UPCOMING SCHEDULE
WEEK 0 – SATURDAY, AUG. 24 TIME WATCH SERIES
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI vs. North Alabama ………………………………………. 6:00pm CT ESPN North Alabama leads, 1-0
SLANT ROUTES
- CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: The Buccaneers are opening the season at home for the third-straight year, and are looking to start 1-0 for the second consecutive season … CSU’s Week 1 match-up vs. The Citadel has been dubbed the “Lowcountry Boil Bowl” as the crosstown rivalry continues.
- EASTERN ILLINOIS: The Panthers are looking to start 1-0 for the second consecutive season … EIU carries a four-game win streak into Week 1’s contest at Illinois.
- GARDNER-WEBB: The Runnin’ Bulldogs are opening the season at home for the first time since 2022, which was also the last time GWU opened 1-0 … Gardner-Webb is seeking its first victory over Wofford since 2014.
- LINDENWOOD: The Lions are playing their first-ever FBS opponent in Week 1 … Kansas will mark the first of four first-time foes for Lindenwood this season.
- SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: The Redhawks are playing in the Week 0 FCS Kickoff for the first time … The first meeting between SEMO and UNA was in 1956 (Lions won, 63-13) … Southeast Missouri is opening the season with two games away from home.
- TENNESSEE STATE: The Tigers are looking to start 1-0 for the first time since 2019 — which was also against Mississippi Valley State … TSU is ranked No. 8 in the preseason HBCU Coaches poll, and received votes in the HBCU media poll.
- TENNESSEE TECH: The Golden Eagles are opening the season on the road for the fourth-straight year, and second time at an FBS opponent in three seasons … TTU will face backto-back FBS members in the first two weeks of the 2024 campaign.
- UT MARTIN: The Skyhawks are opening the season at a nationally-ranked FBS member for the second-straight year … Kansas State will be UTM’s lone first-time foe of 2024.
- WESTERN ILLINOIS: The Leathernecks are opening the campaign at an FBS foe for the second-straight year … WIU will face consecutive FBS members in the first two weeks of the season, while playing its first three contests of 2024 on the road.
2-MINUTE OFFENSE
OPENING KICKOFF: The second season of the Big SouthOVC Football Association kicks off this week with the league’s fi rst Week 0 contest. Southeast Missouri faces former Big South football member North Alabama in the FCS Kickoff in Montgomery, Ala. Year 2 of the Association features nine members, with Western Illinois making its Association debut this season. The 2024 conference schedule features every team playing each other for an 8-game league slate.
1st DOWN: As mentioned, Southeast Missouri will open the 2024 season with a Week 0 clash against UAC member North Alabama. All nine Big South-OVC squads will play in Week 1 — with six of the nine match-ups against FBS opponents. The first Association contest will be Sept. 7 when SEMO hosts UT Martin.
2nd DOWN: The Big South-OVC 2024 Preseason Players of the Year are Eastern Illinois QB PIERCE HOLLEY (Offense) and Southeast Missouri LB BRYCE NORMAN (Defense) Holley is among the WALTER PAYTON Award Preseason Watch List candidates, while Norman is a preseason All-American and BUCK BUCHANAN Award Preseason Watch List member.
3rd DOWN: The Association welcomes three new head coaches in 2024 — CRIS REISERT (Gardner-Webb), BOBBY WILDER (Tennessee Tech) and JOE DAVIS (Western Illinois). Davis was EIU’s Offensive Coordinator in 2022-23.
4th DOWN: Eight of the nine Association members will play 13 total games against FBS opponents this fall, with five squads playing two — EIU, GWU, TTU, UTM and WIU
