BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A conference title defense and a game at in-state foe Auburn highlights the Samford football team's 2023 schedule, announced by head coach Chris Hatcher on Friday.
 
The full schedule can be found here and season tickets can be renewed here. Season tickets will go on sale later this spring. 
 
Samford will open the year by hosting the Shorter Hawks on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Seibert Stadium. The lone meeting between the two squads came in 2018 when the Bulldogs dismantled the Hawks 66-3 in the season opener. 
 
After the season opener, The Bulldogs will hit the road for the first time in 2023 for the SoCon opener at Western Carolina on Sept. 9. Samford is 6-2 against WCU under Hatcher including five-straight wins dating back to 2018. 
 
Auburn and Samford will meet for the 30th time in program history on Sept. 16 at Auburn. The most recent meeting came in 2019.
 
Chattanooga comes to town on Sept. 23 for the annual Family Weekend Game followed by ETSU on Sept. 30 to close out the opening month of the season. 
 
The Bulldogs will open the month of October at Wofford on Oct. 7 before returning to host Furman on Oct. 14. The Paladins fell to Incarnate Word in the second round of the FCS Playoffs in 2022. 
 
A trip to VMI is slated for Samford on Oct. 21 with Homecoming 2023 falling on The Citadel game on Oct. 28 back at Seibert Stadium. 
 
After the bye week, the Bulldogs will close out their SoCon schedule on Nov. 11 at Mercer. The Bulldogs and the Bears played in a double overtime instant classic that saw Samford prevail 50-44 and take home the first outright SoCon title in program history.
 
The regular season finale will take place on Nov. 18 against the UT Martin Skyhawks. This will be the first time since 2019 that the season finale will be a non-conference game. Samford leads the all-time series with UT Martin 15-4-1.
 
Start times and broadcast information for all the games will be announced at a later date. 
 
2022 SAMFORD FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATE	OPPONENT
Aug. 31 (Thurs.)	Shorter
Sept. 9	at Western Carolina*
Sept. 16	at Auburn
Sept. 23	Chattanooga*
Sept. 30	ETSU*
Oct. 7	At Wofford*
Oct. 14	Furman*
Oct. 21	at VMI*
Oct. 28	The Citadel*
Nov. 11	at Mercer*
Nov. 18	UT Martin

*-Southern Conference Game
 
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