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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. _ It all comes down to this.

The University of Central Arkansas Bears and the Austin Peay Governors will do battle at 1 p.m. Saturday at Fortera Stadium, with the winner walking out with the United Athletic Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs.

The No. 20 Bears are 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the UAC, The No. 12/15 Governors are 8-2 and 5-0. Austin Peay will almost certainly receive an at-large bid even with a loss Saturday, while UCA would be at the mercy of the FCS Playoff selection committee with a 7-4 overall record. The first round of the playoffs begins next Saturday at campus sites, with the top eight seeds receiving first-round byes.

The game definitely pits the two best teams in the UAC. The Governors have won eight straight games since opening the season with consecutive losses to Southern Illinois and No. 9 Tennessee. APSU is 4-0 at home this season. The Bears have won seven of their past eight games, including a dramatic 27-24 last-second win over Eastern Kentucky last Saturday in Conway.

"What the result of that win equals is what makes this week even sweeter," said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. "What it equals is a championship week. It equals a week-long preparation and opportunity that we talked about in our team meeting... everything that you've prepped for, everything that you do 365 days a year, 24 hours a day throughout the year as a student-athlete leads up to this week.

"I kept telling them, this week is why. This week is why you do early morning workouts, this week is why you set records in the weight room, this week is why you do the Defend the Stripes run around campus. 

"So it's really neat that this week and the scheduling worked out like it did. We couldn't anticipate us having this kind of year, or Austin Peay to be having the year they are having. But is equals a great showcase for the UAC. It gives the United Athletic Conference a true, premiere final weekend game for our conference. And I think that's really neat how that worked out." 
      
UCA beat APSU rather handily a year ago in Conway, scoring 42 points in the second half (21 each quarter) to pull away from a 7-6 halftime lead. Quarterback Will McElvain completed 20 of 31 passes for 261 yards and four touchdown for the Bears, who also got a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown from Jarrod Barnes in the third quarter, this week is why you make your grades and you're eligible, for weeks like this.

Running back Darius Hale had a pair of rushing touchdowns and four different receivers _ Christian Richmond, Myles Kitt-Denton, Myles Butler and Trustin Oliver _ had touchdown receptions for the Bears.  Four of those five, plus McElvain, are on the current roster.

Defensively, the Bears had two players with double-digit tackles, including safety TaMuarion Wilson and linebacker Demetrias Charles with 12 each. Defensive end Logan Jessup had a career-high four tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks. In all, UCA recorded 12 tackles for loss and four sacks while getting an interception from safety Cameron Godfrey, a forced fumble from Charles and a fumble recovery from Jessup.

APSU quarterback Mike Diliello completed 29 of 44 passe for 248 yards but no touchdowns. However, this season, he leads the UAC in passing yards (2,868) and is tied for the lead in passing touchdowns (27).

UCA quarterback Will McElvain, has been a model of efficiency with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions, while throwing for 230.9 yards per game.

The Governors and Bears are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in scoring offense in the UAC. APSU averages 37.4 points per game and UCA averages 33.4. The Governor's are top ranked in total yards per game at 457.7 yards, with the Bears are second at 435.5.

he Bears' defense, however, is ranked first in scoring defense, allowing just 23.9 points per game, while the Governors rank fourth, allowing 25.7. UCA's total defense is also No. 1 (33.9.5 yards per game) while APSU's is fifth (407.8). 

UCA junior defensive end David Walker leads the league in both sacks and tackles for loss.

APSU's Kam Thomas, who had a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Bears last season, has two more returned for touchdowns this season. 

"It's our job to go over there and give our best effort," said Brown, "and I think our team is excited about it. There not going to be any extra motivation needed this week. What we talk about with every single recruiting class we bring in...  is you're coming here to play meaningful games in November. And that's exactly what this is."  

The game will be carried live on ESPN+, The Bear 91.3 and The Point 94.1, with a 1 p.m. kickoff.