DES MOINES, Iowa – Head coach Rick Fox unveiled the Drake University football team's 2017 schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 7, which features six games at Drake Stadium and two games against Missouri Valley Football Conference foes.
 
"We are really excited about opening the season with two night games here at Drake Stadium. It will be a great way to start the season for our team and our fans. We are especially excited to have a MVC opponent, South Dakota, come to Drake as it is the first time since 2007 when UNI came to town," said Fox.
 
The Bulldogs open the 2017 campaign with back-to-back home games as they host South Dakota on Sept. 2 and NAIA Southwestern (Kan.) on Sept. 9 at Drake Stadium.
 
Drake closes out its non-conference schedule with a trip South Dakota State on Sept. 16 for the second year in a row and in the second meeting of a three-game series. The two squads met last year in the inaugural game played at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. The Jackrabbits will return the favor in 2019 at Drake Stadium.
 
The Bulldogs begin Pioneer Football League action by hosting Valparaiso on Sept. 23 and then will close out September with a trip to Indianapolis, Ind., to square off against Butler on Sept. 30.
 
Drake returns to Drake Stadium on Oct. 7 to host rival Dayton.
 
After a week off, the Bulldogs travel to Marist on Oct. 21., and then welcome Davidson on Oct. 28 for the first meeting with the Wildcats since 2014.
 
The Bulldogs begin the final month of season with a trip to defending PFL champions San Diego on Nov. 4.
 
The team wraps up its road portion of the schedule on Nov. 11 at Campbell, before closing out the regular season by hosting Jacksonville on Nov. 18.
 
 2017 Drake Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time
Sept. 2	South Dakota	6 p.m.
Sept. 9	Southwestern College (Kan.)	6 p.m.
Sept. 16	at South Dakota State	TBA
Sept. 23	Valparaiso	1 p.m.
Sept. 30	at Butler	12 p.m.
Oct. 7	Dayton	1 p.m.
Oct. 21	at Marist	12 p.m.
Oct. 28	Davidson	1 p.m.
Nov. 4	at San Diego	TBA
Nov. 11	at Campbell	TBA
Nov. 18	Jacksonville	1 p.m.