CLARKSVILLE, TN – Austin Peay State University’s football team kicks off the 2025 season when it takes on longtime in-state rival Middle Tennessee for the first time in 15 years in a 6 p.m. Saturday showdown at Johnny Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro.
Austin Peay opens its second season under head coach Jeff Faris with two road games before returning to Fortera Stadium in Week 3. The Governors went 4-8 overall and 3-5 in United Athletic Conference action during Faris’ first season, but posted a 3-2 mark in road games.
The Govs are 12-39-2 all-time against former Ohio Valley Conference rival Middle Tennessee, and after playing in 43-straight seasons from 1954-97, the teams have only played once, with that game coming in 2010. Austin Peay is 7-22-1 all-time against MTSU in Murfreesboro, with all 12 of its wins in the series coming when the teams were in the OVC.
The Governors’ last win against the Blue Raiders was a 7-0 overtime victory in 1986, and their last win in Murfreesboro was a 16-7 victory in 1984.
Middle Tennessee went 3-9 in 2024 under head coach Derek Mason, who also is in his second season leading the program. The Blue Raiders were 2-6 in Conference USA and 2-4 at home during Mason’s first season at the helm.
What to expect from the Govs
Austin Peay averaged 343.0 yards of total offense per game in its first season with Faris at the helm in 2024, with the Govs passing for 200.0 yards and rushing for 143.0 yards per contest. The Governors return three running backs for the 2024 season – Corey Richardson, Kaden Williams, and Courtland Simmons – with Richardson being the top-returning rusher after carrying the ball 47 times for 291 yards and one touchdown last season. Tight end Jackson Head is Austin Peay’s top-returning receiver after totaling 16 receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown last season.
Defensively, defensive lineman Davion Hood is the Govs’ top-returning tackler after recording 27 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks last season – ranking third on the team in TFLs in 2024. Defensive back Ellis Ellis Jr. also tallied 26 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and six pass breakups in 2024 – leading the Govs and ranking eighth in the UAC with nine total passes defended last season.
On special teams, kicker Carson Smith was a 2024 Second Team All-UAC and 2025 Preseason All-UAC selection after going 13-of-20 on field goals and 32-of-33 on PATs last season. Smith averaged 1.08 made field goals per game in 2024, which led the UAC and ranked 35th in the FCS.
Saturday’s game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Jake Rose, Jeremy Kellem, and Justin Beasley on the call. Fans also can tune into the Governors Sports Network on ESPN Clarksville (104.1 FM/540 AM) or via the TuneIn app to hear Brian Rives and Van Stokes call all the action. ESPN Clarksville will kick off its coverage by re-airing the Austin Peay Football Coaches Show at 4 a.m., followed by pregame coverage, which begins an hour before kickoff.
What’s next on the schedule
After opening the season in Murfreesboro, Austin Peay squares off with No. 4 Georgia in a 2:30 p.m., Sept. 6 contest at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. The Week 2 contest between the Govs and Bulldogs will be streamed on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.
Season and single-game tickets for all six of the Governors’ home games at Fortera Stadium are available online at Ticketmaster or by calling the Austin Peay Ticket Office at 931-221-7329.
