Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College football team will once again face strong early-season challenges from a NCAA Division III playoff participant and nearby Division I non-scholarship opponent during the 2016 season.
The Grizzlies open the fall schedule against Thomas More College (Kentucky) on September 3, at 6 p.m. from Faught Stadium. The contest features two teams that qualified for last season's Division III playoffs.
Then, Franklin travels to Indianapolis to face Butler University on September 10, at 6:30 p.m.
The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) schedule includes home games against Bluffton University on September 24 – Tribute to Service Day; Earlham College on October 8 – homecoming; Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on October 22 -- Samaritan's Feet Game; and Hanover College on November 12 -- Victory Bell Classic. All home conference games are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
The Grizzlies have won six consecutive HCAC championships and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs in eight of the past nine seasons. The team had an 8-3 overall record and went 8-0 in league contests in 2015. The 2016 team is expected to return 15 starters -- six on offense, eight on defense, and one on special teams.
2016 Franklin College Football Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Sept. 3 Thomas More College 6 p.m.
Sept. 10 @ Butler University 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 @ Defiance College* 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 Bluffton University* (Tribute to Service) 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 1 @ Manchester University* 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 8 Earlham College (Homecoming)* 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology* 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 29 @ Mount St. Joseph University* 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 5 @ Anderson University* 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 12 Hanover College* (Victory Bell) 1:30 p.m.
* - Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game