The Sun Belt Conference announced its 2016 composite football schedule Thursday, and three nationally-televised midweek contests, as well as three October home games, highlight Arkansas State’s league slate for the upcoming season.
A-State, the defending Sun Belt champions, will play eight consecutive conference games to close out the regular season for the third consecutive year and fifth time over the last six seasons. The Red Wolves won the 2015 Sun Belt title with an unblemished 8-0 record, giving it the league title for the fourth time over the last five seasons with a 33-6 conference record over that span.
Arkansas State will open its 2016 campaign Sept. 3 with a home game against Toledo, followed by back-to-back road outings at Auburn and Utah State before completing non-conference play Sept. 24 at Centennial Bank Stadium against Central Arkansas.
The first of two open weeks on A-State’s schedule will precede its Sun Belt opener, set for Wednesday, Oct. 5, at home against Georgia Southern. The contest will be nationally-televised on ESPN2 and mark the first ever meeting between the Red Wolves and Eagles as Sun Belt Conference opponents. A-State and Georgia Southern have played only once before with the Eagles claiming a 48-21 victory in the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA championship game.
The only FBS program in the nation to win four league championships over the last five seasons, Arkansas State will enter the 2016 season with a nine-game conference winning streak that is tied for the third longest in the nation.
Arkansas State will play its 2016 Homecoming game Saturday, Oct. 15, when it hosts South Alabama in its second league game, which is also the third of four consecutive home outings for the Red Wolves. A-State’s second open week will follow the USA game, and the squad will then close out the month at Centennial Bank Stadium against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Four of A-State’s final five Sun Belt games will be played on the road, starting with an ESPNU-televised game at Georgia State on Thursday, Nov. 3, or Friday, Nov. 4. The exact date for the contest will be determined following the release of the NFL schedule. The Red Wolves will hold their Senior Day activities on Saturday, Nov. 12, when they play their home finale against New Mexico State.
Arkansas State will play its final midweek game Thursday, Nov. 17, at Troy in another ESPNU-televised contest. The outing will mark the first meeting between the Red Wolves and Trojans since the 2013 season. A-State will remain on the road for its final two regular-season games, facing Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, Nov. 26, and Texas State on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Season tickets for the Red Wolves’ 2016 football campaign, which includes six home games, are now available for purchase. The renewal period for current season ticket holders is also underway with a deadline of April 1. Arkansas State has strung together 11 consecutive years with a winning home record dating back to 2005 and has won 26 of its last 30 games at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Tickets may be purchased or renewed through the A-State Ticket Office, located at the Convocation Center’s lower red entrance, in person, by phone at 870-972-2781 or online by clicking the “Tickets” link located at the top of the AStateRedWolves.com home page.
2016 ARKANSAS STATE HOME GAME THEMES: Paint the Town Red (Toledo), Agriculture Day/Public Service Day (Central Arkansas), Homecoming (South Alabama), Howl-O-Ween (Louisiana-Monroe), Senior Day (New Mexico State). Additional information about game promotions and special opportunities will be released in the coming months.
2016 ARKANSAS STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
SAT., SEPT. 3 vs TOLEDO (Paint the Town Red)
Sat., Sept. 10 at Auburn
Sat., Sept. 17 at Utah State
SAT., SEPT. 24 vs. CENTRAL ARKANSAS (Agriculture Day/Public Service Day)
WED., OCT. 5 vs GEORGIA SOUTHERN* (ESPN2)
SAT., OCT. 15 vs SOUTH ALABAMA* (Homecoming)
SAT., OCT. 29 vs LOUISIANA-MONROE* (Howl-O-Ween)
Thu., Nov. 3, or Fri., Nov. 4^ at Georgia State* (ESPNU)
SAT., NOV. 12 vs NEW MEXICO STATE* (Senior Day)
Thu., Nov. 17 at Troy* (ESPNU)
Sat., Nov. 26 at Louisiana-Lafayette*
Sat., Dec. 3 at Texas State*
*Sun Belt Conference game | ^exact date will be determined following the release of the NFL schedule