MACOMB, Ill. – Six games at Hanson Field and two contests at Big Ten Conference foes highlight the 2014 Western Illinois football schedule. Second year head coach Bob Nielson announced the 12-game schedule on Thursday (Jan. 23).

For the second year in a row the Fighting Leathernecks are able to play a 12-game schedule, four non-conference games along with the eight Missouri Valley Football Conference contests.

The Leathernecks alternate home and road games during their non-conference portion of the schedule. Western again opens the campaign at Hanson Field on Thursday night, August 28, versus Valparaiso. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Western won the only other meeting between the two programs in the 2010 season opener, 45-0.

The following Saturday (Sept. 6), Western travels to Wisconsin facing the Badgers for the third time in program history (first since a 34-10 loss in 2006).

Western plays host to Drake on Sept. 13 as part of the Family Day activities, owning victories in the first two games against the Bulldogs. Western will face Northwestern the following Saturday (Sept. 20) in the first-ever meeting between the two in-state programs.

MVFC play begins on September 27th at Southern Illinois. On Homecoming/Hall of Fame weekend, the Leathernecks play host to three-time defending national champion North Dakota State.

WIU travels to Youngstown State (Oct. 11) then returns home for consecutive home games against Illinois State (Oct. 18) and Northern Iowa (Oct. 25).

After a bye week, the Leathernecks travel to the state of South Dakota for consecutive games – Nov. 8 at USD and the 15th at South Dakota State. The regular season concludes at Hanson Field on November 22nd versus Indiana State. The opening round of the FCS playoffs begins on November 29.

“Our fans should be excited about our 2014 schedule. Our philosophy is to play a competitive non-league schedule to prepare us for our Missouri Valley Football Conference games,” said Nielson. “For the third time in the last five years we play a team from the Big Ten. In Wisconsin and Northwestern we play two of the best teams in the country, and our fans in the Chicago area will have the opportunity to watch us play the Wildcats for the first time ever. Our six home games, including the three-time defending national champion (North Dakota State) Bison, will provide our fans with the opportunity to watch great college football.”

Season ticket packages, and ticket information for the two Big Ten Conference games, will be announced in the near future.

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