DAYTON – The University of Dayton football team will play five home games and six on the road in 2019.

Dayton will open the season with two road games.  The Flyers open on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Terre Haute, Ind. against Indiana State, an opponent they have not played since 1976.  (In fact, the last time Dayton played Indiana State, head coach Rick Chamberlin was on the field playing linebacker for the Flyers instead of on the sidelines).  UD then visits Robert Morris on Sept. 14.  

Dayton's home opener and final non-conference game will be on Sept. 21 against Duquesne.

After a bye week, UD will begin Pioneer Football League play on Oct. 5 with a home game with Jacksonville.  In a scheduling quirk, the Dolphins are also the team the Flyers closed the 2018 season against.   

Dayton is on the road for the next two games (at Valparaiso on Oct. 12 and Stetson on Oct. 19), and then alternates home and road games the remaining five games of the year.  Defending PFL champion San Diego visits Welcome Stadium on Oct. 26, followed by at Morehead State (Nov. 2), Marist (Nov. 9) at Drake (Nov. 16) and Butler (Nov. 23.

Dayton coach Rick Chamberlin knows the schedule will not be an easy one. 

"Our 2019 schedule will again be a challenging one, especially having more road games than home," Chamberlin said.  "Our non-conference schedule puts us on the road two of the three by going to Indiana State and Robert Morris.  Duquesne and San Diego were both in the FCS playoffs last year.  As always, the PFL schedule will be tough.  The league just keeps getting better, and going on the road to play at Valparaiso, Stetson, Morehead State and Drake makes it that much tougher." 

Dayton was 6-5 a year ago, and 5-3 in conference.  Three of UD's five losses in 2018 were to teams that reached the FCS playoffs.  Dayton returns 13 starters – seven from the offense, and six from the defensive side of the ball.  Last year's Pioneer Football League Offensive Freshman of the Year Jack Cook returns at quarterback, while the defense will be led by DB/LB Andrew Lutgens, who was First Team All-PFL in 2018.

Tight end Adam Trautman, wideout/kick returner Kyle Butz and offensive guard Michael Niese all earned All-PFL honors last year.   Trautman and wideout Ryan Skibinski both enter their final seasons at UD within striking distance of Bill Franks' Dayton career receptions record of 133.

The Flyers are wrapping up spring practice this week, and will play their annual Spring Game on Sunday, April 14 at 1 p.m. ET.  Two stars from UD's 1989 NCAA Division III National Championship team, Jon Husted and Dan Sharley, will serve as Honorary Coaches for the game.