LIVINGSTON, Ala. - Football is officially back as the University of West Alabama Football team kicks off their 2025 campaign on Saturday with a matchup against Fort Valley State at 4:15 p.m. from Legion Field in Birmingham.

UWA's season opener against FVST will serve as the second game of the Week Zero Labor Day Classic double header.

West Alabama enters the 2025 season after a 9-2 campaign in 2024, making a trip to the NCAA Playoffs. As for Fort Valley State, they put together a 6-4 record in 2024 and a 6-2 record in the SIAC.

Head Coach Scott Cochran is set to make his anticipated Head Coaching debut.

"Everyone is fired up to kick things off on Saturday at Legion Field," said Cochran. This is a historical venue and an awesome place to play. We're ready to show who we are and what our identity is."

The Tigers lost a lot of starters from last year's squad but bring back their Quarterback, Spencer Arceneaux. Last season, the senior accumulated 2,281 total yards, with 1,937 coming through the air and 344 on the ground. After taking over the starting job in 2024, the 6'4" senior Quarterback is primed for a breakout year this season. 

In the backfield, UWA returns one of their top backs in Preseason All-GSC selection, Brayden Jenkins. Jenkins rushed for 286 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, while splitting carries with Bry Webb and Devontae Causey. Webb and Causey are gone in 2025, but Tyler Smith, Michael Dujon, and Contravious Blanks will help lessen the burden for Jenkins as the lead back. 

Out wide, the Tigers will have a mix of familiar and new faces. Preseason All-GSC selection, Dearrius Nelson is West Alabama's most productive returner, followed by Houston Johnson and TD Parker. UAB transfer Ryan Peppins, Johnson C. Smith transfer Tyrek Williams, Memphis transfer Hunter Hale, Kentucky transfer Raymond Cottrell, Mississippi College transfer Kaden Cupp, and East Mississippi transfer Jaylon York have the potential to make UWA's Wide Receiver room an explosive one. 

Defensively, on paper, the strength for West Alabama is their secondary. All-GSC selections, Issac Williams and Jaden Taylor are back, while lockdowns corners Jamari Jemison and Adyan Adams also return for their final season. Williams stands as one of the top safeties in the league, after turning in a stat line of 60 tackles and three interceptions last year. As for Taylor, he was a star on special teams, but will now flash his skill in the secondary. 

Travon Nunn, Michael McGregor, Jacob Thornton, and Marquis Robinson are the key cogs to a new look front seven for the Tigers. There will be a lot of players rotating in and out as West Alabama finds a group that gels together the best.

Though Fort Valley State's 2024 record shows four losses, three of those four defeats were by five-points or less. While the Wildcats' record from a season ago can be deceiving, they lost a lot of players on the offensive side of the ball over the offseason.

Running back Brandon Marshall was the focal point of Fort Valley State's offense last year as he ran for 926 yards and 11 touchdowns in his last year of eligibility. With Marshall no longer on the roster, Tailbacks Alex Wilson and Demetri Simmons will be the workhorses. Wilson only competed in two games last season while Simmons is a newcomer.

While bringing a new look backfield into Saturday's season opener, the Wildcats will also debut a new starting Quarterback in Saadiq Teel. Teel is a 5'11" sophomore who served as Fort Valley State's backup last season. The Quarterback will be working with a whole new Receiving corps as well, making for an interesting matchup against West Alabama's defense that also features new faces.

Defensively for the Wildcats, they return two of their best players in Jadyn Walker and Darnell Stephens. Walker is a 6'1", 230 LB Will Linebacker who is back for his final season after leading Fort Valley State in tackles in 2024 with 43.0. As for Stephens, he's a 6'2", 175 LB Cornerback who recorded four interceptions a season ago.

With a lot of roster turnover for both squads, there are a lot of unknowns going into Saturday afternoon, making for an intriguing matchup all together.

"The biggest thing for Game One is turnovers and explosive plays," Cochran stated. "Trying to eliminate the mistakes and create those explosive plays."

Kickoff from Legion Field is set for 4:15 p.m. The game will be streamed on urbanedgenetwork.com.