The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have released their 2019 football schedule, which includes a game at UNLV.
“The 2019 schedule will be another big challenge for our program, but an opportunity to play some of the best teams in the country,” SUU head coach Demario Warren said. “We get to play five of the 16 teams that made it to the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs, so we’ll have an amazing opportunity to test ourselves coming off a difficult season.”
Southern Utah will open the 2019 season on the road in Las Vegas against the UNLV Rebels on Saturday, Aug. 31. The Thunderbirds also have road non-conference games at Northern Iowa on Sept. 7, at South Dakota State on Sept. 21, and at North Dakota on Nov. 23.
The Thunderbirds are scheduled to host the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Eccles Coliseum in Cedar City on Sept. 14. That will be their home-opener after playing two games on the road to start the season.
Southern Utah opens up Big Sky Conference action on Sept. 28 at home against the Cal Poly Mustangs. Other Big Sky oppoinents slated to visit Cedar City include UC Davis (Oct. 19), Idaho State (Oct. 26), and Northern Arizona (Nov. 16).
The Thunderbirds will travel to face Portland State (Oct. 5), Weber State (Oct. 12), Montana State (Nov. 2), and North Dakota (Nov. 23).
Southern Utah will play a 12-game schedule in 2019 with their only bye week falling on Nov. 9.
The Thunderbirds look to rebound in 2019 after finishing the 2018 season 1-10 overall and 1-7 in conference play. Southern Utah last made the FCS Playoffs in 2017 but fell in the second round to Weber State.