2021 AVE MARIA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University football program unveiled its 2021 schedule on Tuesday evening, an eleven-game slate that includes five home games, five games against teams currently in the top 40 in the nation, and a date against an NCAA Division I opponent.

"It's an exciting schedule," said Head Football Coach Joe Patterson.  "There's always an extra layer of focus once the opponent is known."

The 2021 season is scheduled to begin on Saturday, September 4, when the Gyrenes travel to Georgetown, Kentucky, to face off with Georgetown College, who is currently ranked as the No. 17 team in the nation. The NAIA non-conference slate also includes home games against Point University and No. 10 Reinhardt University, as well as a road trip to Kentucky Christian University, who is also currently receiving votes.

In week two of the season, Ave Maria will travel to DeLand, Florida, for a matchup against NCAA Division-I Stetson University. It will be Ave Maria's second-ever meeting with the Hatters at Spec Martin Stadium. It will also mark the fifth game for the Gyrenes against an NCAA Division-I opponent as the Gyrenes have also faced Jacksonville University, Mercer University, and Abilene Christian University. 

"The players are eager for the challenge and the opportunity," said Coach Patterson. "The Stetson matchup is a chance to measure ourselves against a really respected program."

Ave Maria's six-game conference slate in the Sun Division of the Mid-South Conference will begin on Saturday, October 9 at Victory Field in Lakeland, when the Gyrenes face off with Southeastern University, who is currently receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll. AMU will also travel to Miami Gardens and Lake Wales during the conference slate, playing both St. Thomas and Warner on the road. 

The conference home schedule starts on October 16, as the Webber International Warriors come to Gyrene Field. AMU will then host Florida Memorial University on October 30. Ave Maria will close out the regular season at home against the current No. 4 team in the nation, the Keiser University Seahawks, on November 13. Keiser will be making their first trip to Southwest Florida since the 2018 season, when the Gyrenes won 10-7 in the NAIA National Game of the Week.

Any special events associated with AMU home football games will be announced in the coming months. All Sun Division games will be available to watch on The Sun Digital Network, with the road games against Georgetown, Stetson, and Kentucky Christian streamed by the platform of the host school. Additional information about the 2021 Ave Maria football season will follow throughout the remainder of spring and summer.