RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University announced its eight-game 2019 Ohio Valley Conference football schedule on Wednesday.
The Colonels will play four OVC games at home and four on the road. EKU will face Tennessee State, Tennessee-Martin, Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech at home. Eastern will go on the road to play Murray State, Eastern Illinois, Southeast Missouri and Jacksonville State.
Eastern Kentucky ended the 2018 season with four straight wins and were in the conversation for a playoff spot. The Colonels were 7-4 overall and finished third in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 5-2 mark. Eastern will begin the 2019 season having won 10 of its last 16 games.
The 2019 conference schedule begins on Sept. 28 at home against Tennessee State. The two teams did not meet during the 2018 season.
Eastern will play a second straight OVC home game when Tennessee-Martin visits Roy Kidd Stadium on Oct. 5 for Homecoming. The Colonels have beaten the Skyhawks each of the past two seasons. Last year, EKU forced four turnovers and won 35-34 in Martin.
After an off week on Oct. 12, the first conference road game comes on Oct. 19 when EKU travels to face Murray State. When the two teams last met in Murray, the Colonels won 26-13 in 2017.
Eastern Kentucky will play at Eastern Illinois on Oct. 26. The Colonels rushed for 216 yards in a 31-23 win over the Panthers in Richmond in 2018.
Austin Peay will come to town on Nov. 2. EKU went to Clarksville this past season and scored a 17-13 win over the Governors. The Colonels allowed just 261 yards and shutout APSU in the second half.
The final three games of the 2019 season will include two road games against teams that made the FCS playoffs in 2018. The first comes at Southeast Missouri on Nov. 9. The Colonels intercepted four passes, and used a rushing attack that churned out 259 yards and held the ball for more than 37 minutes, in a 23-14 victory over the Redhawks in Richmond this past season.
Eastern Kentucky’s final home game of the 2019 regular season will be on Nov. 16 against Tennessee Tech. Quarterback Parker McKinney threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-6 victory over the Golden Eagles in Cookeville in 2018. McKinney is the first true freshman in program history to eclipse the 300-yard passing mark in a game.
The 2019 regular season concludes on Nov. 23 at Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks advanced to the second round of the playoffs this past season.
All game times will be announced at a later date.
Eastern Kentucky has won two national championships, 21 conference titles and has made 21 playoff appearances. No other FCS team has won at least two FCS national titles and 20 or more conference championships. EKU has had 66 All-America selections and 33 NFL draft picks.
