Early games against West Virginia, Coastal Carolina highlight Duquesne's 2023 football schedule

Duquesne announced its 11-game 2023 football slate this week and, as has been the case in the immediate past, early-season matchups with Football Bowl Subdivision opponents loom.

The Dukes will travel to Morgantown for a showdown with West Virginia on Sept. 9, followed by another away game at Coastal Carolina on Sept. 16.

Duquesne’s game against the Mountaineers will mark the first meeting between the two programs since 1935. Between 1914-35, they played each other eight times.

Duquesne has never faced the Chanticleers of the Sun Belt Conference. Duquesne and Coastal Carolina were set to meet in Conway, S.C., in 2020, but the covid-19 pandemic caused a cancellation of that game.

The Dukes’ bye week will come after their game against the Chanticleers.

Last season, Duquesne opened its season at Florida State and, in Week 4, played a game in Honolulu against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors that kicked off at midnight.

In 2021, the Dukes played a game at TCU, and, in 2020, they were slated to visit Air Force.

Edinboro will visit Rooney Field in Pittsburgh on Sept. 2 for what will be Duquesne’s season-opener.

After beginning Northeast Conference (NEC) play Sept. 30 at Long Island, the Dukes will complete the nonconference portion of their schedule the following week on Oct. 7 against Delaware.

From there, the Dukes play three straight games at home against Central Connecticut (Oct. 14), Saint Francis (Oct. 21) and Sacred Heart (Oct. 28).

Duquesne plays at Wagner on Nov. 4, hosts Stonehill on Nov. 11 and concludes its 2023 regular season Nov. 18 against Merrimack.

Jerry Schmitt is set to return for his 19th season at the helm. The Dukes are coming off a 4-7 campaign, which featured the team’s lowest win total since 2003, excluding the covid-condensed spring schedule in 2020.