ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—The Bethel University football team released its 2016 schedule Monday morning. The Royals upcoming slate includes two new opponents, in addition to their standard eight games against Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) opponents. Furthermore, among their ten adversaries, are three from the final 2015 D3football.com Top 25 poll.
 
Bethel, who has the most consecutive winning seasons in conference play amongst all MIAC foes, looks to make it 23 straight years with a winning record in 2016. The Royals, who at one point in 2015 were ranked in 62 out of 63 sequential D3football.com Top 25 polls, also hope to return to the NCAA Playoffs for the ninth time since 2000.
 
BU begins its season with a road test at the University of Dubuque on September 3. The Spartans were crowned champions of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) in 2015 with a 7-0 record against IIAC opponents. Dubuque, who finished 8-3 overall, fell to Saint John's in the opening round of the NCAA Playoffs.
 
The Royals then host Carthage College in their home opener on September 10. The Red Men finished 2015 with a 5-5 record, including a 4-3 mark against College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) rivals.
 
Following their final nonconference contest, Bethel opens MIAC play with a home test against Concordia College on September 17, followed by a road match against St. Olaf College on September 24. The 1 p.m. game against the Cobbers at Royal Stadium may perhaps be head coach Steve Johnson's first shot at capturing career win No. 200.
 
Saint John's University comes to Arden Hills for Bethel's homecoming celebration on October 1 before the Royals travel to Northfield on October 8 for a Saturday matinee against Carleton College.
 
BU finishes its regular season home schedule over the next two weeks with an October 15 matchup against Gustavus Adolphus College on October 15 and an October 29 duel versus the University of St. Thomas. The Royals date with the Tommies follows a bye week for Bethel on October 22.
 
The final two games are both on the road. The Royals play at Augsburg on November 5 and finish their regular season at Hamline on November 12.
 
For more information about the upcoming season, click here.