CHESTER, Pa. – The Widener University football team has released its schedule for the upcoming 2022 season — its 143rd season in program history. The Pride, under the direction of head coach Mike Barainyak, will play a 10-game schedule that features five home games at Elizabeth J. Hirschmann Field at Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Stadium and a trip to Virginia for the first time since 2001.
 
The Pride will challenge itself early on as tough, non-conference opponents Rowan and Hampden-Sydney start the slate. The Pride will host Rowan on Sept. 3, then will head to Hampden-Sydney, Virginia to take on Hampden-Sydney on Sept. 10. The Pride last played in Virginia in 2001 when they faced Bridgewater in the NCAA Tournament. 
 
An eight-game Middle Atlantic Conference schedule awaits Widener, starting with the MAC opener at Wilkes on Sept. 17 before hosting its first conference game on Sept. 24 versus Stevenson.
 
After a bye following the Stevenson game, Widener opens October with a road trip on Oct. 8 against FDU-Florham. Then, the Pride will return to Chester for its Homecoming game against Alvernia on Oct. 15. The Blue and Gold hosts Albright on Oct. 22 before hitting the road again to take on Lebanon Valley on Oct. 29 to close out the month.
 
November brings about two of the most storied rivalries in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Widener goes on the road to take on Lycoming on Nov. 5. Combined, the two teams own 34 MAC championships. In the regular season finale, Widener hosts perennial national power Delaware Valley for the Keystone Cup on Nov. 12.
 
The winner of the MAC will advance to the NCAA Tournament, which will get underway on Nov. 19 with second-round games on Nov. 26. The quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 3 and the semifinals are slated for Dec. 10. All games through the semifinals are to be held at campus sites.
 
Culminating the season, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 16-17 at Navy Marines Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

The top three teams in the MAC not heading to the NCAA Tournament will qualify for the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series. 
 
Widener is coming off a 7-4 campaign in which it earned a berth in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series for the second time in program history.