petey7. Kennesaw State
The Owls are taking it easy in their inaugural football season. The first game in program history will take place against another first year program—East Tennessee State. The only other Division I opponent the Owls will face before entering Big South play is Dayton University of the Pioneer Football League.

6. Coastal Carolina
While slightly more difficult than the schedule facing first year program Kennesaw State, Coastal’s schedule is far from daunting. Out of conference, the Chants will travel South Carolina State to play a Bulldogs team that finished 8-4 a season ago. Coastal is also set to host a Bryant team that also ended their 2014 campaign with 8 wins. Furman, Western Illinois and Alabama A&M should offer little challenge to the team that finished the 2014 season ranked 5th in the nation. Coastal will play two difficult games in conference, however: at Charleston Southern and at Liberty.

5. Charleston Southern
The Bucs play at Troy of the Sun Belt the second game of the season. The Trojans are recovering from a disappointing 2014 campaign where they won only three games. Two other difficult games will be played against Liberty and Coastal, however, both matchups will take place in Charleston. While not an easy schedule by any means, playing both Liberty and Coastal at home gives Charleston Southern the best opportunity to steal the conference title away from the perennial front-runners.

4. Gardner Webb
The Bulldogs start their season at another Sun Belt school—South Alabama. The Jaguars are coming off six-win season and a bowl game appearance. This matchup should be the most difficult of the Bulldogs’ season. Fortunately for Gardner Webb, games against Liberty and Charleston Southern are at home. The contest between Gardner Webb and Coastal Carolina will take place November 7 in Conway.

3. Presbyterian
The Blue Hose have FBS opponent Miami (OH) lined up for the season opener. The game will take place in Ohio against a team looking to rebound from a two win season in 2014. Presbyterian then the Southern Conference champion Chattanooga before beginning Big South Play. There the Blue Hose will have the privilege of playing at Coastal and at Liberty.

2. Monmouth
Monmouth is taking on a daunting non-conference schedule in only their second season as a member of the Big South. The second game of the season for the Hawks will be played at Central Michigan. The Chippewas are coming off a 7 win season and a bowl game appearance. The Hawks have also scheduled Fordham and Bryant, which won a combined 19 games in 2014. In conference, Monmouth will travel to North Charleston and play the Flames and Chanticleers at home.

1. Liberty
The Flames will have their work cut out for them when they travel to Morgantown to face West Virginia on September 12. It’s not the only game against a FBS this season however, as the Flames will travel to Atlanta for a matchup against Georgia State on October 3. A home match-up against Montana provides a third difficult matchup for the Flames in non-conference play. While Liberty does face some difficult conference opponents in Charleston Southern and Coastal, Liberty has the benefit of playing the Chanticleers at Williams Stadium.

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