University of Northern Colorado Athletics
@UNCBearsFB Announces 2018 Schedule
1/18/2018 11:01:00 AM | Football
Northern Colorado football announced its 2018 schedule on Thursday
GREELEY, Colo. – The 2018 Northern Colorado football schedule will bring about plenty of challenges and exciting games to the field next fall. UNC looks to bounce back from a disappointing 3-7 year and earn the program's first trip to the FCS Playoffs.
The schedule features six home games, three FCS playoff teams, five opponents from last season and the renewal of an old NCC rivalry. Not on the schedule for 2018 are any non-FCS teams, for the first time since 2006.
Northern Colorado opens the 2018 campaign when McNeese State comes to Nottingham Field on September 1. It is the first-ever meeting between UNC and McNeese State. The Cowboys just missed out on a berth in the FCS playoffs, going 9-2 in 2017.
UNC and South Dakota renew their old NCC rivalry on September 8th when the Bears visit the 'Yotes in Vermillion. The game marks the first time the two teams have faced each other since a home and home in 2009 and 10. Northern Colorado leads the overall series 20-14, with a slight 9-8 advantage on the road. USD made the FCS playoffs in 2016, falling in the round of 16 to Sam Houston State.
The 2018 non-conference schedule ends with a familiar foe in Sacramento State. Northern Colorado agreed to a non-conference home and home with the Hornets and allows the Bears to prepare for Big Sky play with a familiar foe. UNC is looking to exact some revenge against Sac St after the Hornets defended its home turf last year in a 50-21 game.
Big Sky Conference play begins on the road in 2018 for Northern Colorado as they face a tough Weber State team. WSU is defending co-Big Sky champion with Southern Utah and made an impressive run in the FCS playoffs last season. The Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals, before falling to the would-be runner-up James Madison on a game-winning field goal as time expired. The game will be the first between the two programs since 2015 and first trip to Ogden since 2014
North Dakota makes its final trip to Nottingham Field as a member of the Big Sky Conference on September 29, for the Bears' conference home opener. The teams played in a back and forth game last season with the Fighting Hawks coming away with the win 48-38.
Former Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins returns to the Centennial State on October 6, when he brings him alma mater UC Davis to Greeley. The game is Homecoming weekend for UNC, along with Hall of Fame Weekend, as the University of Northern Colorado Athletics 2018 Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Friday night. The Aggies had a strong 2017 season going 5-6 in Hawkins first year. UCD has one of the best talents in the FCS at wide receiver in Keelan Doss, a Walter Payton Award Finalist. UC Davis last visited Nottingham Field in 2015 and the two teams last faced each other in 2016.
After being at home for two weeks, UNC heads to the Pacific Northwest to face Portland State. The Vikings struggled in 2017 finishing 0-11. If the game is anything like the last time the two teams met it should be an entertaining one. The Bears defeated PSU in 2016 in overtime 56-49.
The month of October ends with Northern Colorado facing a pair of FCS playoff teams from 2017 in Northern Arizona visiting Greeley on October 20 and then visiting Cedar City and Southern Utah on October 27. UNC faced both teams last year falling to each.
Senior day is set for November 3 when Eastern Washington visits. The Eagles were 7-4 last season just missing out on the FCS playoffs. EWU will once again bring its strong offense into Nottingham Field led by quarterback Gage Gubrud. The two teams last met in 2016 in Cheney, Washington.
Northern Colorado's 2018 regular season ends in Bozeman, Montana at Montana State. The Bears are making their first trip to Bozeman since 2012, meaning no current player on the roster has visited Bobcat Stadium. MSU and UNC renewed its series last season when the Bobcats hit a game-winning 27-yard field goal as time expired to win 27-24. Montana State finished the year 5-6 overall.
The Bears will play 11 straight weeks in 2018 as their scheduled bye is set for the last week of the season.
Game times and season ticket information for the 2018 season will be released at a later date.
To stay up to date on all things Northern Colorado football, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsFB.
2018 Schedule
Home Games in bold
* - Big Sky Games
The schedule features six home games, three FCS playoff teams, five opponents from last season and the renewal of an old NCC rivalry. Not on the schedule for 2018 are any non-FCS teams, for the first time since 2006.
