The Bucknell Bison have announced their 2019 football schedule, which includes five home games and six road contests.
“Overall, I think our non-conference schedule is as challenging as it can be,” said Bison coach Dave Cecchini. “In addition to Temple and Villanova, we will play a Princeton team that finished undefeated and in the top 10 last year, a Towson team that is coming off a playoff appearance and a Sacred Heart team that went 7-4 last season.”
That game against Temple at Lincoln Financial Field will open the 2019 season, and will take place on Aug. 31. The winner of the game between the schools receives the Old Shoe Trophy.
“We are excited for the opportunity to open the season at Lincoln Financial Field against Temple,” said Cecchini. “The Owls are a talented FBS program, and it will be an outstanding experience for our student-athletes to go up against a team that played in a bowl game this past season.”
Bucknell stays on the road after that opener in Philadelphia, heading to Sacred Heart for a Sept. 7 contest. FCS power Villanova will make the trek to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Sept. 14, with an open date the following week. Princeton will travel to Lewisburg to close the month, with a date scheduled for Sept. 28.
The Bison get into the thick of the Patriot League slate in October, hosting Holy Cross Oct. 5 to begin the conference season. Cecchini’s club will spend the remainder of October on the road, with contests at Colgate (Oct. 12), Towson (Oct. 19), and Lafayette (Oct. 26) rounding out the month.
Three Patriot League tilts will follow a second open date. Lehigh (Nov. 9) and Georgetown (Nov. 16) visit Mathewson Stadium to get November started, while a trip to Fordham (Nov. 23) completes the regular season.
The Bison went 1-10 (1-5 Patriot League) in 2018. This will be Cecchini’s first year at the helm of the team