Plain and simple, the 2024 Portland State Football schedule may be the most challenging in program history. And, it may be the most challenging in the nation at the FCS level.
The Viking program released the coming year's 12-game slate and it is loaded; loaded with teams that had winning records in 2023, loaded with teams with playoff appearances, and loaded with FBS opponents. In fact, seven of the Vikings' nine FCS opponents in 2024 finished 2023 nationally-ranked, including six in the top 14, and national finalist Montana.
PSU will play five home games and seven road games in 2024 – all against Division I programs. PSU hosts South Dakota (Sept. 14), UC Davis (Oct. 5), Montana State (Oct. 19), Idaho (Nov. 9) and Northern Colorado (Nov. 23) in contests at Hillsboro Stadium.
The Vikings go on the road to play at Washington State (Aug. 31), Weber State (Sept. 7), Boise State (Sept. 21), Chattanooga (Sept. 28), Idaho State (Oct. 12), Sacramento State (Nov. 2) and Montana (Nov. 16).
Notable are games against Washington State (Aug. 31), which is playing a hybrid Mountain West schedule, and Boise State (Sept. 21), a member of the Mountain West. It will be a second meeting with each of those FBS schools in the past five seasons.
PSU also picks up a pair of brand new opponents in South Dakota and Chattanooga. A member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, South Dakota was 10-3 in 2023, reaching the NCAA FCS Quarterfinals. Chattanooga, from the Southern Conference, was 8-5 overall reaching the round of 16 in the FCS Playoffs.
The Vikings will play all four Big Sky Conference playoff teams in succession - Montana State, Sacramento State, Idaho and Montana – between Oct. 19 and No. 16. That gives PSU six (!) 2023 FCS playoff teams on its 2024 schedule who had a combined 7-6 record in the post-season.
Nine of the 12 opponents had winning records in 2023 with a combined record of 85-64.
The Vikings come off a 5-6 season in 2023, 4-4 in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings return more than 50 letterwinners and recently signed 18 student-athletes during the December signing period.
Portland State Football season tickets will go on sale April 27 at the Spring Football Game.
2024 FOOTBALL SEASON SCHEDULE NOTES
- 2024 will be the 78th season of Portland State football (1947) and 29th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference (1996).
- PSU faces five teams in 2024 that were on the schedule in 2023 (UC Davis, Idaho State, Montana State, Montana and Northern Colorado)… PSU plays eight of 11 possible Big Sky opponents. The Vikings will miss Cal Poly, Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona in 2024 - all of whom they beat in 2023.
- PSU's two FBS-level opponents are Washington State and Boise. PSU is 4-48 all-time when playing "up" against FBS programs. Wins have come over Hawai'i (2000), New Mexico (2006), Washington State (2015) and North Texas (2015)… this marks the 10th consecutive season that Portland State has played two FBS opponents. PSU has done so a total of 14 times, including three in 2006.
- Final 2023 rankings of PSU's 2024 opponents (Stats Perform FCS Top 25): Montana (#2), South Dakota (#4), Idaho (#8), Montana State (#9), Sacramento State (#13), Chattanooga (#14), UC Davis (#24).
- The Vikings are 13-8 at Hillsboro Stadium since it became PSU's full-time home venue for the 2019 season.
2024 PORTLAND STATE
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 at Washington State
Sept. 7 at Weber State*
Sept. 14
South Dakota
Sept. 21 at Boise State
Sept. 28 at Chattanooga
Oct. 5
UC Davis*
Oct. 12 at Idaho State*
Oct. 19
Montana State*
Oct. 26 bye
Nov. 2 at Sacramento State*
Nov. 9
Idaho*
Nov. 16 at Montana*
Nov. 23
Northern Colorado*
* Big Sky Conference game
All game times and broadcast information TBA
