Eastern Kentucky adds three FBS opponents to future schedules

By Kevin Kelley -

The Eastern Kentucky Colonels have added three games against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents to their future football schedules, FBSchedules.com has learned.

Copies of the three game contracts were obtained from Eastern Kentucky University via a state open records request.

Eastern Kentucky will travel to face the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on Sept. 11, 2021. The Colonels will receive a $570,000 guarantee for playing the game, according to a copy of the contract.

EKU and Louisville are also scheduled to meet on Sept. 7, 2019, which was previously announced. The Cardinal currently lead the overall series 18-8-1.

On Sept. 9, 2023, Eastern Kentucky will visit Kroger Field in Lexington to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. UK will pay EKU a $550,000 guarantee, per the contract.

Eastern Kentucky and Kentucky first met on the gridiron in 1998. In their most recent meeting, UK defeated EKU 27-16 in 2017 to extend their lead in the series to 5-0.

EKU will travel to play the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Aug. 31, 2024. The Colonels will receive a $550,000 guarantee, according to the contract.

Eastern Kentucky has never faced Mississippi State on the gridiron.

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