RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team will play 11 games in 2009, highlighted by road contests against Kentucky and Indiana. Eastern’s home schedule features five games, including four against Ohio Valley Conference rivals.

The Colonels play three of their first four games on the road next fall. Eastern Kentucky will face its first ever Big Ten opponent in the Sept. 5 season opener at Indiana. EKU’s other two non-conference games occur late in the season at Kentucky (Nov. 7) and at home against Western Carolina (Nov. 14). This marks the second time in three years that the Colonels will take on in-state rival UK.

Eastern’s first home game is on Sept. 19 against OVC foe Tennessee Tech. Homecoming is slated for Oct. 17 against UT Martin. The Colonels have never lost to the Skyhawks (18-0) and handed UTM its only conference loss in 2006.

Eastern Kentucky concludes the regular season at Jacksonville State on Nov. 21. The Colonels pulled off an exciting 38-35 upset over the 18th-ranked Gamecocks earlier this season in Roy Kidd Stadium.

Eastern Kentucky is in search of the program’s 20th conference title this fall. The Colonels advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs for a record 18th time and posted a winning record for the 30th consecutive year in 2007.

2009 Eastern Kentucky University Football Schedule
Sept. 5 – at Indiana – Bloomington, Ind.
Sept. 12 – OPEN
Sept. 19 – Tennessee Tech* – Roy Kidd Stadium (Family Weekend)
Sept. 26 – at Murray State* – Murray, Ky.
Oct. 3 – at Eastern Illinois* – Charleston, Ill.
Oct. 10 – Tennessee State* – Roy Kidd Stadium
Oct. 17 – UT Martin* – Roy Kidd Stadium (Homecoming)
Oct. 24 – at Austin Peay* – Clarksville, Tenn.
Oct. 31 – Southeast Missouri* – Roy Kidd Stadium
Nov. 7 – at Kentucky – Lexington, Ky.
Nov. 14 – Western Carolina – Roy Kidd Stadium
Nov. 21 – at Jacksonville State* – Jacksonville, Ala.
Boldface denotes home game ~ Asterisk (*) denotes OVC game