Moon Township, Pa. – The 2017 Robert Morris University football schedule was announced by head coach John Banaszak Thursday afternoon. The slate features 11 games, including five at Joe Walton Stadium, along with the six-game Northeast Conference schedule. Five of the Colonials opponents – Youngstown State, North Dakota State, Saint Francis, Duquesne and Dayton – received votes in the final STATS FCS Poll of the 2016 season.
 
"The 2017 schedule is quite a challenge for our football program," said Banaszak. "We're going to have to work very hard in the offseason to compete against our non-conference schedule and still remain healthy and strong enough to get into the Northeast Conference schedule."
 
The Colonials will open the season at home for the third straight season when they host the Dayton Flyers in a Noon game Saturday, Sept. 2. The Flyers have served as the opening day opponent for RMU on five different occasions, most recently in 2015, and have played one another every season since 2005.
 
Youngstown State finished second in the national poll last season after appearing in the FCS National Championship game and will serve as the Colonials week two opponent. RMU travels to Stambaugh Stadium on Sept. 9.
 
Robert Morris and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) renew their rivalry the following week in a game that serves as Homecoming on Sept. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The Colonials and Keydets last played in 2013, a 37-31 win for the blue and white in Virginia. These teams also played in 2007 and 2009.
 
The path doesn't get any easier when the Colonials head west to the Fargodome to take on five-time FCS champion North Dakota State on Sept. 23. The teams have met twice before, the first time in the 2010 FCS Playoffs. The Bison ended the 2016 season third in the national rankings. After a bye week, Robert Morris travels to East Tennessee State on Oct. 7. The Colonials upended the Bucs in the first meeting between the squads, 21-9, at Joe Walton Stadium in 2015.
 
Robert Morris dives into NEC play with a two-game homestand starting against local rival Duquesne Oct. 14. RMU is 4-1 at home against its next opponent, Sacred Heart. The Colonials and Pioneers meet Oct. 21. Two consecutive road trips are up next on the slate as Robert Morris takes on defending league champ Saint Francis at DeGol Field in Loretto, Pa., Oct. 28. A trip to Wagner follows the first weekend in November.
 
The Colonials wrap up their 2016 home slate against the Bryant Bulldogs in a game slated to kick-off at Noon. The league and regular season schedule comes to a close Nov. 18 at Arute Field against Central Connecticut.