The Virginia football team learned the future years it would face ACC scheduling partner Notre Dame earlier this week. That news came in fairly typical fashion: a combination of news releases and social media. On Saturday, the Hoos got some more scheduling news in a much more unique way.
During a commencement speech at Liberty University, President of the United States Donald Trump announced it.
Yes that is the @POTUS announcing @LibertyFootball future FBS opponents! Thank you @realDonaldTrump! #GiveMeL18erty pic.twitter.com/x5g9ob1n9i
— Liberty Flames (@LibertyFlames) May 13, 2017
Trump named some of the Flames’ future football opponents as that program transitions from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Cavaliers will host Liberty at Scott Stadium on Nov. 10, 2018 and Nov. 23, 2019. They will travel to Lynchburg on Sept. 11, 2027. Those dates are subject to change. LU will be eligible for bowl games beginning in 2019.
As part of this scheduling addition, the Hoos’ game with Old Dominion scheduled for 2018 now moves to 2019. That game in Charlottesville is planned for Sept. 21. Games with ODU scheduled for Nov. 21, 2020 in Norfolk and Sept. 17, 2022 in Charlottesville remain the same.
The non-conference opponents for 2018 and 2019 are as follows:
2018
- Sept. 1 vs. Richmond
- Sept. 8 at Indiana
- Sept. 15 vs. Ohio University
- Nov. 10 vs. Liberty
2019
- Sept. 7 vs. William & Mary
- Sept. 21 vs. Old Dominion
- Sept. 28 at Notre Dame
- Nov. 23 vs. Liberty
Of note, these non-conference games in November with Liberty and ODU in 2018, 2019, and 2020 mark a change from recent schedules. The Hoos have not played a non-ACC game in November since defeating Temple 51-3 on Nov. 5, 2005. Virginia Tech joined the league in 2004, but the non-con games with the Hokies before then frequently wrapped up the schedule in November. UVA played Penn State in November 2002. The program hosted Buffalo in November 1999 when conferences and regular season schedules both were smaller.
Virginia Football Schedule Update
In August, UVA announced that it had added three more games with Liberty in 2020, 2029, and 2030. That includes a second trip to Lynchburg and Williams Stadium in 2029. This means that the Hoos will face the Flames in each of the next three seasons (2018, 2019, 2020) and will play four games at Scott Stadium with two games on the road during the six-game series.
