By Yousof Hamza
The Youngstown State University Penguins football team opens the 2021 season against the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals Sept. 2.
The Cardinals went 3-3 and averaged 42 points of offense during their 6 game spring season while also allowing 41.8 points per game against them. YSU allowed an average of 21.8 points while scoring an average of 15.4 points.
The Penguins then head to East Lansing, Michigan, to face off against the Michigan State University Spartans Sept. 11.
After MSU, the Penguins have a bye week before playing host to the Western Illinois University Leathernecks to start conference play. They then head to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to play the University of Northern Iowa.
The Penguins then play the Missouri State University Bears for homecoming week before heading into their last bye week. They then head to Terre Haute, Indiana, to face off against the Indiana State Sycamores before returning home to play the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits.
They start November traveling to the University of North Dakota to play the Fighting Hawks. They return home to play the North Dakota State University Bison and finish the season on the road in Carbondale, Illinois, against the Southern Illinois University Salukis.