DILLON -- University of Montana Western football coach Ryan Nourse and the Bulldogs unveiled the updated 2020 football schedule this week, following virtual meetings by Frontier Conference coaches, athletic directors and chancellors.
Western will join the rest of the league in playing an eight-game conference schedule, beginning and ending the season with the same opponent. The Bulldogs host Rocky Mountain College in the season opener on Sept. 12 and finish the league slate at the Battlin' Bears on Nov. 7.
Each team will receive a bye at the halfway point of the season, Western's coming after hosting Rocky, traveling to Carroll, welcoming Eastern Oregon and finishing the first half at Southern Oregon. Following the bye, the Bulldogs host the defending league champion College of Idaho Yotes on Oct. 17. Montana State-Northern visits Dillon on Oct. 24.
Western will spend the last two weeks on the road, traveling north on I-15 to face rival Montana Tech on Halloween before the contest in the Magic City against Rocky on Nov. 7.
Nov. 14 will be an open week for teams that qualify for the NAIA postseason, which begins on Nov. 21 and runs for three consecutive weeks. The national championship game will kick off Dec. 19 at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium in Grambling, La. It will be the 65th annual NAIA football championship.
The dates for Western's homecoming and Bulldog Bash contests are to be determined.
Montana Western 2020 football schedule
Sept. 12: vs. Rocky Mountain College
Sept. 19: at Carroll College
Sept. 26: vs. Eastern Oregon
Oct. 3: at Southern Oregon
Oct. 10: Open
Oct. 17: vs. College of Idaho
Oct. 24: vs. MSU-Northern
Oct. 31: at Montana Tech
Nov. 7: at Rocky Mountain College
Nov. 14: Open
Nov. 21: NAIA playoffs
Nov. 28: NAIA playoffs
Dec. 5: NAIA playoffs
Dec. 19: NAIA national championship
