The University of Tennessee at Martin football program faces an early test in Week 2: On Saturday, September 7, the team will face longtime conference rival Southeast Missouri in an important Big South-OVC Football Association matchup. Kickoff at the newly renovated Houck Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

This is the earliest league game on the Skyhawks’ schedule since the season opener against former conference rival Jacksonville State in the 2011 season. These two teams met on the same day 33 years ago when UT Martin earned a 36-29 home victory over Southeast Missouri on Sept. 7, 1991.

UT Martin (0-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) opened the season last weekend on the road with a game against Big 12 foe and No. 17 Kansas State. The Skyhawks won the battle for possession by forcing a fumble and an interception, but couldn’t pull off the upset, losing 41-6 to the Wildcats. Specialist Jaren Van Winkle was strong in his debut, scoring all six points for the team with two field goal attempts.

The Skyhawks enter the 2024 season as the favorite to win the Big South-OVC Football Association title. UT Martin has won at least a share of three consecutive league championships and has collected 61 total points and five first-place finishes to finish atop the association’s preseason poll. Southeast Missouri collected 51 total points and two first-place finishes to finish third in the poll. Overall, either the Skyhawks or Redhawks have won four of the last five league titles since the 2019 season.

Southeast Missouri (1-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) enters the contest with two games to play, having won a game against North Alabama (37-15) in Week 0 before losing on the road to FBS opponent New Mexico State (23-16). The Redhawks are coached by Tom Matukewicz, who has a 55-60 overall record in 11 seasons with SEMO. The team has 11 starters – including six on offense and five on defense – and boasts three returning all-conference players in linebacker Bryce Norman, offensive center Zack Gieg and kicker DC Pippin.

Saturday’s game marks the 40th.^th The two programs meet, with UT Martin holding a slim 20-19 lead over Southeast Missouri in the all-time list dating back to 1966. The Skyhawks have won two of their last three games against the Redhawks and have a 9-10 record at Houck Field.

The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+, while fans in the field can tune into the Skyhawk Sports Network to hear Davis Gregory (live commentary) and Chuck Hammer (commentator) call the game. Games will be broadcast on WCMT “Talk and News You Can Use!” with simulcasts on 1410 AM, 100.5 FM, 92.7 FM, 96.1 FM, 99.7 FM and 103.3 FM. Those links – in addition to live stats – can be found at the top of the page.