WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth University has announced that it will play its first Football Bowl Championship (FBS) opponents beginning in 2015 with Central Michigan University and Kent State University, in 2016.
"As we continue to increase scholarships, playing FBS opponents is something that we look forward to and are excited about," said Monmouth Head Coach Kevin Callahan, who recently won his 125th game at Monmouth. "We currently have FBS opponents scheduled in 2015 and 2016, and we are looking into potential opportunities for 2017 and beyond."
The Hawks will travel to Mount Pleasant, Michigan on Saturday Sept. 12, 2015 to face Central Michigan in the first Monmouth contest against a FBS program in the school's history. The Hawks will face a CMU team that was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference this season and currently owns a 4-3 record overall and a 2-1 MAC record. The Chippewas went 6-6 last season and most recently won a bowl game in 2012. Central Michigan has had four players drafted over the last five seasons and won three MAC Championships from 2006 to 2009.
Monmouth's 2016 FBS opponent will be another MAC school, when the Hawks head to Kent State on September 17, 2016. The Golden Flashes were picked fifth in the MAC Coaches' Preseason poll and are currently looking for their first win of 2014. Kent State last won the MAC East Division in 2012, when they finished with an 11-3 record and a ranking of 25th in the final BCS polls. The season culminated with a trip to the GoDaddy.com Bowl, their first bowl appearance in 39 years. Since the 2009 season Kent State has an overall record of 30-38, with four players drafted by the NFL during that span.
"Playing an FBS opponent marks a giant step for Monmouth Football," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Marilyn McNeil. "From the time the program started in 1993, the University has remained true to their reasons to add and support football. The trustees and community believed football would bring great pride to the institution, enhance the spirit of the campus, bring exemplary men as athletes, students and alum to our campus, and promote this great institution outside the walls of the shadow lawn campus. Football has done all of that and this new scheduling opportunity makes these goals even more important and attainable. The university is committed to football and the student-athletes, best recognized by its continual support and growth of the program."
"Scheduling FBS teams is an indication of how Monmouth football has progressed and the direction that we are heading," said Callahan. "There is no doubt that this will have a positive impact in every area of our program and most importantly, in our recruiting."
Monmouth, currently 5-1 overall, has a bye week this week before traveling to play Presbyterian in its first Big South Conference matchup.