Northern Colorado opens the 2018 campaign when McNeese State comes to Nottingham Field on September 1. It is the first-ever meeting between UNC and McNeese State. The Cowboys just missed out on a berth in the FCS playoffs, going 9-2 in 2017.
UNC and South Dakota renew their old NCC rivalry on September 8th when the Bears visit the 'Yotes in Vermillion. The game marks the first time the two teams have faced each other since a home and home in 2009 and 10. Northern Colorado leads the overall series 20-14, with a slight 9-8 advantage on the road. USD made the FCS playoffs in 2016, falling in the round of 16 to Sam Houston State.
The 2018 non-conference schedule ends with a familiar foe in Sacramento State. Northern Colorado agreed to a non-conference home and home with the Hornets and allows the Bears to prepare for Big Sky play with a familiar foe. UNC is looking to exact some revenge against Sac St after the Hornets defended its home turf last year in a 50-21 game.
Big Sky Conference play begins on the road in 2018 for Northern Colorado as they face a tough Weber State team. WSU is defending co-Big Sky champion with Southern Utah and made an impressive run in the FCS playoffs last season. The Wildcats advanced to the quarterfinals, before falling to the would-be runner-up James Madison on a game-winning field goal as time expired. The game will be the first between the two programs since 2015 and first trip to Ogden since 2014
North Dakota makes its final trip to Nottingham Field as a member of the Big Sky Conference on September 29, for the Bears' conference home opener. The teams played in a back and forth game last season with the Fighting Hawks coming away with the win 48-38.
Former Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins returns to the Centennial State on October 6, when he brings him alma mater UC Davis to Greeley. The game is Homecoming weekend for UNC, along with Hall of Fame Weekend, as the University of Northern Colorado Athletics 2018 Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Friday night. The Aggies had a strong 2017 season going 5-6 in Hawkins first year. UCD has one of the best talents in the FCS at wide receiver in Keelan Doss, a Walter Payton Award Finalist. UC Davis last visited Nottingham Field in 2015 and the two teams last faced each other in 2016.
After being at home for two weeks, UNC heads to the Pacific Northwest to face Portland State. The Vikings struggled in 2017 finishing 0-11. If the game is anything like the last time the two teams met it should be an entertaining one. The Bears defeated PSU in 2016 in overtime 56-49.
The month of October ends with Northern Colorado facing a pair of FCS playoff teams from 2017 in Northern Arizona visiting Greeley on October 20 and then visiting Cedar City and Southern Utah on October 27. UNC faced both teams last year falling to each.
Senior day is set for November 3 when Eastern Washington visits. The Eagles were 7-4 last season just missing out on the FCS playoffs. EWU will once again bring its strong offense into Nottingham Field led by quarterback Gage Gubrud. The two teams last met in 2016 in Cheney, Washington.
Northern Colorado's 2018 regular season ends in Bozeman, Montana at Montana State. The Bears are making their first trip to Bozeman since 2012, meaning no current player on the roster has visited Bobcat Stadium. MSU and UNC renewed its series last season when the Bobcats hit a game-winning 27-yard field goal as time expired to win 27-24. Montana State finished the year 5-6 overall.
The Bears will play 11 straight weeks in 2018 as their scheduled bye is set for the last week of the season.
Game times and season ticket information for the 2018 season will be released at a later date.
To stay up to date on all things Northern Colorado football, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsFB.
2018 Schedule
| Date | Opponent |
| Sept. 1 | McNeese State |
| Sept. 8 | at South Dakota |
| Sept. 15 | Sacramento State |
| Sept. 22 | at Weber State* |
| Sept. 29 | North Dakota* |
| Oct. 6 | UC Davis* (Homecoming) |
| Oct. 13 | at Portland State |
| Oct. 20 | Northern Arizona* |
| Oct. 27 | at Southern Utah* |
| Nov. 3 | Eastern Washington* |
| Nov. 10 | at Montana State* |
* - Big Sky Games
Ed Lamb Press Conference vs UC Davis
Saturday, October 25
Ed Lamb Press Conference 10/22/2025
Wednesday, October 22
Head Coach Ed Lamb Signing Day Press Conference
Monday, October 20
Head Coach Ed Lamb Press Conference 9/24/25
Saturday, October 18
