UWF opens historic season tonight with first Division 1 game

Tonight marks a first for University of West Florida football. The Argos are scheduled to play their first NCAA Division I game when they open the season against No. 16 Southern Illinois. The matchup comes just months after UWF announced in April that it would move to Division I, joining the United Athletic Conference for football and the Atlantic Sun for other sports.

The opener also starts a new chapter for coach Kaleb Nobles, who played quarterback in UWF’s first game in 2016 and now leads the program as head coach. UWF built a quick Division II resume that included a national championship in 2019 and six playoff appearances. Now the question is how that success translates at the FCS level, beginning with a season opener that should give the Argos an early test against a ranked opponent.

Why tonight matters

Tonight’s game is UWF’s first football contest as a Division I program, making it a milestone moment for the university and for a program that is not yet 10 years old.

The Argos went 81-30 in Division II, but Division I comes with greater scholarship requirements and more financial investment to maintain a strong program.

What the Division I move changes — and what it doesn’t

UWF’s teams can compete for conference championships right away, but they are not eligible for NCAA championships until the 2029-30 academic year.

Coach Kaleb Nobles said the program’s day-to-day standards are not supposed to change just because the division changed. He said the focus remains on preparation, discipline and playing well, even as the competition level rises.

Kaleb Nobles is tied to both the beginning and this next era

Nobles has a direct connection to one of the biggest moments in program history. He was UWF’s quarterback in the program’s first game, a 45-0 win over Ave Maria on Sept. 3, 2016, after a long weather delay.

Now the fourth-year head coach leading the program into its first Division I game. At an Aug. 24 media availability, Nobles said the opener should reveal more about the team because live games test players in ways practices cannot.

UWF enters as the newcomer

The Argos are making the jump quickly, less than five months after the university announced the move. Nobles said that timing mattered because the NCAA’s transfer portal window had already opened in January, leaving little chance to reshape the roster specifically for the FCS level.

UWF was picked eighth out of eight teams in the summer United Athletic Conference media poll, an unfamiliar position for a program used to preseason recognition in Division II. Still, the roster includes 21 players who previously played at Division I schools, according to the team.

UWF starting quarterback won’t be known until the game begins

One of the biggest unresolved questions entering tonight is who replaces Marcus Stokes, the former UWF quarterback who transferred to Memphis after earning honorable mention All-American recognition last season.

UWF lists six quarterbacks on the roster who have combined to throw eight passes in their college careers. Blake Boda, Donovan Leary and Bubba Thompson are among the transfer options, but Nobles said he did not plan to announce a starter before the first offensive series.

Southern Illinois is a tough first opponent

UWF is scheduled to open against No. 16 Southern Illinois, a Missouri Valley program that finished 7-5 in 2025. The Salukis closed last season with a 37-7 win over Illinois State, which later reached the FCS championship game.

Southern Illinois returns quarterback DJ Williams, who ran for 847 yards and 18 touchdowns and threw for 2,846 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. He was named Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, and Nobles said UWF has made stopping Williams a major point of emphasis.

This story was created by reporter Justin Fitzgerald with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: UWF opens historic season tonight with first Division 1 game