The United Athletic Conference proved to be one of the top conferences in the FCS in 2024, with three teams earning a playoff bid. Abilene Christian won the UAC’s automatic bid to the playoffs with a 7-1 record. Meanwhile, Tarleton, Eastern Kentucky, and Southern Utah finished one game behind at 6-2. 

Here’s a look at what coaches said about the 2025 season during interviews for the summer magazine.

Abilene Christian

Offense

• Head coach Keith Patterson believes the offense will improve under new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. “(Former ACU OC Rick Bowie) was the perfect coach for us last season, and I truly believe Graham Harrell is the right guy moving forward,” Patterson said. “He has self-confidence, is ultra competitive, and brings the intensity of a defensive coach to the offensive side of the ball.”
• The Wildcats are replacing seven starters on offense, including their center and both guards on the offensive line.
• Patterson said the offense will be installed over the summer after the transfer portal closes. The focus during the spring is on individual development. “Our entire roster could change in May, and that would be a waste of time to install in the spring,” Patterson said. “If everyone gets better, then collectively, you can’t help but get better as a team.”
• Stone Earle (Marshall/North Texas/ACU), Carson Haggard (Tulane), and Quayde Hawkins (Troy) will compete for the starting quarterback position through the summer and fall camp. Patterson said they will try to add another quarterback from the transfer portal this summer.
• Patterson is expecting big things from running back Jordan Vaughn (Manvel HS), who transferred to ACU from Wyoming.

Defense

• Patterson believes the Wildcats' defense could be the best defense during his tenure in Abilene. However, ACU needs to find replacements for safeties Elijah Moffett and Izaiah Kelley, SAM linebacker Cirby Coheley, and defensive tackles Jerry Lawson and David Oke.
• Patterson said the defense is further along this season than they were at the same point last year.

Austin Peay

• Head coach Jeff Faris said the team was able to retain the core of last year’s team and added some key pieces during the early signing period last December. 
• Faris said they were aggressive in recruiting certain position groups during the early window, specifically the offensive line.
• The Governors have more depth this spring, and Faris said the pool of guys they can count on has grown during the spring.
• Faris said APSU will not be as active during the May transfer portal window this year.

Central Arkansas

Offense

• Brown believes the Bears will be solid along the offensive line with four returning starters. He expects the line to be the strength of the offense.
• UCA will have a deep wide receiver room consisting of seven to eight players who could see playing time.
• There is a three-way battle to be the starting quarterback between returners Austin Myers, Caleb Koger (Katy HS), and Middle Tennessee State transfer Luther Richardson.
• Brown expects sophomore running back Landen Chambers to be very productive this season, and added sophomore transfer from Oklahoma, Chapman McKown, who is a quicker and smaller running back who adds another dimension and will play on third down.

Defense

• While UCA lost David Walker to the NFL, Brown believes they remain very deep along the defensive line. He hopes the Bears can hang onto defensive tackle Bradley Clark, who is receiving interest from Power 4 programs.
• The question mark on defense is at linebacker, where the Bears lost both starters to graduation. Brown said they have some young talent and added some transfers, but lack experience.
• Brown said UCA is looking to add another cornerback during the May transfer portal window, with the defense expected to play more man-to-man in 2025.

Eastern Kentucky

Offense

• EKU is seeking to add another offensive lineman and tight end during the May portal window. Wells said the tight end room was devastated by injuries last season, resulting in career-ending injuries for some players. 
• Wells said the running back room has plenty of depth, featuring returners Brayden Latham, Brady Hensley, Telly McCallister, and Jalen Montgomery.
• The Colonels added quarterback Myles Burkett, who started at Albany last year after transferring from Wisconsin. Burkett will battle against incoming freshmen Tyler Travers and Kam Montgomery for the starting role.
• All-American tackle Payton Collins returns to anchor the offensive line alongside Liam Coppinger and three new faces.

Defense

• EKU lost three starters on the defensive line, but Wells expects the Colonels to be solid along the line in 2025. EKU signed Kentucky transfer Tommy Ziesmer to shore up the line, while Gabe Fletcher and Jeremiah Bailey return. Wells believes Bailey has the talent to be an All-American.
• The Colonels lost defensive back Mike Smith Jr. to graduation, and starting cornerback Jordon Thomas transferred to Western Michigan.
• Wells said he likes what he’s seen from his defense during spring practice and believes they will continue to improve under defensive coordinator Jake Johnson.

North Alabama

Offense

• UNA taking the next step depends on the play of its quarterback, as four players saw time at that position in 2024 due to injuries.
• Ari Patu will compete for the starting quarterback spot after earning the starting role last season before suffering an injury against Illinois State in Week 3. Patu will compete against transfers DC Tabscott (New Mexico) and Destin Wade (Colorado), who spent last season as a backup to Shadeur Sanders.
• Dearmon said the strength of the offense is at running back, while tight end Kaleb Heatherly returns along with four offensive linemen who started last season. UNA is seeking to add depth to its wide receiver room during the May portal window.

Defense

• Defensive lineman Kaleb Brown is taking advantage of the extra year provided to junior college players and will return for the 2025 season. He will team with returning starter Jyheam Ingram and Kansas transfer Lance Bassett to anchor the defensive line. Dearmon said the Bears return four more players who saw extensive playing time on the defensive line last year.
• UNA will be inexperienced in the defensive backfield after losing two guys to graduation and some to the transfer portal. However, Dearmon expects Kansas transfer Brian Dilworth and returning cornerback Jermaine Ray Jr. to solidify the defensive backfield.

