Note: † – Dixie State, Presbyterian, and Tarleton State played only in the spring. All other teams listed played only in the fall. Presbyterian was in a scheduling agreement with the Pioneer Football League, which it fully joined in July 2021.
The Southland Conference released their original preseason poll in July 2020. The Bears were picked to finish first in the conference, prior to their schedule split from the rest of the league.[1] In addition, thirteen Bears were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team[2]
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Central Arkansas*
190 (12)
2
Sam Houston State
170 (4)
3
Nicholls
169 (6)
4
Southeastern Louisiana
157
5
McNeese State
113
6
Incarnate Word
104
7
Abilene Christian*
101
8
Stephen F. Austin*
60
9
Houston Baptist*
59
10
Northwestern State
49
11
Lamar
38
(*) These teams opted out of playing in the revised spring 2021 Southland schedule, and instead played as Independent in the fall of 2020.
Central Arkansas had a game scheduled against Missouri, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] Due to the Southland delaying conference play until Spring 2021, Central Arkansas is playing as an independent for the 2020 season. Since they are playing more than 3 games during the fall, Central Arkansas will not participate in conference play in the spring.
^Both Austin Peay and Central Arkansas agreed to move their previously scheduled game from September 19 to August 29 after being selected to compete in the 2020 Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff game at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, AL. The game will be nationally televised and will be the only college football game played in their time slot.[5][6][7][8]
Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C), Partly Cloudy, winds NE 3 mph
Referee: Bob Johnson • Umpire: Steve Coullias • Linesman: Ritchie Godfre • Line judge: D. LaFontaine • Back judge: Brian Kovach • Field judge: Pat Jordan • Side judge: Cedric Clark
Referee: Jonathan Noli • Umpire: John C. Mitchell • Linesman: Gary Calip • Line judge: Jonathan May • Back judge: Tom Healey • Field judge: Victor Sanchez • Side judge: Raymond Tate • Center judge: Chris Burnette
Referee: Ed Bourgeois • Umpire: David Williams • Linesman: Tony Wright • Line judge: Todd Allen • Back judge: Brendon Barnes • Field judge: Keith Claiborne • Side judge: Trey Castleberry
TV announcers (ESPN3): John Liddle, Shea Walker, and Taylor Verrico
Sources:
Scoring summary
2
12:04
MOST
Jose Pizano 47-yard field goal
MOST 3–0
10:45
MOST
Kevin Latulas returns blocked Seren Hughes-Ford punt 16-yards (Jose Pizano kick)
MOST 10-0
7:38
UCA
Kierre Crossley 4-yard run (Hayden Ray kick)
MOST 10-7
4:02
MOST
Keshun Parker 3-yard run (Jose Pizano kick)
MOST 17-7
3
8:49
MOST
Jose Pizano 31-yard field goal
UAB 20–7
1:24
UCA
Tyler Hudson 7-yard pass from Breylin Smith (kick failed)
UAB 20-13
4
14:48
UCA
Dre Matthews 30-yard fumble return (Hayden Ray kick)
TIED 20–20
14:11
UCA
Tyler Hudson 57-yard punt return (Hayden Ray kick)
UCA 27–20
Uniform combination: white helmet, purple jersey, purple pants w/ white and gray accents
Referee: Matt Gallagher • Umpire: Tony Day • Linesman: Calvin Diggs • Line judge: Ivan Cardona • Back judge: Justin Staehr • Field judge: Stacy Jameson • Side judge: Phil Ayeni • Center judge: Jason Nickleby
TV announcers (ESPN+): Brian Shawn, Lee Timmerman, and Ryan Gellner
Sources:
Scoring summary
1
8:26
UCA
Hayden Ray 33-yard field goal
UCA 3–0
2
11:53
UCA
Hayden Ray 41-yard field goal
UCA 6–0
9:00
NDS
Josh Babicz 13-yard pass from Trey Lance (Jake Reinholz kick)
NDS 7–6
2:32
NDS
Jake Reinholz 27-yard field goal
NDS 10–6
3
14:13
NDS
Trey Lance 54-yard run (James Kaczor run)
NDS 18–6
12:47
UCA
Tyler Hudson 22-yard pass from Breylin Smith (Hayden Ray kick)
NDS 18–13
9:44
UCA
LuJuan Winningham 3-yard pass from Breylin Smith (Hayden Ray kick)
UCA 20–18
4
13:21
NDS
Trey Lance 14-yard run (Jake Reinholz kick)
NDS 25–20
10:35
UCA
LuJuan Winningham 11-yard pass from Breylin Smith (Breylin Smith run)
UCA 28–25
7:35
NDS
Hunter Luepke 23-yard pass from Trey Lance (Jake Reinholz kick)
NDS 32–28
1:52
NDS
Hunter Luepke 13-yard run (Jake Reinholz kick)
NDS 39–28
Uniform combination: white helmet, white jersey, white pants w/ purple accents
Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), Winds NE 13 mph; Cloudy and Rainy
Referee: Trennis Livingston • Umpire: Jason Yates • Linesman: Jim Kelley • Line judge: Carl Gioia • Back judge: Wayne Johnson • Field judge: Charles Green • Side judge: Brett Toney
TV announcers (ESPN3): Roger Twibell, Pete Cordelli, and Cori Keller
Sources:
Scoring summary
1
8:07
UCA
Hayden Ray 36-yard field goal
UCA 3–0
6:04
ASU
Team Safety
UCA 3–2
2
10:44
UCA
Hayden Ray 42-yard field goal
UCA 6–2
5:22
ASU
Jonathan Adams 4-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Blake Grupe kick)
ASU 9–6
3:14
ASU
Samy Johnson 60-yard interception return (Blake Grupe kick)
ASU 16–6
1:31
UCA
LuJuan Winningham 23-yard pass from Breylin Smith (Hayden Ray kick)
ASU 16–13
0:29
ASU
Brandon Bowling 15-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Blake Grupe kick)
ASU 23–13
3
13:40
ASU
Dahu Green 3-yard pass from Logan Bonner (Blake Grupe kick)
ASU 30–13
8:19
ASU
Jonathan Adams 22-yard pass from Layne Hatcher (Blake Grupe kick)
ASU 37–13
0:29
ASU
Dahu Green 20-yard pass from Logan Bonner (kick failed)
ASU 43–13
4
13:32
UCA
LuJuan Winningham 2-yard pass from Breylin Smith (Hayden Ray kick)
ASU 43–20
11:32
UCA
LuJuan Winningham 31-yard pass from Breylin Smith (Hayden Ray kick)
ASU 43–27
5:14
ASU
Corey Rucker 56=yard pass from Logan Bonner (Blake Grupe kick)
ASU 50–27
Uniform combination: grey helmet, white jersey, white pants w/ purple accents