UCA News
UCA picked near Top 10 in preseason FCS rankings
Nathan Brown entering season with lofty national predictions less than a month from practices starting with talented team.
CONWAY, Ark. — One preseason FCS poll has some respect for Central Arkansas ahead of the season. They are close to getting into the Top 10 at Hero Sports’ preseason poll, announced on their website.
The only other team in the United Athletic Conference to be ranked is Tarleton State (Stephenville, Texas) at No. 18. A lot of that is coming off a 7-4 season with just a couple of conference losses.
“Two of their losses were two-point games to UAC foes Tarleton State and Austin Peay. The other two were at North Dakota State (49-31) and Oklahoma State (27-13).”
The Bears will likely be ranked high in the UAC this year. The teams at the top of the national rankings shouldn’t be that surprising with the Montana schools, South Dakota and North Dakota teams picked once again at the top.
FCS Top 25
1. South Dakota State (3 1st-Place Votes)
2. North Dakota State
3. Montana
4. Montana State
5. South Dakota
6. Villanova
7. Idaho
8. Sacramento State
9. Southern Illinois
10. Chattanooga
11. Central Arkansas
12. UIW
13. Richmond
14. Furman
15. UAlbany
16. Western Carolina
17. William & Mary
18. Tarleton State
19. Delaware
20. Lafayette
21. UC Davis
22. Weber State
23. Youngstown State
24. Illinois State
25. Eastern Illinois
UCA will have Will McElvain back at quarterback along with running back ShunDerrick Powell returning along with four returning starters. McElvain and Powell combined for over 5,000 yards and that provides coach Nathan Brown some big positives.
The first early test the Bears will have comes in the third week of the season (Sept. 14) against Austin Peay in home opener at Estes Stadium. Last year, the Governors got a narrow 14-12 win. They will have a new coach and new players this year.
UCA Bears 2024 Schedule
(Conference games in bold)
8/31 at Arkansas State
9/7 at Lindenwood
9/14 vs Austin Peay
9/21 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
9/28 vs Lamar
10/5 at Abilene Christian
10/12 vs West Georgia
10/26 vs North Alabama
11/2 at Utah Tech
11/9 at Eastern Kentucky
11/16 vs Southern Utah
11/23 at No. 18 Tarleton State
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | @ Arkansas State | L, 34-31 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | @ Lindenwood | W, 34-13 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | Austin Peay | W, 45-17 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff | W, 56-17 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Lamar | W, 34-14 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ Abilene Christian | L, 41-34 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs West Georgia | W, 34-33 |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs North Alabama | W, 24-19 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Utah Tech | L, 34-21 |
| Sat, Nov 9 |  | @ Eastern Kentucky | L, 31-24 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Southern Utah | L, 38-31 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | @Tarleton State | 2:00 PM |
