PENSACOLA, Fla. — The University of West Florida football team is unbeaten and ranked third in the nation heading into the final week of the regular season.
With a win Saturday afternoon in Pensacola against Valdosta State, the Argos would move to 10-0.
While the UWF football program has accomplished quite a lot in its relatively short history — one national championship, two title game appearances, five playoff births — a victory on Saturday would secure:
- the program’s first perfect 10-0 regular season
- the program’s first outright Gulf South Conference crown
- the program’s first-ever top-seeding in the Super Region 2 postseason bracket
“We’ve had adversity thrown at us. We’re resilient. Our guys, they don’t flinch. They just keep jabbing,” head coach Kaleb Nobles said. “They just keep punching and do what they’re supposed to do. And I haven’t felt all year like there’s a time where we might be out of this game. Our guys are just awesome on the sideline. Energy is great. So I just love our resiliency.”
The Argos last played on Nov. 1 at Delta State, earning a 51-38 win.
The bye week has given UWF some extra time to prepare for Valdosta State, as the Blazers enter Saturday at 5-4, including 2-0 in conference play.
“Had a couple extra days during this bye week to look at them and see what they do, especially from their last game, Delta State (a 27-23 win) where they played really well,” senior defensive tackle Juice Williams said. “We’re ready to fire on all cylinders. Ready to stop that run again.”
The Argos and Blazers shared the conference title in 2021.
UWF won three straight in the rivalry before Valdosta earned back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024 — including a win in Georgia last year that ended the Argos’ playoff hopes.
This time, it’s the Blazers with their postseason hanging in the balance.
“Valdosta is always going to be a good team, and we’re coming out, hopefully, to do our job and get a W,” sophomore running back TJ Lane said.
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Saturday’s game kicks off at 2 p.m. on PenAir Field. Click here to find tickets for the game.
