Villanova football schedule announced for 2015 season

As expected, the 2015 Villanova Wildcats football season will kick off on September 3rd in Hartford, Connecticut. The 'Cats are set to take on former Yankee Conference rival UConn. The Huskies moved on from the predecessor of today's CAA Football conference to join the Big East on the FBS gridiron in the early-2000s and this will be the Wildcats' first game against the program since their transition to the 'big time.'

The Huskies highlight an 11-game schedule for the 2015 title hopefuls. Their now-current American Athletic Conference program reached its peak with a trip to the BCS Fiesta Bowl as Big East Champions in the 2010 season, losing to the Oklahoma Sooners, but have not returned to the postseason since that year. Their Fiesta Bowl appearance capped a string of four consecutive seasons where they earned a bid to a bowl game. They suffered through a losing season last year, and will be hungry for a win to start the season when the Wildcats visit.

The Wildcats will stay on the road in week-two, continuing a series with Fordham's resurgent program in the Bronx on September 12th. Fordham has participated in the FCS playoffs the last two seasons, winning the Patriot League title easily last Fall.

In a strange flip-flop from their normal place-of-honor as the end-of-season game, the 'Cats will have their home opener against arch-rivals Delaware on September 19th. The game was moved to the earlier date because Villanova exercised its rights under the CAA's rules to request a home game on the 19th -- done to accommodate a potential visit by the Pontiff to the Philadelphia area -- and Delaware was the only CAA team available to travel. September 19th will serve as Parents Weekend. The series will return to its usual November timeframe in 2016.

Villanova will finish its non-conference slate on September 26th, when they host Penn at Villanova Stadium. It will be the first time that Andy Talley's program will face the Quakers without coach Al Bagnoli on the opposing sideline.

Other home opponents will include William & Mary (Oct. 10), Maine (Oct. 31) and Richmond (Nov. 14). They will take a bye the week of October 3rd. The Wildcats will not face last season's CAA newcomers Elon.

The full 2015 Villanova Football Schedule follows. Times will be announced later this Spring, when the CAA Television schedule is finalized.

2015 Villanova Football Schedule