The Southland Conference has released their 2020 football schedule that is set to be played in Spring of 2021.
Only seven of the 11 Southland members are playing in the Spring: Incarnate Word, Lamar, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, and Southeastern Louisiana. The remaining four teams, Abilene Christian, Central Arkansas, Houston Baptist, and Stephen F. Austin, are playing exclusively this fall.
With only seven teams playing, the Southland will play a six-game, round-robin schedule this Spring. Each team will play three home games and three road games over an eight-week period from Feb. 20 through April 10. Teams will have the option to schedule non-conference games as the NCAA has approved a maximum of eight games beginning on Jan. 23.
The winner of the Southland Conference this Spring will receive an automatic bid to the revised FCS Playoffs, which has been reduced to 16 teams (11 automatic qualifiers and five at-large bids) and begins on Saturday, April 24.
The Southland season kicks off on Saturday, February 20 with two contests: Sam Houston State at Incarnate Word and Northwestern State at Lamar.
“We are very pleased to confirm our delayed 2020 Southland Conference football schedule into the 2021 spring semester,” Commissioner Tom Burnett said. “While the spring playing opportunity will be different in many ways, we are looking forward to providing this competitive and championship opportunity for our participating football programs, their student-athletes and coaches, and all of the fans and followers of Southland football. Additionally, the prospect of competing for an FCS national championship with multiple teams in the postseason is an annual goal for the league.”
Below is the complete 2020 Southland Conference football schedule for this Spring:
Saturday, Feb. 20
Sam Houston State at Incarnate Word
Northwestern State at Lamar
Off: McNeese, Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana
Saturday, Feb. 27
Incarnate Word at McNeese
Lamar at Nicholls
Southeastern Louisiana at Sam Houston State
Off: Northwestern State
Saturday, Mar. 6
Incarnate Word at Lamar
McNeese at Southeastern Louisiana
Nicholls at Northwestern State
Off: Sam Houston State
Saturday, Mar. 13
Lamar at McNeese
Nicholls at Sam Houston State
Northwestern State at Southeastern Louisiana
Off: Incarnate Word
Saturday, Mar. 20
McNeese at Northwestern State
Sam Houston State at Lamar
Southeastern Louisiana at Incarnate Word
Off: Nicholls
Saturday, Mar. 27
Incarnate Word at Nicholls
Off: Lamar, McNeese, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana
Thursday, Apr. 1
Sam Houston State at Northwestern State
Saturday, Apr. 3
Lamar at Southeastern Louisiana
Nicholls at McNeese
Off: Incarnate Word
Saturday, Apr. 10
McNeese at Sam Houston State
Northwestern State at Incarnate Word
Southeastern Louisiana at Nicholls
Off: Lamar
Southland Conference Football Schedule