VIDEO: Ashley Ingram Interview
VIDEO: The kids of Carson-Newman introduce the schedule
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head football coach Ashley Ingram has unveiled the Eagles' 2024 schedule, featuring five home dates inside the friendly confines of Burke-Tarr Stadium.
The schedule features three first-time opponents for the Eagles and their first matchup against an NAIA foe since 2017.
For the first time in, Carson-Newman will play in the NCAA's newly approved week zero. The Eagles open the season on Thursday, Aug. 29 against NAIA foe Reinhardt at 6 p.m. inside Burke-Tarr Stadium.
"We were just trying to find a game," Ingram said. "We're very fortunate that Reinhardt is going to come to play us because it was not easy trying to find one after losing an opponent late in the process. They are a great opponent having made the playoffs in the NAIA last year. We have a lot of respect for them. I'm most excited about having a schedule, having a goal to shoot for, having a date and having the chance to get a lot of firsts out of the way here at Carson-Newman."
Reinhardt will register as the first of three first-time foes for C-N and mark a second straight year the Eagles open the year under the lights of Burke-Tarr Stadium on a Thursday night. Reinhardt has made the NAIA playoffs in nine consecutive seasons.
This is the third time in the last nine years Carson-Newman has opened a season with an NAIA foe, beating the University of the Cumberlands in 2015 and Pikeville in 2017 in Mike Turner's head coaching debut.
After a bye week in week one, Carson-Newman hits the road for a second straight Thursday night game on Sept. 12 at West Virginia State out of the Mountain East. The Eagles and Yellowjackets have never met. Carson-Newman will head to Institute for a 6 p.m. kick. It will be the Eagles' first trip to the Mountain State since Sept. 1, 2011, when C-N won at Glenville State 45-20.
"That's a good offensive unit at West Virginia State," Ingram said. "We've got two quality opponents to get us ready before we get into league play. We have to hit the ground running and be firing on all cylinders because this is not an easy start with us bringing out a new offense and putting things together."
This also marks the first time Carson-Newman plays on Thursday twice in one season since 2012 when the Eagles opened the year on a Thursday night against Glenville State with then head coach Ken Sparks 300th career win before falling to Wingate in front of a national television audience on a short-week four weeks later.
Carson-Newman hops into conference play in week three by playing host to Wingate. The Eagles and Bulldogs haven't squared off since the 2021 season.
The Bulldogs mark the first of three consecutive weeks of cross-divisional play for C-N. Home matchups with Wingate and Barton are sandwiched around a road contest against Catawba in week four.
Carson-Newman starts Mountain Division play on Oct. 12 with a visit to Mars Hill before returning home on the 19th to take on UVA Wise. The Eagles are unbeaten all-time at home against the Highland Cavaliers. C-N closes the month of October at Emory & Henry on the 26th.
Homecoming and Senior Day are both set for Nov. 2 against Anderson. The Trojans are in their first year as a football program and will be the third first-time foe for C-N in 2024.
Carson-Newman closes out the season on the road. The Eagles close out divisional play with The Second Oldest Rivalry Game in the State of Tennessee on Nov. 9 at Tusculum. The Eagles will be looking for their first win in Greeneville since 2014.
C-N is presently scheduled to close the regular season on the road at Limestone. C-N will for sure be away that week. However, should Carson-Newman win the Mountain Division it would face off with the champion of the Piedmont Division for the SAC Championship. Similarly, if Lime were to win the Piedmont and C-N fell short in the Mountain, the Eagles would find themselves with a new opponent taking the spot of whomever was scheduled to face the Mountain Division's champion.
"I keep looking for the soft spot in the schedule, and I haven't found it yet," Ingram said. "We've got a lot of first-year head coaches in the league, but they are quality coaches in quality programs. We'll be challenged, but I'm excited for the opportunity."
All Carson-Newman football games in 2024 will be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.