GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Five home games and an early season clash against Clemson highlight Furman's 2022 football schedule, which the school released today.

The 11-game slate features five home contests and six away games, including eight Southern Conference matchups.

Furman kicks off its season at home on Sept. 1 when it plays host to North Greenville in a Thursday, 7:00 p.m. contest at Paladin Stadium.  The game will mark the first football meeting between Furman and North Greenville, which are separated by only 12 miles.

The Paladins face Clemson on Sept. 10 in the 58th renewal of one of the state's oldest football series (1896).  Furman and Clemson last battled in 2018.

Furman kicks off its SoCon slate on Sept. 17 when it travels to Johnson City, Tenn, to take on reigning SoCon champion East Tennessee State, now under the direction of former Paladin assistant coach George Quarles.

The Paladins continue their early season road stretch when they take on Charleston Southern on Sept. 24 in North Charleston. Furman knocked off the Buccaneers, 46-13, in Greenville in 2019 in the first game of the home and home series.

Seven consecutive Southern Conference games follow, beginning with a Oct. 1 home clash versus Samford that will highlight Family Weekend at Furman.  The Paladins have won the last two meetings with the Bulldogs, including a 41-34 triumph in last year's season finale.

Furman and The Citadel are scheduled to renew the SoCon's oldest active football rivalry on Oct. 8 in Charleston when they meet for the 102nd time.  The Paladins hold a commanding 61-37-3 lead in the series and are coming off a 24-14 win over the Bulldogs last fall.

Western Carolina will provide the opposition on Oct. 15 when Furman plays host to the Catamounts at Paladin Stadium, where the Paladins have won 12 of the last 13 clashes versus WCU.

An Oct. 22 road contest at VMI follows, after which Furman returns home to take on Chattanooga on Oct. 29 in a contest that will highlight Homecoming.

November features two key SoCon showdowns, starting with a Nov. 12 road battle at Mercer and concluding on Nov. 19 when Furman welcomes its oldest football foe, Wofford, to Paladin Stadium for the renewal of the Deep South's Oldest Football Rivalry, which began in 1889.  Furman, which leads the series 55-33-7, claimed a 42-20 verdict over the Terriers last year in Spartanburg.

The Furman Athletics Ticket Office will kick off renewals and season ticket sales beginning on Thursday, Feb. 10.  Season ticket owners will receive emailed instructions for renewing their season tickets online or over the phone.

Furman head coach Clay Hendrix also announced today that the Paladins plan to kick off spring practice on Wednesday, Feb. 16.  The squad's spring game is slated for Saturday, Mar. 26.