UAC picks Texas for 2026 football kickoff event

The United Athletic Conference has set its 2026 Football Kickoff for Tuesday, July 21 at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas.

Fans can catch the whole thing streaming live on ESPN+ from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central time, which works out to noon to 2 p.m. on the East Coast.

This marks a return trip to the Lone Star State for the league. Last year’s kickoff happened in Nashville, but the UAC’s bringing things back to Texas partly to shine a light on the site that hosted this year’s FCS Championship at Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium.

Central Arkansas football fans will want to circle the date.

UCA is one of eight programs in the conference, and the Bears will send coach Nathan Brown along with a group of student-athletes to represent the school at the event.

Every program gets its moment

All eight UAC members will have a head coach and selected players on hand for the festivities.

Those attendees will take part in live interviews on ESPN+ along with photo shoots, video sessions and other social media content built around the event.

Outside media outlets will also get their shot.

The event includes one-on-one sessions where reporters can sit down with coaches and student-athletes from each school for more in-depth conversations.

Awards and poll headline the day

Beyond the interviews, the kickoff will feature two big offseason announcements.

The UAC plans to reveal its Preseason All-Conference Awards along with the Coaches’ Preseason Poll, giving fans an early look at how the league expects the season to shake out.

Unisun Sports CEO Jeff Bacon is also scheduled to share remarks about the state of the conference during the event.

Unisun Sports formed in 2026 through a partnership between the ASUN and the UAC to strengthen the football league further.

The UAC hasn’t released additional details yet on media credentials or a full list of attendees. We may get to hear about who the Bears will be bringing to Arlington before Tuesday.

Bears fans hoping to see their team represented can plan around the ESPN+ window.

With the season creeping closer, this kickoff gives every UAC program a chance to build buzz before fall camp opens.

Key takeaways

• The UAC’s 2026 Football Kickoff happens July 21 at Texas Live! in Arlington, Texas, streaming live on ESPN+.
• All eight member schools, including Central Arkansas, will send a head coach and student-athletes to the event.
• The kickoff will reveal the Preseason All-Conference Awards and Coaches’ Preseason Poll along with remarks from Unisun Sports CEO Jeff Bacon.