayerPositionNew school Lance Bassett DL Southern Illinois Lonell Cunningham II DB Grambling State Nathan Curry LS Wyoming BJ Diakite DE Utah State Zacchaeus Dixon DL Mercyhurst Seth Hampton LB Towson Joshua Seudass DL Alabama A&M Rayqwon Smith DT Bethune–Cookman Adam Watford P Alabama
Incoming The Lions added eighteen players from the transfer portal. PlayerPositionPrevious school Cayden Adkins DE Georgia State Kavion Benton DL Memphis Banks Bowen QB Oklahoma State Jaylon Calhoun RB Appalachian State Mond Cole DT Memphis DJ Dixon DB Tennessee State Will French OL Memphis Kamore Harris ATH Memphis Leavy Johnson OL South Alabama Xavier Johnson WR Memphis Chris McMillian RB Bowling Green Donovan Nevils DL Memphis Snap Reed WR Tennessee State Isaac Rue OL Middle Tennessee Connor Ruth TE Tennessee State Eli Sisson TE Liberty Kanijal Thomas CB Kansas State Joshua White DL Memphis
Preseason
UAC media days
Preseason media poll Preseason polls were released on July 21, 2026.
UAC coaches' poll T-1Abilene Christian 65 (3) T-1Tarleton State65 (3) 3Austin Peay 62 (2) 4Eastern Kentucky48 5Central Arkansas 43 6West Georgia 39 7North Alabama 37 8West Florida 33
Schedule North Alabama's 2026 schedule features twelve games. They will play six at home, five away, and one neutral site game. It starts on Week 0 with a neutral site matchup in Huntsville, Alabama against the Samford Bulldogs, the first meeting between the teams since 2002. Another major matchup is on September 19 when the Lions play their first game at Bank Independent Stadium against Alcorn State.
Sacramento State was originally slated to visit North Alabama on October 10 before the Hornets announced that they would be joining the MAC in 2026. Since then, the game has been removed and the sixth home game for the Lions has been replaced with a conference matchup against the newest member of the UAC, the West Florida Argonauts, on November 7th. This will mark the fourth meeting between the two as they were both in the Gulf South Conference between 2016 and 2018.
Game summaries vs. Samford
Statistics UNASAM First downs 10 15 Plays–yards 58–237 66–394 Rushes–yards 25–(-8) 47–165 Passing yards 245 229 Passing: comp–att–int 19–33–1 13–19–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:06 32:54 Team Category Player Statistics North Alabama Passing Gabarri Johnson 19/33, 245 yards, TD, INT Rushing Keion Dunlap 2 carries, 4 yards Receiving Marquise Henderson 5 receptions, 151 yards, TD Samford Passing Destin Wade 13/19, 229 yards, TD Rushing Jalen Fletcher 11 carries, 79 yards Receiving Xavier Johnson 5 receptions, 129 yards, TD
at Arkansas (FBS)
Statistics UNAARK First downs 7 29 Plays–yards 44–153 84–415 Rushes–yards 20–40 49–148 Passing yards 113 267 Passing: comp–att–int 12–24–0 24–35–1 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 18:35 41:25 Team Category Player Statistics North Alabama Passing Destin Wade 12/23, 113 yards Rushing Jalen Fletcher 4 carries, 24 yards Receiving Xavier Johnson 6 receptions, 82 yards Arkansas Passing KJ Jackson 24/35, 267 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Braylen Russell 17 carries, 49 yards, TD Receiving Chris Marshall 7 receptions, 79 yards
at Southeastern Louisiana
Statistics UNASELA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving Southeastern Louisiana Passing Rushing Receiving
Alcorn State
Statistics ALCNUNA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Alcorn State Passing Rushing Receiving North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving
Western Illinois
Statistics WIUUNA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Western Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving
at Eastern Kentucky
Statistics UNAEKU First downs 14 17 Plays–yards 58–280 71–291 Rushes–yards 37–203 37–152 Passing yards 77 143 Passing: comp–att–int 8–21–0 16–34–4 Turnovers 0 4 Time of possession 25:32 34:28 Team Category Player Statistics North Alabama Passing Destin Wade 8/21, 77 yards, 1 TD Rushing Roderick Taylor Jr 9 carries, 63 yards Receiving Snap Reed 3 receptions, 37 yards Eastern Kentucky Passing Jordyn Potts 16/34, 143 yards, 4 INT Rushing Brady Hensley 24 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD Receiving Elijah Caldwell 6 receptions, 53 yards
Abilene Christian
Statistics ACUUNA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Abilene Christian Passing Rushing Receiving North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving
Austin Peay
Statistics APSUUNA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Austin Peay Passing Rushing Receiving North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving
at Central Arkansas
Statistics UNACARK First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving Central Arkansas Passing Rushing Receiving
West Florida
Statistics UWFUNA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics West Florida Passing Rushing Receiving North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving
at West Georgia
Statistics UNAUWG First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving West Georgia Passing Rushing Receiving
Tarleton State
Statistics TARUNA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Tarleton State Passing Rushing Receiving North Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving
Rankings
References