The Valparaiso football team is slated to play home games against Campbell, Morehead State, San Diego and Dayton and road contests against Marist, Mercer, Drake and Butler during the 2013 Pioneer Football League slate, as the PFL released the composite league schedule earlier this week.

For the first time, the PFL will play a 12-team format, with first-year programs Mercer and Stetson joining the league.  The PFL will retain its single-division format to determine the league champion.  Each league member will play eight games within the conference schedule.

The Crusaders will not play games against Jacksonville, Davidson and Stetson.

The 21st season of PFL play begins when Morehead State visits Jacksonville, Sept. 14.  The rest of the league, including Valpo, begins conference play on Sept. 28, when the Crusaders play Campbell at Brown Field during Homecoming weekend.

The 2013 PFL race leads up to the league’s first automatic qualification into the NCAA FCS Championship, which begins Nov. 30.

The league schedule is tentative and subject to change. The PFL will release a final composite schedule in late July after each school’s complete schedule have been finalized.  Valpo’s non-league schedule has not yet been announced. 

Valparaiso 2013 Pioneer Football League Schedule (Subject to change)

Sept. 28: Campbell [homecoming]

Oct. 5: at Marist

Oct. 12: at Mercer

Oct. 19: Morehead State [family weekend]

Oct. 26: at Drake

Nov. 2: San Diego

Nov. 9: at Butler

Nov. 16: Dayton [senior day]