NATCHITOCHES – New Northwestern State football coach Brad Laird and his team will open the 2018 season at Texas A&M before hosting Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Grambling to kick off a five-game home schedule.
 
Laird and NSU director of athletics Greg Burke announced the schedule Wednesday. The Demons' home dates at Turpin Stadium are Sept. 8 against Grambling, then back-to-back Saturdays against two 2017 FCS playoff entries, Nicholls on Oct. 6 and Sam Houston State Oct. 13, the homecoming game Oct. 27 against Houston Baptist and the home finale Nov. 10 when McNeese visits.
 
"This schedule is definitely Demon fan friendly," said Burke. "From our FBS game at tradition rich Texas A&M to home games against two of our in-state conference rivals (McNeese State, Nicholls) to the always tough Southland Conference schedule, 2018 lines up as both opportunistic and challenging."
 
Laird, NSU's career passing leader, was named head coach Nov. 20. He had been the Demons' defensive coordinator in three different stints, including last season, for a total of eight years, in a 22-season coaching career.
 
"It's a great schedule for us," said Laird. "The opportunity to go to Kyle Field and play Texas A&M is very exciting, getting to play in one of college football's great venues. Coming back here to play that second week in Turpin Stadium against Grambling, what a great week that will be, filled with excitement about playing an in-state rival.
 
"Then we dive into conference games, and we along the way we get to play two more in-state foes, and two quality teams in Nicholls and McNeese, here in Turpin Stadium. It's going to be fun."
 
NSU was 4-7 last year, 4-5 in the Southland, and expects over 40 letterwinners back for 2018, Spring practice will start in early March.
 
The Demons' 2018 schedule:
 
Saturday, Sept. 1         at Texas A&M                                     TBA
Saturday, Sept. 8         Grambling                                           6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 15      *at Lamar                                           TBA
Saturday, Sept. 29      *at Southeastern Louisiana                TBA
Saturday, Oct. 6          *Nicholls                                             6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13        *Sam Houston State                           6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20        *at Central Arkansas                           TBA
Saturday, Oct. 27        *Houston Baptist (Homecoming)       6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 3         *at Abilene Christian                          TBA
Saturday, Nov. 10       *McNeese                                           6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 15       *at Stephen F. Austin                          6 p.m.
 
*indicates Southland Conference games