Staff photo by Robin Rudd / UTC kicker Victor Ulmo, center, is congratulated by tight end Chris James, right, and punter Colin Brewer after making the winning field goal against East Tennessee State on Oct. 17, 2019, at Finley Stadium.With a picture finally forming of what spring competition will be like for the Football Championship Subdivision, a second-semester season is likely ahead for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the 2020-21 school year.
Last week, the NCAA Division I Council approved both a framework for spring competition in the sport as well as an altered FCS postseason, with the playoffs set for April 18 to May 15 and reduced by eight teams to 16. That postseason model was then approved Tuesday by the Division I Board of Directors.
With that framework allowing up to eight regular-season games in a 13-week period before the playoffs, FCS leagues, including the nine-team Southern Conference to which UTC belongs, are likely to begin competition in early February. The SoCon announced in mid-August that it would postpone conference competition in fall sports, including football, until the spring semester due to concerns about COVID-19.
The other FCS leagues also postponed their fall schedules – though some teams, including UTC, are taking part in one or more nonconference football games this semester – but with the situation regarding spring football more clear, the Times Free Press is looking at the likely 2020-21 schedule for coach Rusty Wright’s Mocs.
Barring changes, here are the nine opponents they are expected to face: