Redhawks travel to Columbia Sept. 6

The opponents had been revealed previously, but now the dates have been finalized for Southeast Missouri State's 2008 football schedule.

Southeast's 12-game schedule will feature six home contests.

Highlighting the slate, at least from a national perspective, is a Sept. 6 game at the University of Missouri.

The Tigers are coming off a season that saw them capture the Big 12 Conference's north division title, post a school-record 12 wins, rout Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl and finish ranked fourth nationally.

Missouri will be led by quarterback Chase Daniel, who finished fourth in last year's Heisman Trophy voting and figures to be among the leading candidates for that award this season.

In exchange for what is expected to be a lopsided loss to the Tigers — who figure to be ranked in the preseason top five for the 2008 campaign — the Southeast athletic department will receive $250,000.

Southeast's other three nonconference opponents will be teams the Redhawks faced last season.

Division II Southwest Baptist opens the season at Houck Stadium on Aug. 28. The Redhawks beat the Bearcats 38-17 at Houck Stadium a year ago.

The Redhawks' other two nonleague games will be against fellow Division I-AA teams — at home against Missouri State on Sept. 20 and at Indiana State on Sept. 27.

Southeast defeated Indiana State 13-10 at Houck Stadium last season, while losing at Missouri State 55-17.

The Redhawks will have an eight-game Ohio Valley Conference schedule, beginning Sept. 13 against Tennessee Tech at home.

Other conference home dates for Southeast are Oct. 25 (Tennessee State), Nov. 1 (Eastern Kentucky) and Nov. 15 (Tennessee-Martin).

Southeast's OVC road games are Oct. 4 (Jacksonville State), Oct. 18 (Eastern Illinois), Nov. 8 (Murray State) and Nov. 22 (Austin Peay).