The Aug. 28 start marks the earliest beginning to a football season in school history and just the third time that the team has began its season in August. Last year, Sacramento State started its year on Aug. 31 at UTEP. The only other time came against Pacific on Aug. 31, 1991. The Thursday game is a first for the Hornets since starting the year at Southwest Texas State in 1997.

After playing in Corvallis, Ore., the team returns to Sacramento for its home opener against Saint Mary’s on Sept. 6. The Hornets will then travel down the coast to take on Cal Poly on Sept. 13 before opening a three-game homestand. The stretch begins with the team’s first Big Sky Conference game of the year against Idaho State on Sept. 27. The Hornets will then host the 50th-annual Causeway Classic vs. UC Davis on Oct. 4. The final game of the homestand takes place on Oct. 11 against Northern Arizona.

Sacramento State ends the year by alternating road and home games for the final five weeks. The team plays at Portland State on Oct 18 and then returns home for the 2003 Homecoming game against Eastern Washington on Oct. 25. The next two weeks pit the Hornets against Montana State (Nov. 1) and Montana (Nov. 8). The final game of the year comes at Weber State on Nov. 15.

Overall, the Sacramento State schedule features one team which played in a bowl game (Oregon State), two that advanced to the NCAA Div. I-AA playoffs (Montana, Montana State) and one that played in the NCAA Div. II playoffs (UC Davis).

All home games this season will be played at Hornet Stadium and will kickoff at 6:05 p.m.

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