Bucknell Football Announces 2023 Schedule
3/14/2023 10:57:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Head Bucknell football coach Dave Cecchini unveiled his team's 2023 schedule on Tuesday.
Bucknell opens its campaign with a trip to FBS team James Madison on Saturday, Sept. 2. It marks the second time under Cecchini the Bison have kicked off the season against an FBS foe after facing Temple in the 2019 opener, and it's the fourth FBS opponent the Bison have faced overall during Cecchini's tenure.
Bucknell is slated to host five games at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium at the Pascucci Family Athletics Complex this fall, with the home opener being against VMI on Sept. 9. The other home games include Penn, Holy Cross, Lehigh and Georgetown.
Cornell and Marist round out Bucknell's non-league opponents, as the team concludes its regular season against the Red Foxes for a second consecutive season.
"I couldn't be more excited about this year's schedule. Starting the season on the road against an FBS opponent in JMU will be an incredible experience for our team. Our home schedule features a lot of quality opponents as well, both in and out of conference. On the whole, it will be a great test to the tenacity and perseverance of our football team," Cecchini said.
Tickets will go on sale during Bucknell's 2023 Spring Game, which will be hosted at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Sunday, April 23. Also stay tuned for more information about Bucknell's exciting 2023 promotional calendar.
After taking on the Dukes, who put together an 8-3 season in their first year competing in the Sun Belt in 2022, Bucknell hosts VMI for Football Alumni Weekend. It will be the second season in a row Bucknell has faced the Keydets. The Bison then enjoy an early bye in the third week.
The game against Penn on Sept. 23 makes it 44 of the last 45 seasons in which the Bison have had at least one Ivy League program on the schedule. The Quakers are coming off their winningest season in more than a decade, and the matchup falls on Bucknell's Homecoming and Family Weekend.
Bucknell's Patriot League opener will be on the road against Lafayette on Sept. 30, and the Bison then host reigning champion Holy Cross on Oct. 7. After traveling to Cornell on Oct. 14 and reaching the back half of their schedule, the Bison will face three teams they defeated in 2022 over the final five weeks.
Bucknell hosts Lehigh on Oct. 21 before playing back-to-back road games at Colgate and Fordham on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.
The home finale on Nov. 11 features Georgetown, setting up a rematch of last year's overtime thriller, and Bucknell ends the regular season on the road for the first time since 2017 when it travels to Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
The Bison are entering their fifth season under Cecchini in 2023. He was named the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year during the 2021 spring campaign for leading the Bison to a spot in the Patriot League Championship game. The Bison have landed 14 players on the All-Patriot League Team over the past two seasons. Additionally, Bucknell has had nine Academic All-Patriot League honorees under Cecchini.
2023 Bucknell Football Schedule
Sept. 2 at James Madison
Sept. 9 vs. VMI (Football Alumni Weekend)
Sept. 23 vs. Penn (Homecoming & Family Weekend)
Sept. 30 at Lafayette*
Oct. 7 vs. Holy Cross*
Oct. 14 at Cornell
Oct. 21 vs. Lehigh*
Oct. 28 at Colgate*
Nov. 4 at Fordham*
Nov. 11 vs. Georgetown*
Nov. 18 at Marist
*Patriot League Game
