The Austin Peay Governors football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Austin Peay State University (Peay or APSU), located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and played the most recent 2022 season as members of the ASUN Conference. For the 2023 season and beyond, Peay will play in the United Athletic Conference, created shortly after the 2022 season by the merger of the football leagues of the ASUN and Western Athletic Conference. The school's first football team was fielded in 1930. They were previously a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (1963âÂÂ1996, 2007âÂÂ2021) and the Pioneer Football League (2001âÂÂ2005). Austin Peay Governors football plays its home games at the 10,000 seat Fortera Stadium.
Though not competing in OVC football from 1997 to 2006, Peay remained a full OVC member during this period.
The trophy goes to the team in Tennessee that has the best record against the other three teams. Austin Peay has won the trophy three times, in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
The battle of the border is a trophy awarded to the team with the most points based on wins between all the sporting events between Austin Peay and Murray State. Murray State leads the series 36âÂÂ16.
Notable alumni include:
Numbers honored, but not retired and available for any player:
Austin Peay has won five conference championships, three outright, and two shared with Southeast Missouri State in the OVC, Central Arkansas and Eastern Kentucky in the ASUN
The Governors have made two appearances in the FCS Playoffs, their first being in 2019; their record is 2âÂÂ2.
Future non-conference opponents announced as of February 4, 2026.