UTC beat writer John Frierson looks at the Mocs' 2012 schedule.
Sept. 1 vs. South Florida
7 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
TV/Radio: ESPN3/105.1 FM
History: First meeting
Opponent's platform: The Bulls went 8-5 in 2010, Skip Holtz's first season as coach, but struggled in 2011. South Florida was thought to be a Big East contender, but the Bulls lost seven of their last eight games and finished 5-7. Five of those seven losses were by six points or less.
Sept. 8 vs. Jacksonville State
7 p.m. at JSU Stadium, Jacksonville, Ala.
Radio: 105.1 FM
History: UTC leads the series 26-10, and the Mocs won the last meeting 38-17 in 2011.
Opponent's platform: The Gamecocks shared the Ohio Valley Conference title with a 6-2 record in league play, but they had to watch as Tennessee Tech and Eastern Kentucky, because of tiebreakers, participated in the playoffs. Jacksonville State has several big offensive weapons, led by former Georgia running back Washaun Ealey, who rushed for 1,082 last season for JSU.
Sept. 13 vs. Glenville State
7 p.m. at Finley Stadium
Radio: 105.1 FM
History: UTC leads the series 1-0 and won the last meeting 30-13 in 2009.
Opponent's platform: The Pioneers were picked to finish sixth in the Division II West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after going 5-6 in 2011. Defensive lineman James Washington will be trying to improve upon an all-conference season in which he had 10 sacks.
Sept. 22 vs. Appalachian State
6 p.m. at Finley Stadium
Radio: 105.1 FM
History: Appalachian State leads the series 25-10, and the Mountaineers won 14-12 in the 2011 meeting.
Opponent's platform: After winning outright or sharing six straight SoCon championships, the Mountaineers claimed no hardware last season. They weren't far off the pace, going 6-2 in league play and finishing a game behind champion Georgia Southern (7-1). ASU had 10 preseason All-SoCon picks, more than any other school.
Sept. 29 vs. The Citadel
6 p.m. at Johnson Hagood Stadium, Charleston, S.C.
Radio: 105.1 FM
History: UTC leads the series 27-17-2 but lost 28-27 in their 2011 meeting.
Opponent's platform: The Bulldogs enter season three of the triple-option and now should have experienced personnel who fit their offense. The Citadel had one of the better defenses in the SoCon last season, and this could be the year that the offense keeps up and helps carry the cadets to the top half of the standings.
Oct. 13 vs. Furman
1:30 p.m. at Paladin Stadium, Greenville, S.C.
TV/Radio: ESPN3/105.1 FM
History: Furman leads the series 27-14 and won 14-7 in last year's meeting.
Opponent's platform: The Paladins surprised a lot of people by going 5-3 in the SoCon last season, Bruce Fowler's first as coach. But a lot of the key players who helped Furman finish fourth in the league have graduated, so the Paladins are a wild card in the league. There's no uncertainty about tight end Colin Anderson, a consensus preseason All-American.
Oct. 20 vs. Samford
6 p.m. at Finley Stadium
Radio: 105.1 FM
History: UTC leads the series 25-9-3 and won the last meeting 24-9 in 2011.
Opponent's platform: Samford coach Pat Sullivan said this was the best team he's had since the Bulldogs joined the SoCon in 2008. Samford was up and down last season and finished 4-4 in league play. Running back Fabian Truss averaged 5.6 yards per carry in 2011 and is one of the SoCon's top returning rushers.
Oct. 27 vs. Georgia Southern
6 p.m. at Finley Stadium
Radio: 105.1 FM
History: Georgia Southern leads the series 21-4 and won last year's meeting 28-27.
Opponent's platform: The defending SoCon champions, the Eagles have made back-to-back trips to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs. Georgia Southern has some holes to fill, namely those left by quarterback Jaybo Shaw and safety Laron Scott. What the Eagles do have is a beast of an All-American in defensive tackle Brent Russell.
Nov. 3 vs. Western Carolina
3:30 p.m. at Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, N.C.
Radio: 105.1 FM
History: UTC leads the series 22-16 and won 51-7 in the 2011 meeting.
Opponent's platform: Coach Mark Speir takes over a program that hasn't done much winning this millennium, including a 1-10 (0-8 SoCon) record last season. But Speir arrived in Cullowhee after a long stint at Appalachian State, so he's seen what it takes to win. Part of the formula is superior talent, which the Catamounts haven't had lately.
Nov. 10 vs. Wofford
1:30 p.m. at Gibbs Stadium, Spartanburg, S.C.
Radio: 105.1 FM
History: Wofford leads the series 10-8 and won 28-27 in 2011.
Opponent's platform: The Terriers might be the SoCon's most balanced team. Reigning SoCon offensive player of the year Eric Breitenstein is back for his senior season after rushing for a league-high 122.8 yards per game in 2011 and scoring 19 touchdowns. Defensively, linebackers Mike Niam and Alvin Scioneaux have earned preseason All-America honors.
Nov. 17 vs. Elon
2 p.m. at Finley Stadium
Radio: 105.1 FM
History: Elon leads the series 6-3 and lost 42-18 to the Mocs in 2011.
Opponent's platform: Turnovers were the story for the Phoenix in Jason Swepson's first season as coach. Elon went 5-6 despite having one of the nation's top wideouts in Aaron Mellette and a quarterback in Thomas Wilson that threw for 3,057 yards. Wilson had 23 touchdowns and 21 passes intercepted.