Des Moines, IA (Sports Network) - Drake University's football program will play an 11-game schedule this year as it seeks a third straight Pioneer Football League title.
The PFL champion will earn an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs for the first time.
Drake will play six home games. The Bulldogs will host Grand View (Aug. 29) and Indianapolis (Sept. 21) in non-league action, and Jacksonville (Oct. 5, Homecoming), Valparaiso (Oct. 26), Morehead State (Nov. 2) and Dayton (Nov. 9) within the PFL schedule.
The highlights of Drake's road schedule are dates at Northern Iowa (Sept. 7), Butler (Oct. 19) and San Diego (Nov. 16), the latter two with whom the Bulldogs shared the PFL title in a three-way tie last season.
"We are very excited about our 2013 schedule," Drake coach Chris Creighton said. "Our night game with Grand View on the first Thursday night of the college football season has been well attended and has been competitive. We are also looking forward to our game at one of the nation's top FCS programs, Northern Iowa."
Drake had 8-3 overall and 7-1 PFL records last season.
2013 Drake Football Schedule
All Times ET
Aug. 29, Grand View, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7, at Northern Iowa, 5 p.m.
Sept. 21, Indianapolis, 2 p.m.
Sept. 28, at Mercer*, 1 p.m.
Oct. 5, Jacksonville* (Homecoming), 2 p.m.
Oct. 12, at Davidson*, 1 p.m.
Oct. 19, at Butler*, 2 p.m.
Oct. 26, Valparaiso*, 2 p.m.
Nov. 2, Morehead State*, 1 p.m.
Nov. 9, Dayton*, 2 p.m.
Nov. 16, at San Diego*, 4 p.m.
* - PFL game
