For the first time in program history, there are no Division II, Division III, or NAIA opponents on the schedule. 2023 is comprised of 1 FBS Group of 5 team and 10 FCS Schools with 2 out of the Big Sky Conference, 1 out of the American Sun, and the rest out of the Southland. Let’s take a look at The Lion Wire ranks them from least difficult to most difficult.

11. VS. Nicholls-Last year, as bad as our offense was, we still almost escaped Thibodeaux with a win. With this game being Homecoming and if the season is at least going decently, I think we blow these guys back to the other side of the Sabine River. Again, much hinges on the offense, and by the time the Colonels roll into the Blackland Prairie, we should know how the offense is humming and I expect our defense to be at the top of their game and for us to have a happy homecoming.

10. @ Lamar-Lamar football is having some trouble that is not just on the field. They are having internal issues that are even wondering how much longer they will have a problem. Not exactly the message you want to send your fan base. Lamar hopefully does turn it around, but right now, there program is in the doldrums and nothing has happened player or personnel wise that would lead me to believe they are in a position to be a tough game, but anything can happen.

9. VS. McNeese-We blew these guys out by 4 touchdowns last year on the road and absolutely broke their backs and embarrassed them while we were a road team and their Homecoming, in year one. McNeese has not really picked up much from last year and I expect a team about as good as last year. Its the same story, if our offense is humming, I don’t see why another 2-3 score win is outside the realm of possibility.

8. @ Houston Christian-Based on multiple things that have happened, including poaching a Quarterback from our roster from last year, The Huskies have also made a change in leadership as Vic Shealey retired and was replaced by former Howard Payne Head Coach Braxton Harris. HCU is young, but they are steadily making improvements to their program. Last year’s 31-3 win over the Huskies was largely on the back on our defense (like so many). This will be a tougher out than last year.

7. VS. Southeastern Louisiana-They are only this low on the list despite being so highly ranked in the preseason, we did beat them last year and we get them at The Hawk this year. Our defense played very well against them and if our offense improves from last year, I don’t see why this won’t be a win. I also have a feeling that SELA does not take what happened last year seriously and will underestimate us. Do so at your peril, SELA.

6. @ Stephen F. Austin-It will be odd to face a former Head Coach, especially someone that resurrected the football program and took us to heights not seen since the 1990’s, but all of the Carthel recruits have graduated and SFA has gotten better every single year that Colby Carthel has been there, winning a share of the conference title last year and going to the playoffs in FCS the year before that, however I believe we have an ace in the hole. I believe our defense will strangle the Lumberjack Offense, and that is the key matchup. However, do not count out Colby Carthel. Ever. I know I won’t and Clint Dolezel won’t.

5. @ Northwestern State-The Demons blew us out last year and that was when we were at home and they did the one thing that few teams do, they made out defense look horrible. We have to travel to face this same team on the road as the last game of the year. This could be a huge game depending on how the rest of the season has gone so far and this team is tougher than most think, and deceptively so.

4. VS. California-David-Well, ’cause it ain’t intramurals brotha. (Google Dan Hawkins Intramurals for reference). As of now, UC Davis is ranked 16th in the FCS polls and we welcome them to Texas in just two weeks. Dan Hawkins is a proven winner and he has a solid squad out in California. This will be a tough game, but hopefully the Hawk will be rockin’ and Dolezel and crew will have this group ready, and we better be on all 3 sides of the ball, and coaching attitude.

3. @ Old Dominion-In our first ever tilt against a Group of 5 FBS program, The Lions head to the east coast to play what ODU would probably call a “money game” and while I believe we can win this game with what we have, it will still be a tall task. Going on the road against an FBS school is going to a tough task in itself. They have 85 scholarships and get home field advantage. That said, they were a very low scoring team last year and they allowed a lot of points. Maybe just enough to get a win.

2. @ Incarnate Word-The defending conference co-champions and national semifinalists lost a lot to graduation, but they are still going to be tough, and this one is on the road. They are good and they know it. Add to that the guy playing Quarterback is a guy who started for Texas A&M and defeated Alabama back in 2021. We have our work cut out for us, however we showed that for at least for a half we could hang with these guys. We’ve got a better chance than last year.

1. @ Sacramento State-On the road to the West Coast against a perennial Big Sky Conference contender that almost won it all. The defending Big Sky conference champs are the real deal. This will be a measuring stick game as to how far we have come as a program from last year, it is an early test, and what a test it will be.