CARROLLTON, Ga. - In just a few days, toe will meet leather and the 2025 UWG football season will be off and running. For the second season in a row, the Wolves are set to open the season against the Samford Bulldogs.
Game Information
UWG (0-0) vs. Samford (0-0)
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Kickoff: 7:30 PM EST
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KISS 102.7
West Georgia will travel to Homewood, Alabama to take on the Bulldogs in UWG's first trip to Samford since 2008. In last year's season opener, UWG got the historic victory in their first Division I game while also evening the all-time series with Samford, 3-3, and winning their 12th consecutive season opener.
UWG will debut new coordinators on both offense and defense, but the Wolves do have a returner at quarterback leading the way in Davin Wydner. The Cocoa, Florida native threw for over 1,700 yards and nine touchdowns while adding seven rushing touchdowns. UWG brings back their leader in receptions from a season ago, TJ Lockley, while also featuring a revamped offensive line.
Defensively, UWG brings back its top two tacklers from a season ago in Jay Carter and Micah Thurman. Head coach Joel Taylor and his staff brought in over 30 transfers via the portal including 16 defensive additions.
The Wolves will be looking for their fourth overall win against Samford in program history, and a win would mark the first-ever road victory for the Wolves in three tries. Samford's last win in the series was a 21-19 triumph also on August 28 in 2008.
Samford, like UWG, is coming off of a 4-7 campaign with the Bulldogs coming away with wins over Alabama State, VMI, Mercer, and Chattanooga. The last two of those victories were over ranked opponents as Mercer was seventh in the FCS and Chattanooga was number 19.
The Bulldogs return just one starter from last year's season opener on offense in quarterback Quincy Crittendon who threw for 2,689 yards and 18 touchdowns. Samford's defense features a pair of starters back in Jaden Mosley and Jalen Nelson. Mosley, who projects to start at middle linebacker, was second on the team with 75 tackles and had a team-high 14 tackles for loss. Nelson started game one and played in only four games beyond the opener.
Fans making the trip to Samford are invited to the UWG Alumni and Friends Social which begins at 4:20 p.m. EST at Davenports Pizza. Registration is linked here.
Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST from Bobby Bowden Field at Pete Hanna Stadium. The game is being broadcast on ESPN+ and UWG fans can also listen live to the radio broadcast on KISS 102.7 or the Gradick Communications Listening Portal. Tickets can be purchased here.
