The Central Arkansas Bears and the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions will square off during the 2023 through 2025 seasons, FBSchedules.com has learned.
A copy of the football game contract with the University of Central Arkansas was obtained from the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff via a state public records request.
Central Arkansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff met most recently at UCA’s Estes Stadium in Conway, Ark., during the 2021 season. That was the first contest of a four-game home-and-home series, according to the copy of the contract.
The second game of the series will not be played during the 2022 season. Instead, the series will resume on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at UAPB’s Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff, Ark.
The final two games of the series are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 in Conway and on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 back in Pine Bluff.
Central Arkansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff first met on the gridiron in 1970 and have played 13 contests overall. The Bears defeated the Golden Lions in their matchup last season, 45-23, and now lead the overall series 11-2.
Central Arkansas is currently a member of the ASUN Conference, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff competes in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), both in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The two schools once belonged to the same conference, the defunct Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference, in 1970 through 1972 and then again in 1983 through 1987.
Football Schedules
It looks like UAPB is selling tickets for a game with Tennessee State on 9/9, the same date that the Central Arkansas website shows THEY are playing UAPB. Someone’s not talking to someone!
UAPB game with Tennessee State (Southern Heritage Classic) was scheduled after the UCA game. The UAPB-UCA game will get a new date or won’t be played this season.