March 21st, 2024 8:00am
Emporia State from the MIAA and Angelo State from the LSC have announced a home-and-home scheduling agreement for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Emporia State will host the 2024 meeting on September 7. The Hornets will then make the return trip to San Angelo, Texas in 2025.
From the Emporia State release:
The match-up features two programs that have each averaged nearly eight wins a game over the past ten seasons with a combined six trips to the NCAA Playoffs and five bowl games in that span. Last season the Hornets were 9-3 and won the Fun Town RV Heritage Bowl while the Rams were 7-3 on the year.
The game was made possible after the NCAA Division II football sponsoring schools approved "Week Zero" legislation that allows D2 school to start the season early and play 11 games over 12 weeks. The Hornets will now open the season with the Turnpike Tussle against Washburn on Thursday, August 29 during Week Zero.
The rest of the Emporia State football schedule including home game kick-off times will be released at a later date.
"Number one we wanted to make sure everyone, and the seniors especially, have an opportunity to play 11 football games," said Emporia State head coach Garin Higgins. "It's exciting, we have players from Texas on our team and they will be excited about playing a good Angelo State team this year and then going to Texas next season."