UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University football team released the 2024 schedule today, the 49th season in the program's history.
The Cardinals will have four home dates in the 11-game slate, with the first home contest coming in week three against Truman for the annual Red Feather Game. That Saturday will also be Hall of Fame Weekend and Band Day for SVSU.
The season begins with a Thursday game as the Cardinals travel to Winona State on September 5, 2024. Saginaw Valley State and the Trojans kicked off 2023 inside Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium in week one where SVSU began the most recent campaign 1-0 after a 34-24 win.
The 49th Axe Bowl against Northwood falls in week two on Saturday, September 14 in Midland, Michigan. The Cardinals have won four straight Axe Bowl games including the 31-8 win in 2023.
Week three will feature the home opener for SVSU and the Red Feather Game against Truman on Saturday, September 21. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., EST inside Wickes Memorial Stadium.
Three playoff teams highlight the 2024 schedule; the first of which is at Indianapolis in week four that begins a three-game road trip for the Cardinals. SVSU will look to avenge 2023's loss to the Greyhounds on Saturday, September 28.
Northern Michigan begins conference play in week five on Saturday, October 5, and is the second game in the mid-season road grind for the Cardinals.
GLIAC newcomer Roosevelt will host SVSU in week six on Saturday, October 12. The Lakers will join the NCAA Division II beginning in July 2024 from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) where they were a member of the NAIA power Mid-States Football Association's (MSFA) Midwest League.
The Battle of the Valleys happens in week seven and will serve as the 2024 SVSU Homecoming Game on Saturday, October 19. The Grand Valley State Lakers are the defending GLIAC Champions and are the second 2023 playoff opponent on the 2024 docket for the Cardinals. The game against the Lakers will kick off at 3:00 p.m., EST.
The Cardinals make the short trip down to Detroit to play Wayne State in a conference clash on Saturday, October 26 for week eight. The Warriors pushed SVSU to overtime in 2023's Homecoming game, but the Cardinals held on for the win and will look to make it five-in-a-row against WSU.
Davenport comes to campus on Saturday, November 2, for a 1:00 p.m., EST, kickoff. The past two games have been decided by a total of four points, with the Panthers winning both and tying the all-time series at three wins apiece.
The final road game of the season is in Big Rapids for a week 10 matchup with Ferris State on November 9. The Bulldogs are the final 2023 postseason team on the schedule for the Cardinals.
The regular season concludes on Saturday, November 16 with Michigan Tech. The game against the Huskies will be Senior Day and kickoff at 1:00 p.m., EST.
Saginaw Valley State University football finished 2023 with a 6-5 overall record and a 3-3 GLIAC mark. The Cardinals will look to extend their streak to four straight winning seasons in 2024.