Northwestern State Demons

Northwestern State looking toward Laird's first season

Published Jan. 18, 2018 9:47 a.m. ET

(STATS) - Northwestern State will visit Texas A&M in new coach Brad Laird's first game and play five times at home as part of an 11-game 2018 schedule.

The Demons will kick off the season at College Station on Sept. 1.

Their schedule at Turpin Stadium is particularly attractive as they host SWAC champion Grambling State (Sept. 8) out of conference and then Southland Conference foes Nicholls (Oct. 6), Sam Houston State (Oct. 13), Houston Baptist (Oct. 27) and McNeese (Nov. 10).

"This schedule is definitely Demon fan friendly," Burke said. "From our FBS game at tradition-rich Texas A&M to home games against two of our in-state conference rivals (McNeese State and Nicholls) to the always tough Southland Conference schedule, 2018 lines up as both opportunistic and challenging."

Northwestern State finished 4-7 last season.

2018 Northwestern State schedule

Sept. 1, at Texas A&M

Sept. 8, Grambling State

Sept. 15, at Lamar*

Sept. 29, at Southeastern Louisiana*

Oct. 6, Nicholls*

Oct. 13, Sam Houston State*

Oct. 20, at Central Arkansas*

Oct. 27, Houston Baptist*

Nov. 3, at Abilene Christian*

Nov. 10, McNeese*