Southland Conference

FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference has released its 2022 football conference schedule, announced by commissioner Chris Grant Wednesday.
 
The 24-game slate opens with a pair of league contests on Sat., Sept. 24 and runs through Sat., Nov. 19. The conference welcomes back Lamar to bring the football-playing membership to eight teams: HBU, UIW, Lamar, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Southeastern and Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
Opening weekend features Lamar visiting Northwestern State and Southeastern hosting defending Southland champion UIW in an expected top-25 showdown. The Lions joined the Cardinals in last year’s FCS Playoff field.
 
A previously scheduled non-conference contest between UIW and Nicholls will remain on the schedule as a non-conference game and will not count toward the conference standings. The Colonels host the Cardinals on Sat., Oct. 15.
 
In its first year of the transition to Division I, Texas A&M-Commerce will make its Southland Conference debut with a road game at Southeastern on Sat., Oct. 8. The Lions will host HBU for their first league contest on Sat., Oct. 22.
 
The schedule culminates with a pair of historic rivalry games, kicking off Thurs., Nov. 17, with the 33^rd meeting between Nicholls and Southeastern in the annual River Bell Classic. Saturday marks the return of the Battle of the Border between Lamar and McNeese, who square off for the 40^th time.  
 
Kickoff times and television designations will be determined in the coming weeks.
 
2022 Southland Conference Football Schedule