ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine football team has announced its 2019 game schedule. The Black Bears will open the 2019 campaign on Friday, Aug. 30 when they host Sacred Heart at Alfond Stadium.

The 12-game schedule will feature a full slate of eight Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) match-ups and five games at Alfond Stadium to go along with a pair of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) challenges and two non-conference Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) contests.

For the second-straight year, Maine will begin its season at Alfond Stadium. The Black Bears open the 2019 campaign with their first-ever meeting with Sacred Heart of the Northeast Conference. The contest will take place on Friday, Aug. 30.

Maine plays the first of its two FBS opponents on Saturday, Sept. 7 when it travels to take on Georgia Southern. The two teams, which previously met three times when Georgia Southern was a member of the FCS, last went head-to-head the Final Eight round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

CAA play opens for the Black Bears when they welcome Towson to Orono on Saturday, Sept. 14 in what will mark the 15th meeting between the two teams.

Maine steps back out of CAA action on Saturday, Sept. 21 to travel to Colgate. Maine is 1-2 all-time against the Raiders with the last meeting coming in 2001, a 34-10 victory for the Black Bears.

CAA play ramps back up on Saturday, Sept. 28 when Maine looks to make it two-straight wins against Villanova. The trip to Villanova will mark the 22nd meeting in the all-time series between the two. Following the bye week, Maine returns home to take on Richmond for the 28th time in history.

Maine wraps up its FBS portion of the schedule on Saturday, Oct. 19 with its second trip to Liberty. The Flames, currently an FBS Independent, is in the process of reclassifying and will officially join the FBS ranks in 2019. Previously, the Flames were a member of the Big South Conference in the FCS ranks. Maine and Liberty have met just one previous time, a 42-20 victory by the Black Bears in Orono during the 1992 season.

The Black Bears return to conference play for five CAA contests to close out the regular season, beginning with a home game on Saturday, Oct. 26 against William & Mary. Maine will be looking for its sixth win in its last seven outings against the Tribe in what will be the 16th overall meeting between the two squads.

Two league road games will follow, beginning with a trip to UAlbany on Saturday, Nov. 2. Maine, fresh off its 28-9 victory over the Great Danes this season, is 7-5 all-time against UAlbany and will be going for its fourth win in a row in the all-time series. The Black Bears remain on the road on Saturday, Nov. 9 for their fourth meeting with Elon.

Maine closes out the season with match-ups against its two longest foes, beginning with a Nov. 16 contest with Rhode Island at Alfond Stadium. The Black Bears have won an impressive 12 in a row against the Rams and will look to make it 13 in what will mark the 98th meeting between the two.

The 'Battle for the Musket' wraps up the regular season as the Black Bears will travel to take on New Hampshire on Saturday, Nov. 23. Maine will look to keep control of the coveted Brice-Cowell Musket after defeating the Wildcats 35-7 earlier in the 2018 season. New Hampshire is Maine's longest tenured opponent as the 2019 match-up will be the 108th meeting between the two border rivals.

Game times for all 2019 UMaine football contests will be determined at a later date.

Season Membership renewals and on-sale dates will be announced soon. For ticket information, please call 207.581.BEAR and stay tuned to GoBlackBears.com.
 

2019 UMaine Football Schedule

DATE	OPPONENT
Friday, Aug. 30	Sacred Heart
Saturday, Sept. 7	at Georgia Southern
Saturday, Sept. 14	Towson*
Saturday, Sept. 21	at Colgate
Saturday, Sept. 28	at Villanova*
Saturday, Oct. 12	Richmond*
Saturday, Oct. 19	at Liberty
Saturday, Oct. 26	William & Mary*
Saturday, Nov. 2	at UAlbany*
Saturday, Nov. 9	at Elon*
Saturday, Nov. 16	Rhode Island*
Saturday, Nov. 23	at New Hampshire*