This past week the Southwestern Athletic Conference made a move to try to bring some sense of normalcy back to its 10 football programs. They announced the league’s 2021 spring football schedule.

Each SWAC team will play six conference football games to include four games against division opponents and two games against non-division opponents. Every member institution will also have the option to play one non-conference game.

Week one will begin February 27th with notable games such as Texas Southern traveling to Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Prairie View A&M facing Grambling State in the State Fair Classic.

“We’re glad to have an understanding of where we’re heading, and we’re ready to engage our fans and get them ready for what’s sure to be another exciting season of Panther football,” said PVAMU Athletics Director Dr. Donald Reed.

Week Two will have both in-state schools in Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern facing off against each other. It won’t have the same feel as the first weekend in September, but the rivalry still means the same no matter when the game is played.

The conference-wide slate includes one non-conference open date for each team and conference contests scheduled each week beginning in Week One. Additionally, the league has designated a bye week for each team during the week of March 13 to ensure that fans and supporters have the opportunity to attend the Cricket Wireless Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments (March 9-13).

The Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship will be played May 1st on the campus of the highest seeded team at the conclusion of regular season play. SWAC football teams are scheduled to begin preparation for the season with an eight-week training period beginning in January.

“The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors, Sports Administrators Committee, COVID-19 Advisory Committee, along with our fall sports scheduling groups have worked tirelessly over recent months to get to the point where we are able to announce a significant part of the rescheduling of our fall sports,” said SWAC Commissioner Dr. Charles McClelland.

“Collectively as a conference, we look forward to continuing on the path to a safe return to competition that we know all of our student-athletes, team staff, institutional administrators, and supporters would like to see in the coming months. This schedule allows the needed flexibility for any additional adjustments that will need to be made once the NCAA releases its revised spring calendar. Clearly, our plans in regards to the safe return to competition within our league will ultimately be dictated by the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in the respective regions of our member institutions.”

The SWAC will continue to work with local and state medical experts along with governmental officials to gather additional information, evaluate emerging data and advancements while monitoring new developments regarding the pandemic. The Southwestern Athletic Conference will remain prepared to make any necessary adjustments identified to be in the best interest of the health, safety, and wellness of its student-athletes.