HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State's much anticipated season opening game against Richmond now has a new date.

ESPN announced on Wednesday that the home game with Richmond will be moved to Sunday night, Aug. 27 and will be televised on ESPNU at 6 p.m. The game was originally schedule for Aug. 31.

“Anytime we get the chance to showcase our university and football program on national television is a huge opportunity,” said Director of Athletics Bobby Williams . “These have been two of the top teams in the FCS over the last several years and we will get to feature this matchup on ESPNU.”

Last season the Bearkats entered the playoffs as the No. 1 ranked team in the country before falling in the quarterfinals against eventual national champion James Madison and finished the year ranked No. 5. The Spiders also advanced to the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs before falling at Eastern Washington and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the STATS FCS Top 25.

“Scheduling at this level can be very difficult, so we were happy to be able to reach an agreement with Richmond last year to play this game at Bowers Stadium,” Williams said. “For ESPN to recognize this game as one premier matchups of the year and picking it up for national television says a lot a what these two programs have accomplished in recent years.”

The Bearkats have been in the postseason six straight years, including trips to the national championship game in 2011 and 2012. They also advanced to the semifinals again in 2014 and 2015.

Richmond won the FCS national championship in 2008. They have been to the playoffs three straight years including a semifinal appearance in 2015.

Season tickets for the 2017 football season are now on sale by going to the season ticket page or by calling 936-294-1729.