North Alabama football has released next season’s schedule, promising six games at the newly built Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium.
The schedule marks the first time the Lions will host games in the “heart of campus,” as Head Coach Brent Dearmon said.
“I am thoroughly excited for the stadium that is being built,” Ascending Voices Gospel Choir President and January Student Leader of the Month Elijah Winston said. “I’ve been seeing the progress going on as I pass by. When it is properly finished, it will be a location for community and togetherness not only for students but for all Florence residents.”
UNA will play 12 games during the 2026 season. They will begin week zero on Aug. 29 against Samford at the neutral-site field of Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville. The Lions then head to Fayetteville to face Arkansas, marking the program’s first-ever road game against a Southeastern Conference opponent.
The long-awaited debut of Bank Independent Stadium is set for Sept. 19, when the Lions host Alcorn State. The home schedule also features Western Illinois on Sept. 26, Sacramento State on Oct. 10, Abilene Christian on Oct. 17, Austin Peay on Oct. 24 and Tarleton State Nov. 21 to close out the regular season.
“The 2026 football schedule will be one of the most exciting in recent history,” Director of Athletics Dr. Josh Looney said. “A state-of-the-art, on-campus stadium will elevate our gameday experience, and we look forward to creating unforgettable memories for the Shoals community.”
