By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University has announced its football schedule for the 2017 season. The Bearcats will play five games at home and four games on the road. All nine games will be played on a Saturday.

The season opener is set for Sept. 2 against Rhodes College (Tenn.) at McCulloch Stadium at 7 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will have an open date the following weekend. Willamette will then host California Lutheran University on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. in the Homecoming Game as part of Alumni Weekend.

Following the team's second open date on Sept. 23, the Bearcats will travel to Portland, Oregon, to take on Lewis & Clark College in the Northwest Conference opener on Sept. 30. Willamette is set to host archrival Linfield College during Family Weekend on Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. WU will play at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, on Oct. 14.

The Bearcats will take on Pacific Lutheran University in a home game on Oct. 21 at 1 p.m., before traveling to Tacoma, Washington, to take on University of Puget Sound on Oct. 28.

When the Bearcats host Pacific University on Nov. 4 at 1 p.m., it will be Senior Day at McCulloch Stadium. Willamette will close out the regular season at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, on Nov. 11.