LEBANON, Ill. – The McKendree University Bearcat football program is excited to announce their 2023 schedule that will feature a 10 game slate (4 home and 6 away). They are looking to bounce back after last season, which saw them finish with an overall record of 5-6 (2-4 GLVC).
"Our program is excited for the 2023 season," said head coach Mike Babcock. "Adding perineal powerhouses in West Florida and Tiffin to the schedule will be a good test for the team in the early part of the season."
The Bearcats will open the season at 11:00 a.m. on the road by traveling east to the Tiffin University Dragons, which ended their season with a loss to the Truman State Bulldogs in the Crossroads Bowl. The two programs are squaring off on the gridiron for only the 3rd time in history. McKendree came out victorious in the last matchup on September 7, 2013 by the score of 32-28.
McKendree will make their home debut at 1:00 p.m. in week 2 on September 9th against the University of West Florida. The Argonauts were a national semifinalist in 2022 after going 12-2 (6-1 GSC), falling to Ferris State. UWF finished the 2022 season ranked 4th in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll. This will be the first matchup in school history between the two schools.
Another first in program history as the Bearcats will travel north in week 3 to Minnesota State University Moorhead, who are a part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Dragons finished the 2022 with an overall record of 4-7.
After a week off, the Bearcats will return to Leemon field for their GLVC opener against the Truman State University Bulldogs with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. McKendree will be looking to snap a 5 game losing streak against the Bulldogs, which dates back to November 11, 2017. Last year's game in Kirksville was all Bulldogs as they won 52-7. This will be the sixth meeting at Leemon Field. The last time McKendree defended its home turf in the series was on November 12, 2016. The Bulldogs ended the 2022 season ranked 25th in the AFCA poll.
As the calendar flips to October, the Battle of the Bearcats will take place at 1:00 p.m. as McKendree travels to Southwest Baptist on the 7th. Mckendree will look to get back in the win column in the series as SBU took the 2022 contest by the score of 49-31. The last time the teams met in southwest Missouri, McKendree scored 14 unanswered points to win 45-42.
On October 14th, the Bearcats will travel to the newest member of the GLVC in the Upper Iowa University Peacocks. UIU is making their transition from the NSIC to the GLVC starting in the fall of 2023. The Peacocks are coming off the 2022 season where they went 1-10, with their lone win coming against Minot State University. This will be the 3rd game for the Bearcats, in which this will be the first matchup in program history.
The annual McKendree University homecoming game will be on October 21st against the Missouri S&T Miners with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. In last year's meeting at S&T, the Bearcats scored 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to bring home the 42-35 victory. The Bearcats trail in the overall series with a record of 4-6.
After a double overtime game with the Quincy University Hawks at Leemon Field last season, the Bearcats will make the trip to the Gem City in week 8. The Hawks won after getting a stop on a 2-point conversion in double overtime. In the all-time series, the McKendree holds the advantage 19-5 between the two Division II football playing schools.
The final road trip of the 2023 season for the Bearcats will head east to the University of Indianapolis for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff from Key Stadium. The Greyhounds went a perfect 6-0 in conference play to become GLVC champions and finished the year ranked 17th in the AFCA poll. McKendree is looking for its first win against the Greyhounds in 11 attempts.
The regular season finale will be on November 11th as the Bearcats host the William Jewell College Cardinals. Mckendree is perfect in the series against WJC, with last year's matchup ending in a 45-34 win for the Bearcats. After being tied at the half, Mckendree outscored the Cardinals 28 to 17 for the victory.
Stay tuned to the McKendree University Bearcats athletics website for future game promotion updates.
