Southeast Missouri State football releases 11-game slate for 2016

The Southeast Missouri State football team released its 2016 schedule on Wednesday.

The Redhawks' 11-game slate features five games at Houck Stadium.

Southeast has eight Ohio Valley Conference contests, including its conference opener at Murray State on Sept. 24, and begins the season Sept. 3 at Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Memphis.

"I am really looking forward to my third season as head coach," Southeast coach Tom Matukewicz said in a press release. "Opening at nationally-ranked Memphis is a great way to start the year and only a 2 1/2 hour trip for Redhawk nation. It's a big recruiting area for us and we have several players that get to play in their home city. I love that we open OVC play against one of our rivals, Murray State. The OVC will again be very challenging this year and we look forward to the opportunity."

The Redhawks travel to regional rival Southern Illinois on Sept. 10 and hosts Indiana State in its home opener for Family Weekend on Sept. 17.

Southeast kicks off conference action the following week before hosting Eastern Illinois on Oct. 1.

The Redhawks and Matukewicz then face the three league teams with new head coaches for their next three games.

They travel to Richmond, Kentucky, to face Eastern Kentucky, which is under the direction of Mark Elder, on Oct. 8 before having a bye the next week.

Southeast faces Tennessee Tech, which has first-year coach Marcus Satterfield, on the road on Oct. 22 before hosting coach Will Healy and Austin Peay on Oct. 29.

The Redhawks host defending OVC champion and Football Championship Subdivision runner-up Jacksonville State for Southeast's Homecoming on Nov. 5.

Southeast, which went 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the OVC, is at UT Martin on Nov. 12 before closing out the regular season at home vs. Tennessee State.