Coming off a historic 2015 season as back-to-back Lone Star Conference champions and an NCAA playoff participant, Texas A&M University-Commerce has announced its robust 2016 football schedule. The program's 97th season will open Thursday, September 1, against NCAA Division II perennial power North Alabama at Memorial Stadium (7 p.m.).
"As we continue to elevate our program to the top of the nation's elite, it's imperative to play a schedule that reflects that," head coach Colby Carthel said. "Playing two non-conference opponents - with multiple national championships between them - will definitely raise the bar for our strength of schedule. We will then begin the always tough Lone Star Conference slate and work towards winning our third straight LSC Championship."
The Lions' meeting with UNA will mark the third consecutive Thursday night home opener. A&M-Commerce and North Alabama have never met on the gridiron.
In week two, the Lions will make a return trip to Delta State - also out of the Gulf South Conference - to start a two-game road swing. The Statesman narrowly edged the Lions 51-44 in the second game of the 2015 season. The 2016 contest will be the seventh meeting between A&M-Commerce and Delta State.
The Lone Star Conference opener comes in week three with a trip to Portales, N.M., home of Eastern New Mexico. A&M-Commerce is currently on a two-game winning streak against the Greyhounds after a 42-31 win in 2015.
September closes with a return home to the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium for a matchup with system rival Texas A&M-Kingsville on September 24. The Lions are currently riding a four game-winning streak against the Javelinas after a 37-17 road victory in 2015.
Oklahoma Panhandle State, who enters their first season in 2016 as a football-playing member of the LSC, is up next on October 1. The Lions return home on October 8 against fellow NCAA playoff participant Midwestern State at 7 p.m. The Lions clinched a perfect 6-0 LSC conference slate with a 27-14 win over the Mustangs to close the 2015 regular season. A&M-Commerce does hold the all-time series lead between the two programs 12-9.
The Lions hit the road for their second two-game road swing of the season with a trip out to Silver City, N.M. to take on first year LSC member Western New Mexico on October 15. The matchup marks the third 2016 opponent the Lions will play for the first time. Angelo State on October 22 completes the final game of the road trip. The Lions swept the Rams in 2015 - knocking off then No. 16 ranked ASU 38-35 in ESPN's Division II Game of the Week last October. In the first round of November's LSC playoffs, the Lions held on following a fourth down goal line stand for a 36-35 win.
A homecoming tilt with cross-state rival West Texas A&M on October 29 rounds out the month. The Lions have taken the last two meetings against the Buffs, including a 38-20 win 2015. In the last two meetings, the Lions have outscored the Buffs by 45 points.
A&M-Commerce will travel to first-year program and LSC member UT-Permian Basin for the fourth game against a new opponent on November 5 for the team's final regular season road game. The Lions will cap off the regular season right where it began - at home - when Tarleton State comes to Commerce on November 12. The Lions handed the Texans a 63-0 shutout loss in 2014 for the fourth-straight win in the all-time series against the Texans.
Season and group ticket plans are available now by calling Lion Ticket Sales and Service at (903) 886-5558, or by logging on to www.lionathletics.com and clicking the ticket link. Individual game tickets will go on sale at a later date.
Fans can follow all the action from the 2015-16 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.
2016 LION FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (times subject to change)
SEPTEMBER
09/01 (Thurs.) NORTH ALABAMA 7 p.m.
09/10 @ Delta State TBA
09/17 @ Eastern New Mexico TBA
09/24 TEXAS A&M-Kingsville 7 p.m.
OCTOBER
10/01 @ Oklahoma Panhandle State TBA
10/08 MIDWESTERN STATE 7 p.m.
10/15 @ Western New Mexico TBA
10/22 @ Angelo State TBA
10/29 WEST TEXAS A&M (Homecoming) 4 p.m.
NOVEMBER
11/05 @ Texas-Permian Basin TBA
11/12 TARLETON STATE 4 p.m.