TU releases 2018 football schedule

Tulsa released its 2018 football schedule on Tuesday, which is highlighted by eight Bowl participants from last season. The Golden Hurricane will play non-conference road games against two Power Five schools that are now led by former AAC head coaches - Texas (Tom Herman) and Arkansas (Chad Morris).

"We have an extremely tough and challenging schedule in 2018,” said Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery. “We'll have our hands full right out of the starting gate. We start off with a 10-win Central Arkansas team, then play at Texas, and, obviously they are who they are – a very strong and very tradition heavy opponent. I've had teams play before at Texas, it's a tough venue.”

After kicking off the season at home against UCA and then hitting the road against Texas, TU heads back to Chapman Stadium to play Arkansas State. The Red Wolves went 7-5 last season and played in the Camellia Bowl.

"After Texas, we turn back around and have an Arkansas State team who has competed for, if not won their conference championship the last few years. They've done a tremendous job," Montgomery described. "Arkansas State is a talented and very athletic team and returns a quarterback who enters his third year as a starter. So, it's a tough comeback for us, especially after being on the road at Texas."

Tulsa begins American Athletic Conference play with three straight weeknight games, facing Temple and Houston on consecutive Thursday nights on the road, and then coming back home for a Friday night game against USF.

The Hurricane will then travel to face the Arkansas Razorbacks, before a two-game homestand against Tulane and UConn. TU finishes up conference play road games at Memphis and Navy, followed by a home contest against SMU.

"The American Athletic Conference, from top to bottom, is probably one of the more competitive conferences in the nation,” said Montgomery. “You look at what our teams did last year conference wide, winning three of four bowl games against the other power leagues.It shows the amount of talent and the way our coaches have developed talent in our league, so every game is tough."

Sept. 1, CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Sept. 8, at Texas

Sept. 15, ARKANSAS STATE

Sept. 20, at Temple*

Oct. 4, at Houston* (ESPN)

Oct. 12, USF*

Oct. 20, at Arkansas

Oct. 27, TULANE*^

Nov. 3, UCONN* (Homecoming)

Nov. 10, at Memphis*

Nov. 17, at Navy*

Nov. 24, SMU*

*Conference game.

^The Tulsa at Temple game on Thursday, Sept. 20 could possibly change to Saturday, Sept. 22.