ARLINGTON, Texas – Austin Peay State University basketball has a heading for the 2026-27 season, with the United Athletic Conference announcing its inaugural, 16-game conference schedule, Wednesday.

The Governors' 2027 conference slate in the new league features historic rivalries such as the 63-year, 127-game tilt against Eastern Kentucky and newer rivalries made in the Atlantic Sun Conference against teams such as North Alabama, Central Arkansas, and West Georgia. The UAC also brings teams such as Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, UT Arlington, and Little Rock into the mix – all of which the Govs have faced at least once in program history.

APSU faces all eight UAC opponents once during the regular season in a home-and-home series.

The league calendar begins at home on Gary Mathews Court at F&M Bank Arena with the Govs facing rival Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 6). APSU leads the all-time series – dating back to Jan. 1964 – 69-58 and has won four of the last five meetings, including seven of the last eight meetings in Clarksville. The Govs are 42-19 all-time against the Colonels in Clarksville, beginning the series with a 77-67 win, Feb. 24, 1964, in the Little Red Barn – the home of the program from 1952-75.

Following its meeting with the Colonels, the Govs begin their first of four two-game road trips, beginning with a matchup against North Alabama (Jan. 9). The Govs are 25-11 all-time against the Lions and 4-4 against them since 2023. The Govs then make their first of two trips to the Lone Star State to face UT Arlington (Jan. 13), just the second meeting in program history and the first since the Mavericks earned a 68-58 win against the Govs during the 2024 Jacksonville Classic.

The Governors begin a two-game homestand against Tarleton State (Jan. 16), also the second meeting in program history and the first since a 66-59 Texans' win during the 2023 SoCal Challenge in San Juan Capistrano, California. The brief homestand then concludes against Central Arkansas (Jan. 20), who the Govs split 2025-26 ASUN Regular-Season Championship with and was the lone team to defeat the Govs at home last season.

Two weeks after their last trip to the state, the Govs head back down to Texas for a pair of contests, beginning with a meeting against Abilene Christian (Jan. 27). It will be the Govs' third all-time meeting with the Wildcats and the first in Abilene, Texas, with the last meeting coming in the #BeachBubble Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers Florida to begin the 2020-21 nonconference slate. The Govs then face Tarleton State (Jan. 30) before beginning its longest homestand of 2027.

APSU prepares for three-straight games at F&M Bank Arena and opens February against Little Rock (Feb. 3). The Govs and Trojans have faced one another six times in program history, a series dating back to Dec. 1978, with APSU leading that series 5-1, with a 3-0 mark in Clarksville. APSU and ULR last met during a home-and-home series during the 2001-02 season, with the home team winning by double-digits in both games.

The Govs then host UT Arlington (Feb. 6) and Abilene Christian (Feb. 10) to begin the second half of UAC play.

After trekking down to the Peach State for the fourth all-time meeting against West Georgia (Feb. 13), the Govs then head north to the Bluegrass State for its second meeting of the year against Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 17).

Following a week off, the Govs return home for their final regular-season homestand, where they'll face West Georgia for the second time in 11 days (Feb. 24) before then playing host to North Alabama. The last time the Govs and Lions met in Clarksville, Feb. 7, APSU set the single-game attendance record for F&M Bank Arena, with 4,136 people watching a 91-62 APSU win in-person.

The regular season then concludes during the first week of March, with APSU traveling to Arkansas to face Little Rock (March 3) and Central Arkansas (Feb. 6).

The 2027 United Athletic Conference Tournament is March 10-13. Additional information about the tournament will be made available at a later date.

The NCAA Selection Show airs March 14, with the NCAA Tournament then begins with the Opening Round (formerly the First Four) March 16-17, with the First Round beginning March 18-19.

The nonconference schedule, ticket information, and more will be available at a later date.

Schedule Notes

• Breaking Down the Schedule: The UAC schedule is broken into Wednesday and Saturday contests, with teams receiving two "byes" during the slate. During the league calendar, the Governors will play five home Wednesday contests and three Saturday home games. During the conference schedule, the Govs also will host four doubleheaders, coming Jan. 16, Feb. 3, Feb. 6, and Feb. 10.
• All-Time Against the UAC: Austin Peay is 105-78 all-time against the new United Athletic Conference with its most wins (69) and meetings (127) against a single opponent both being against Eastern Kentucky. The second-most games and wins against teams from the league are its 36 and 25 against North Alabama, respectively. While no opponent on the UAC slate is a new matchup, the Govs have faced both Tarleton State and UT Arlington Christian just once previously in program history in addition to facing off against Abilene Christian just twice entering the season.
• Gipson At The Peay, Season Four: Head coach Corey Gipson returns for his fourth season at his alma mater after signing a contract extension through the 2029-30 season, March 13. Gipson led the Governors to a 22-9 overall and 15-3 mark in ASUN play last season, guiding the Govs to an ASUN Regular-Season Championship, the program's first regular-season title since 2008. It also marked the 17th 20-win season in program history and the first since 2020. Gipson's 55 wins are the seventh-most in program history and the third-most by a head coach through their first three seasons.
• Whole Staff is Back: Gipson also retained his whole coaching and support staff this season, with Rodney Hamilton (Associate Head Coach), Tim Ward (Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator), and Joey Heimel (Video & Analytics Coordinator) returning for their fourth year. Dugan Lyne (Assistant Coach) and Koby Pelissier (Director of Basketball Operations) return for their third year, while former student-athlete Daniel Loos (Special Assistant to the Head Coach) returns for his second year on staff and KJ Lee (Graduate Assistant) also returns for his second year.
• Locking The Vault: Now entering its fourth season, the crowned jewel of Clarksville and Montgomery County, F&M Bank Arena, has been one of the hardest places for opponents to play across mid-major basketball. The Governors are 34-9 on the confines of their home hardwood. The Governors' 34 wins and 79.1 home winning percentage since 2023 both are the most of any team in the UAC, with Tarleton State's 33 wins and UT Arlington's 73.2 winning percentage ranking second in the league during that span.