GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Five home games, including a season opening Southern Conference clash, and a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) clash with Tennessee highlight Furman's 11-game, 2020 football schedule, which was released today by director of athletics Jason Donnelly.

Under the direction of Clay Hendrix, who enters his fourth season as head coach of the Paladins' program this fall, Furman kicks off its 2020 campaign at home on Sept. 5 against Wofford in the 95th renewal of the Deep South's oldest football rivalry. 

The Paladins follow their matchup versus Wofford with road games against Charleston Southern (Sept. 12) and Tennessee (Sept. 19).   The Charleston Southern contest completes a two-game series with the Buccaneers that began with last season's 46-13 Furman victory in Greenville, and the clash with Tennessee will mark the first meeting between the two programs since 1942 and the Paladins' first Southeastern Conference foe since 2014 (South Carolina).

Western Carolina is slated to pay a visit to Paladin Stadium on Sept. 26 for a contest that will highlight Family Weekend.  The Paladins have won four straight and 11 of the last 14 meetings with the Catamounts.

Furman plays three road games in October beginning with VMI (Oct. 3).  Following a home meeting versus Samford (Oct. 10),  the Paladins will take on Mercer (Oct. 17) in Macon, Ga., and arch-rival The Citadel (Oct. 24) in Charleston.  

The Paladins recorded a 60-21 win over VMI and ran over Mercer, 45-10, in 2019.  The clash with The Citadel will mark the 100th renewal of the SoCon's oldest active rivalry.

Following an idle weekend (Oct.31), Furman welcomes Presbyterian (Nov. 7) to Paladin Stadium for Homecoming and a week later takes on Chattanooga (Nov. 14) in the final home game of the regular season.  Furman has won the last three clashes with UTC, including a 35-20 triumph this past fall.

The Paladins conclude the regular season in Johnson City, Tenn., against East Tennessee State (Nov. 21).