Southern Utah

Offense

• The Thunderbirds return quarterback Bronson Barron, who led SUU to a win over Austin Peay before suffering a wrist injury. Barron started over 20 games at Weber State before transferring to SUU.
• Head coach DeLane Fitzgerald said every running back outside of Targhee Lambson, who hopes to hear his name during the NFL Draft next week, is returning for the 2025 season.
• The Thunderbirds return every tight end and wide receiver from last season. Starting center Edward Riley returns, who Fitzgerald believes is the best center in the country, along with Loimata Mauga and Jeremy Perkins, who played right guard last season, and both right tackles return.

Defense

• Defensive tackle Joe Tongamoa returns to anchor the interior defensive line. At the same time, Fitzgerald believes Lando Brown will be a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the best defensive player in FCS. 
• Linebackers Josh Dunn, Ricky Rich, and Mason Stromstad return for SUU, but Fitzgerald said they will look to add another linebacker from the transfer portal.
• Defensive backs Zion Allen and Mikey Allen return for the Thunderbirds. Fitzgerald said SUU is seeking to add a couple of more defensive backs through the transfer portal after signing a few during the early period last December.

Tarleton

Offense

• Victor Gabalis returns for his third season as the starting quarterback for the Texans, and head coach Todd Whitten thinks we’ll see the best version of Gabalis in 2025.
• Tarleton replaces all five starters from last year’s offensive line. Whitten signed four offensive linemen during the midterm break, and believes they have a good group of young offensive linemen who will add depth.
• Whitten said the Texans' offense will have a different look in 2025 with the loss of running back Kayvon Britten and wide receiver Darius Cooper. Whitten expects to utilize a running back by committee approach, led by Hawaii transfer Tylan Hines and sophomore Tre Page III. Meanwhile, Cody Jackson is projected to be the top wide receiving target for Gabalis.

Defense

• Whitten said the coaching staff placed a strong emphasis on building depth and strengthening the line of scrimmage on both sides after playing South Dakota in the playoffs. “Getting to see firsthand how good those guys were along the line of scrimmage taught us a lesson,” Whitten said. “We need more depth at those positions.”
• Tarleton added four defensive linemen during the 2025 recruiting cycle, and Whitten believes the Texans will have at least six players to rotate on the defensive line this year.
• The Texans return all four starting linebackers and both cornerbacks from last season. Starting safety Blake Smith is expected to return, and Tarleton will have one new face in the defensive backfield with Donta Stuart graduating.

Utah Tech

Offense

• Deacon Hill, Bronson Barben, and Reggie Graff started games at quarterback for the Trailblazers last year due to injuries. All three players return, and head coach Lance Anderson said they will battle through summer and fall camp to determine who will earn the starting nod.
• Tight end Eni Falayi returns after catching 31 passes for 417 yards and five touchdowns for UTT before suffering a season-ending injury.
• UTT has a deep wide receiver room, led by last season’s top receiver, Bryce Parker, and the return of DaJon Harrison from injury. Shamar Garrett and Daniel Thomason are returning, providing experienced depth.
• Anderson said they are reworking the offensive line after struggling to control the line of scrimmage in 2024. He noted that BYU transfer Dallin Johnson stood out during spring practice and believes returners Trey Price, Nolan Reynolds, and Bryce Crowley will show improvement after gaining experience last year.

Defense

• The Trailblazers lost three starting defensive backs to the transfer portal, with each landing at an FBS school. Anderson hit the transfer portal to fill some holes, adding Justin Houston from Fresno State and Brevin Czosnyka from Northern Arizona. Returners Kyle Parker and Quincy Lejay are projected to start in 2025. 
• Anderson said the focus during the offseason has been on becoming more athletic and finding more playmakers. He said that it starts with the defensive line, which needs to be bigger and more physical. He’s counting on returners Laytan Tanuvasa and Fasito’Otai Sagapolu to anchor the line.
• UTT has reformed its linebacker room during the offseason, adding transfers Logan Pili (BYU/Utah State) and Helaman Ofahengaue (Utah). Returners Jace Sweeten and Jarron Polu are also expected to contribute.

West Georgia

Offense

• Davin Wydner returns at quarterback after completing 62 percent of his passes for 1,718 yards with nine touchdowns and only one interception in 11 games last season. Head coach Joel Taylor said Wydner’s improvement will be evident in 2025.
• Bryce Dickerson returns at tight end and provides a versatile threat for the offense. Taylor said T.J. Lockley has gained confidence during the offseason and has put in a tremendous amount of work to improve.
• Taylor says the Wolves will improve on the offensive line after some of the younger players develop, combined with players signed out of the transfer portal. 

Defense

• The linebacker corps was reshaped heading into last season, and Taylor believes returners Micah Thurman and Jay Carter are All-UAC level players. 
• The defensive backfield took some major blows with Mar’Quavious Moss and Malachi Williams entering the transfer portal. Taylor said UWG will rely on a couple of transfers and some younger players to fill the void.
• Taylor expects defensive lineman Robert Johnson to take another leap forward this year after earning all-conference honors in 2024.