UCAFANS.COM | GO UCA BEARS!

Saw this on twitter this morning!

So we want to play:

#1 FCS team
OVC champion
3 fbs teams
others?

#weaintscared

Heard from someone who knows someone who said NDSU is done they are just working through the details. Oct. 3rd in Fargo, NDSU to come to UCA either next year or 2022

Yep it's a done deal. Just announced. The NDSU in Conway (if it ever happens), will be sold out for sure. Many Arkansas football fans would probably come just to see NDSU. GO BEARS!

Welp, there you go. NDSU game is official with a return trip to Fargo planned in 2023 and the bison coming to Conway in 2025. Not sure why we're going there twice vs NDSU coming here once, but probably has to do with existing contracts. Plus, when you've won 8 titles in a decade, that gives you the ability to dictate terms:

(@Birmingham, AL)Austin Peay - Aug 29
@UAB - Sept 3
@Arkansas st - Sept 19
Missouri St. - Sept 26
@North Dakota St. - Oct. 3
@Eastern Ky - Oct. 10
@Missouri St. - Oct 17
Eastern KY - Oct. 31
@UL-Lafayette - Nov 21

Goes without saying that this is the toughest schedule in school history.

Another note...NDSU is only playing 1 game this fall, UCA, and that is it. They plan to resume their schedule in the Spring. Every other school UCA is playing has at least 4 games on their schedule with the FBS teams playing full conference slates.

Not sure if that's an advantage for UCA or not, but it is definitely unique.

It could go either way. Just saw we have to play NDSU twice at their place before they will come to Conway. I guess that is what it takes to play NDSU. I am sure they will try to pick up a few more games if they can, too many people want to play NDSU especially with an open schedule like they have. If they do only play one here are two situations that can happen:

1. UCA will roll in most likely 2-2 and ready to play. SDSU may still be adjusting to a wierd year. UCA catches them off guard and scores early. SDSU tries to play catch up the rest of the game. SDSU is still trying to adjust with it being their first game and can't stop UCA. UCA 24-21 on a last second field goal.

2. SDSU is hungry to play and will run 100mph+ on offense. Puts up 500 yards total on offense, and UCA is looking around for help. SDSU rolls with the win 45-24.

I can't really see UCA winning big at all unless it is just a fluke. Playing at their place and winning would be great enough. SDSU has a ton of talent.... and can probably beat a handful of FBS Schools.

UCA will receive a $100k payout for not getting a return game for the Oct 3rd meeting. NDSU AD is saying they are not "actively" looking for another fall game.

Like your optimism on #1. I honestly think NDSU may be the toughest game on the schedule, and it being in Fargo...I don't think we have the athletes to hang with them, but you never know.

UCA will receive a $100k payout for not getting a return game for the Oct 3rd meeting. NDSU AD is saying they are not "actively" looking for another fall game.

Like your optimism on #1. I honestly think NDSU may be the toughest game on the schedule, and it being in Fargo...I don't think we have the athletes to hang with them, but you never know.[/quote]

So we are getting a return game in 2025 I believe? But right now we are playing them twice before they return to Conway.

https://ucasports.com/news/2020/8/24/football-bears-add-fcs-power-to-2020-schedule.aspx

CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears added an exclamation point to their 2020 football schedule Monday when they announced a three-game series with perennial FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) power North Dakota State.

The series begins on Oct. 3 when the Bears travel to Fargo, N.D. to take on the three-time defending FCS champion Bison at the Fargodome. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.

"What a great opportunity for our program to get to play a team and a university like North Dakota State,' said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. "This has been a whirlwind with the way the season has happened and the decisions to not play by a lot of conferences and schools. One thing I do know is we were willing to play North Dakota State from the start and I am glad it is going to work out in the end.

"We want to be where they are. They have been not only the best program at the FCS level the past decade-plus, but also in the nation regardless of level. It will be an opportunity to go against the best and see where we are as a program.'

The Bears and Bison will meet again in 2023 in Fargo, with a final meeting set for 2025 on "The Stripes" at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.

"I think what makes this even sweeter is the fact that we get to see this play out over the next several years,' said Brown, whose Bears won a share of the Southland Conference championship last fall and are the preseason pick for the title this year. "What a great opportunity to go to Fargo and then in a few years get the Bison back down on "The Stripes." Our student athletes and coaches are very excited about this opportunity.'

The Bison have won the past three FCS national championships, and eight of the past nine dating back to 2011. NDSU beat James Madison 28-20 last season in the title game in Frisco, Texas, which is hosted by the Southland Conference.

UCA has reached the FCS Playoffs three of the past four seasons and five times since becoming eligible in 2011. However, the Bears and Bison have never met in the regular season or postseason in football.

The UCA-NDSU matchup caps a nine-game fall schedule for the Bears that begins this Saturday with the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. UCA takes on Austin Peay at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

Both the Southland Conference and Missouri Valley Football Conference shifted fall sports to the spring semester due to COVID-19, leaving open the option for schools to play non-conference competition in the fall. UCA has put together an impressive slate that features three FBS (Football Bowl Championship) programs for the first time, in Arkansas State, UAB and Louisiana, along with six FCS opponents.

NDSU plans to play just once in the fall, against the Bears on Oct. 3, and then play the remainder of its schedule in the spring.

"We are excited to be able to play the elite team in the FCS three times over the next five years,' said Dr. Brad Teague, UCA's director of athletics. "To have them come to Conway for a game will be thrilling. This 2020 game will be unique as it is their only game of the season on October 3 against our Bears.

"This further cements the 2020 Central Arkansas football schedule as the most exciting and challenging ever.'

Bears add D2 program Missouri Western to the schedule to give us an almost complete fall schedule with 10 games. With ASU moving to Oct. 10th and MSU moving to the 17th, schedule lines up as follows:

Austin Peay (In AL): W 24-17
@UAB: L 45-35
Bye - Sept. 19
Missouri St. - Sept 26
@North Dakota St. - Oct. 3
@Arkansas st - Oct. 10
@Missouri St. - Oct. 17
@Eastern Ky - Oct. 24
Missouri Western - Oct. 31
Bye - Nov. 7
Eastern KY - Nov. 14
@UL-Lafayette - Nov. 21

I say just show up on Saturdays and see who we are playing.........a very weird season.......Missouri Western is usually very stout..........never a push over........

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... like-other

Great article on the front page of ESPN.com...So proud of our administration, coaches, and players. Bear Pride!!!

Yep, I think every closet Bears fan has posted this on Facebook now. Good exposure for the school. Glad UCA decided to step up during this time.