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As FBS independents looking to play football this fall amid the uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic, Army and BYU both needed to fill in open dates on their schedules.
And in September, they’ll play each other, apparently.
According to multiple reports, BYU has agreed to play at West Point. The Deseret News and the Times Herald-Record report that the Cougars will visit Michie Stadium on Sept. 19. Neither Army or BYU have officially announced the game yet.
This will be the first time ever that Army and BYU have met in football, despite both being longtime independents. Army is expected to play a return game in Provo, Utah on a yet-to-be-determined date.
It also means that BYU will face both Navy and Army on the road in the span of 12 days. The Cougars will play in Annapolis on Sept. 7. Currently, neither BYU, Army or Navy will play any teams from the Power 5.
BYU now has five games on its schedule. In addition to Army and Navy, the Cougars will host Troy, Houston and North Alabama.
Meanwhile, Army is still working on piecing together its full schedule. According to Sal Interdonato — who is as plugged in as anyone when it comes to athletics at West Point — Army has agreed to home games against Louisiana Monroe (Sept. 12), Abilene Christian (Oct. 3) and Mercer (Oct. 10). Again, Army has not officially announced any of these dates, but there’s no reason to doubt Interdonato’s reporting.
Those three contests — and the BYU meeting — would give Army nine games on its schedule, with the potential for 10 if the Black Knights are able to find a different date for a previously scheduled game at Rice. The Owls pushed back the start of their season, throwing an early season meeting with Army into limbo.
According to their head coach Jeff Monken, Army is talking to teams from Power Five conferences about scheduling games this Fall. @dpshow
— Paul Pabst (@PaulPabst) August 17, 2020
Here’s Army’s expected schedule as of Aug. 18, which features seven home games:
- Sept. 5 vs. Middle Tennessee State
- Sept. 12 vs. Louisiana Monroe
- Sept. 19 vs. BYU
- Oct. 3 vs. Abilene Christian (FCS)
- Oct. 10 vs. Mercer (FCS)
- TBD at Rice
- Nov. 7 vs. Air Force
- Nov. 14 at Tulane
- Nov. 21 vs. Georgia Southern
- Dec. 8 vs. Navy (in Philadelphia)