As we near the end of August, all of America can rejoice that college football is back. The Warhawks look to build upon their 2017 campaign that ended in a 4-8 record and a three-way tie for 5th place in the Sun Belt Conference.

In the new Western division, Matt Viator, going into his third year as head coach, will be sure to use the Warhawks explosive offensive talent that was so effective last season. 

Caleb Evans returns to lead the offense at quarterback after putting up extraordinary numbers last season and being named to the Maxwell Award watch list, Manning Award watch list, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose watch list and to the preseason All-Sun Belt 2nd Team offense. 

Evans is joined by wide receiver Marcus Green (Biletnikoff Award watch list, Paul Hornung Award watch list, All-Sun Belt 1st Team offense and 1st Team special teams), tight end Josh Pederson (John Mackey Award watch list) and wide receiver RJ Turner (All-Sun Belt 2nd Team offense).

The Warhawks will kick things off at home on Aug. 30 against Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions, who ended last season with a record of 6-5, are going into this season with a new coaching staff. 

After this contest, ULM will spend the next two games on the road against a Southern Miss. team that lost to Florida State in the Independence Bowl last season, followed by a trip to Texas A&M to face the Aggies in Jimbo Fisher’s first year as the new head coach.

The Warhawks return to Malone Stadium on Sept. 22 to face defending Co-Sun Belt Champions Troy as they look to find the answer for their destructive defense.

A  three game road streak looms for the Warhawks as they take on Georgia State, Ole Miss, and Coastal Carolina. Coastal Carolina will see the return of head coach Joe Moglia after taking a year off for medical issues.

Malone Stadium will be filled again on Oct. 20 when the Warhawks return to battle Texas State and then Georgia Southern on Nov. 3.

As November rolls along, the Warhawks will again take to the road and face South Alabama, followed by Arkansas State, led by their star quarterback, Justice Hansen, who joins Evans on the Maxwell Award watchlist.

Closing out the season, the Warhawks will fight for in-state supremacy against the Ragin’ Cajuns in Malone on Nov. 24.