INDIANAPOLIS - Coming off of a successful spring football season with new head coach Ted Karras Jr., the Marian football team has released their 2023 schedule. The Knights are coming off of a season with a 9-2 record, reaching the NAIA FCS Quarterfinals.
The Knights will play 10 regular season games in 2023, featuring an even split of five home games and five road games.
"We are looking forward to a big 2023 season," said head coach Ted Karras Jr. "Our schedule is loaded with tough opponents and great rivalries. The west side will be rocking this fall with St. Xavier and St. Francis coming to town.
The MSFA always represents top notch competition year in and year out, and we are looking forward to the Marian Knight Nation coming out in full force!"
Game 1 | at Judson | Sept. 2 | 2:00 p.m.
The Knights will kick off their 2023 season at Judson University, meeting the Eagles for the first time in program history. Marian won last season's opener by a whopping 86-0 margin over Madonna University, setting a tone of four consecutive wins.
Game 2 | HOME vs St. Xavier | Sept. 9 | 6:05 p.m. | Football Alumni Day
The lone game under the lights in 2023 comes in the home opener, as Marian host long-standing rival St. Xavier in a rematch of last year's NAIA FCS First Round game. Marian won last season's contest 41-7 against the Cougars with
Zach Bundalo lighting up the field with four touchdown strikes to
Ben Stevens. This will be the first matchup between the two teams in the regular season since 2018, when Marian rolled to a 52-7 win in the season opener.
Game 3 | HOME vs Olivet Nazarene | Sept. 16 | 1:05 p.m.
The Knights will play their final MSFA Crossover game on September 16, taking on Olivet Nazarene. The Knights hold a 6-0 record all-time against the Tigers, having last met in 2018 at St. Vincent Field. Marian won the most recent matchup 24-6, which proved as the closest margin of victory in the one-sided series history.
Game 4 | HOME vs Lawrence Tech | Sept. 30 | 1:05 p.m. | Homecoming/Family Weekend
After a week four bye, Marian will play their third consecutive game at home as they host Lawrence Tech. Marian dominated last year's contest against Lawrence Tech to move to 3-0 in the all-time series, claiming a 45-14 victory in Michigan. This will be the third time Lawrence Tech has made the trip to Indianapolis in the series' history.
Game 5 | at Madonna | Oct. 7 | 1:00 p.m.
Marian goes back on the road after spending four weeks at home, traveling to Livonia to play the Madonna Crusaders. Marian has averaged 83 points per game in the short-lived series between the two schools, and hold a 3-0 all-time record against Madonna.
Game 6 | at Concordia | Oct. 14 | 1:00 p.m.
For the second consecutive year, Marian will travel to Ann Arbor, finishing a pair of road contests in Michigan as they take on Concordia. The Knights ended a two-game losing streak against the Cardinals last year in Ann Arbor with a 24-7 win, and will look to make it three-consecutive wins in the series in October.
Game 7 | HOME vs St. Francis (Ind.) | Oct. 21 | 1:05 p.m. | Franciscan Bowl
Marian's longest standing rival comes to Indianapolis on October 21, as the Knights host St. Francis in the Franciscan Bowl. Marian has won the last five matchups in the series against to set the longest winning streak in the series, and are 11-7 all-time against the Cougars. Last year, Marian won the mid-season contest in Fort Wayne by a comfortable 37-10 score.
Game 8 | at Taylor | Oct. 28 | 1:00 p.m.
Marian will head back on the road on October 28, traveling to Taylor to close the month. Marian won with ease last season in a 67-7 homecoming win, and hold a 15-1 overall record against the Trojans. Marian is 8-0 all-time on the road against Taylor.
Game 9 | at Indiana Wesleyan | Nov. 4 | 1:00 p.m.
Marian's final road game of the regular season will be an in-state matchup, as the Knights begin the month of November at Indiana Wesleyan. The blooming rivalry between the two schools sits with an even 2-2 all-time record, with the Wildcats winning each of the last two meetings against Marian.
Game 10 | HOME vs Siena Heights | Nov. 11 | 1:05 p.m. | Senior Day
The Knights polish off their regular season slate on November 11 hosting Siena Heights, taking on the Saints on senior day. In their history, Marian is undefeated against Siena Heights, holding a dominant 10-0 record. Marian won last year's contest 24-2 at St. Vincent Field, and will host Siena Heights in consecutive matchups for the first time since 2014-15.
The NAIA FCS Playoffs is scheduled to begin on November 18, and will conclude on December 18 in Durham, North Carolina. The NAIA playoff field in the 2023 season will see an expanded field, as the tournament grows to 20 teams. With the additional teams, the tournament format has changed, with teams ranked 13-20 playing in the First Round on November 18, with the Second Round featuring 16 final teams on November 25. The NAIA Quarterfinals will kick off on December 2, and the NAIA Semifinals on December 9. All games leading up to the NAIA Championship will be held at campus sites throughout the NAIA.
Tickets for all regular season games will be on sale in the summer months, and an announcement will be made on MUKnights.com.
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