The Dixie State Trailblazers announced last week that they are moving up to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) beginning with the 2020 season.
Dixie State, located in St. George, Utah, will compete as an FCS Independent. Upon completion of the four-year reclassification process, Dixie State will be eligible for postseason play beginning with the 2024-25 season.
On Tuesday, Dixie State announced the scheduling of three future football series against Big Sky Conference members — Southern Utah, Weber State, and Northern Arizona.
“With our move to Division I, it is critical that we play our fellow regional institutions to create the rivalries that our fans want to see,” DSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Jason Boothe said. “It is going to be a lot of fun to compete with these fantastic programs and we are very thankful that each school has agreed to play both at their place and here in St. George.”
Dixie State plays their home football games on campus at Trailblazer Stadium in St. George, Utah. The stadium currently has a capacity of 10,000.
Below are the details of the three future football series announced by Dixie State:
Southern Utah
Dixie State will play its first-ever game at the FCS level at Southern Utah on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. The Trailblazers will also play at Southern Utah on Sept. 3, 2022 and will host the Thunderbirds in St. George on Sept. 7, 2024.
“We’re excited to renew the rivalry with Dixie State, and I’m sure it will be something that excites both communities for a very long time,” SUU head coach Demario Warren said.
Weber State
Dixie State will begin a three-game football series at Weber State’s Stewart Stadium on Oct. 10, 2020 and will also play in Ogden again in 2022 (date TBA). Dixie State will host Weber State at Trailblazer Stadium on a date to be announced in 2021.
Northern Arizona
Dixie State and Northern Arizona have scheduled a six-game, home-and-home football series. Dates of the games are listed below:
- Sept. 16, 2023 – at NAU
- Sept. 14, 2024 – at Dixie State
- Sept. 6, 2025 – at NAU
- Sept. 19, 2026 – at Dixie State
- Sept. 4, 2027 – at NAU
- Sept. 16, 2028 – at Dixie State
“We are excited to add this series with Dixie State to our future football schedules,” NAU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Marlow said. “These games will give our fans additional opportunities to make a trip to see the Lumberjacks on the road as well as develop a new rivalry with a regional opponent.”
“We are very excited to establish a rivalry with the Lumberjacks and look forward to the games,” Dixie State Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Jason Boothe said. “NAU has a great tradition and a strong program so it will be excellent competition for us as we build our program up. Personally, as a proud graduate of NAU, the games will be even that much more special.”
Football Schedules
Welcome to the FCS ranks,Dixie State. Looks like AD is breaking his school in gently by not playing body bag games straight away.
They will probably have to in order to fill out an 11-game schedule. Unless they schedule DII or NAIA, etc.