BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The Mountain East Conference (MEC) and Wheeling University released the 2020 football slate, which features a 10-game, round-robin schedule. This year’s schedule also includes first-year associate member UNC Pembroke.

The 2020 MEC football schedule is dependent upon the timing of the return of the regular academic and athletic calendar for the upcoming fall semester due to COVID-19. Games, dates, times, and locations are subject to change.

After an open week for non-conference play to open the season, teams begin conference play the following week. The MEC schedule features 10 Thursday night games, which does not include week one non-conference games.

Wheeling will play five home games and six road contests in its second season of varsity competition. The Cardinals will open the 2020 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. with a non-conference road game in Greensburg, Pa., against Seton Hill.

Wheeling will play its home-opener on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. when it welcomes defending MEC Champion Notre Dame (Ohio) to Bishop Schmitt Field. Other notable dates include hosting the MEC’s Thursday Night Football game on Sept. 24 against Glenville State, and the Homecoming game on Oct. 10 against UNC-Pembroke at 1 p.m.

West Liberty

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — When the Mountain East Conference released its 2020 football schedule on Thursday, the announcement was accompanied by a cautionary note from the league office in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The 2020 MEC football schedule is dependent upon the timing of the return of the regular academic and athletic calendar for the upcoming fall semester due to COVID-19. Games, dates, times, and locations are subject to change.”

The schedule shows West Liberty and the MEC’s 11 other football-playing schools participating in a 10-game round-robin conference slate that also includes the University of North Carolina-Pembroke as an associate member. The round-robin schedule kicks off in Week Two as Week One was left open to give schools the opportunity to schedule a non-conference opponent.

Coach Roger Waialae’s Hilltoppers will fill that slot with a Thursday night game against Walsh (Ohio) on Sept. 3 at West Family Stadium. The WLU gridders remain at home the following week for another Thursday night game – a Sept. 10 MEC opener against Urbana – before finishing off the season with nine consecutive Saturday afternoon contests.

The Hilltoppers head to South Euclid, Ohio on Sept. 19 to challenge defending MEC champion Notre Dame before coming back to West Family Stadium for a Sept. 26 game against West Virginia Wesleyan.

West Liberty kicks off October with a Saturday afternoon game at Glenville State before the annual Homecoming Game against Concord on Oct. 10. The Black and Gold heads to Fairmont State on the 17th before Frostburg State makes its first trip to the hilltop in more than three decades on Oct. 24.

The Hilltoppers make the long drive south to renew acquaintances with UNC-Pembroke on Halloween (Oct. 31) and follow that up with another southern jaunt on Nov. 7 with a trip to West Virginia State.

West Liberty closes out the schedule at home on Nov. 14 when Ohio County rival Wheeling University makes its first appearance at West Family Stadium.

Game times will be announced at a later date.