SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word released their 2014 football schedule on Wednesday.  The Cardinals are slated for a 12-game season beginning on August 30 and running through November 15.

The Cardinals will be playing a full Southland Conference schedule that includes all three SLC schools that qualified for the FCS Playoffs.  The schedule is split evenly with six home games and six away games with all but one game coming against an FCS opponent.

"We like a challenge," said UIW head football coach Larry Kennan. "It is a great schedule that includes some of the top teams in the nation.  We like that we will be playing 12 games, but we will have to be prepared for tough competition every week."

The Cardinals went 6-5 last year in their first season as a member of NCAA FCS, but this is the first year the program will play a full FCS schedule. 

The home portion of the schedule will give UIW fans their first glimpse at the top programs in the SLC.  Southeastern Louisiana (Sep. 27), McNeese State (Oct. 25) and Sam Houston State (Nov. 8) each played in the FCS playoffs last year and the Cardinals lost to both the Lions and Bearkats on the road in 2013.  The season opens at Benson Stadium with UIW hosting Sacramento State, a team that went 5-7 last year in the Big Sky Conference.

The remaining two home games will come on October 4 against Houston Baptist in a repeat of last year's game and an October 18 game against Texas Lutheran, the only non-FCS school on the schedule.  The Cardinals are 1-0 against both the Huskies and Bulldogs all-time.

The Cardinals did themselves no favors with their non-conference road games.  They head to SLC rival Stephen F. Austin in a non-conference game on September 6 and then follow that with a trip to three-time defending national champion North Dakota State for a game in the Fargodome.  The team will remain on the road for a third consecutive week when they open conference play at Abilene Christian on September 20.  The remaining three road games come within SLC play and the season concludes on November 15 at Lamar.

The Cardinals return 10 starters on offense, seven starters on defense and a place kicker.  Spring practice begins on March 18 and the Spring game is scheduled for April 12.
 
2014 Schedule
August 30               Sacramento State
September 6           at Stephen F. Austin
September 13         at North Dakota State
September 20         at Abilene Christian*
September 27         Southeastern Louisiana*
October 4               Houston Baptist*
October 11             at Northwestern State*
October 18             Texas Lutheran
October 25             McNeese State*
November 1            at Nicholls*
November 8            Sam Houston State* (Senior Night)
November 15          at Lamar*
* indicates Southland Conference game
All home games played at Benson Stadium
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