GRANVILLE, Ohio (September 3, 2021) – The 2021 Denison University football season is nearly here. The Big Red will kick things off on the road tomorrow, September 4, at 6 p.m. at Ohio Northern University.

The following weekend will be Denison's first home game and first North Coast Athletic Conference game of the season as the Big Red welcome Allegheny College into Deeds Field-Piper Stadium for a 3 p.m. start on Saturday, September 11.

Denison will host Wabash College on October 2nd for Big Red Weekend, and then the Battle of the Old Red Lantern will take place on October 23rd as the Big Red look to win their seventh straight over the College of Wooster.

Denison is coming off a strong 2019 campaign that saw it finish with a three-team share of the NCAC regular-season title with Wabash College and Wittenberg University. This season, the Big Red were picked third in the NCAC Preseason Poll.

In 2019, the Big Red finished with an overall record of 8-2, marking the program's third eight-win season since 2016.  Over the last four seasons, Denison has gone 31-10 with two NCAC Championships and one NCAA Division III playoff appearance in 2018.

Under the direction and leadership of 12th-year Head Coach Jack Hatem, Denison has enjoyed seven consecutive winning seasons and five straight seasons with at least seven victories. Hatem ranks third all-time in wins at Denison and boasts a career record of 65-37 (.637). Only Walter Livingston (76) and Keith Piper (200) have more wins at Denison than Hatem. No other coach at Denison has reached the 50-win milestone faster.

Returning to lead the Big Red on the offensive side of the ball this season will be quarterback Drew Dawkins, who threw for just under 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns to go along with three rushing touchdowns in 2019. Dawkins was named Honorable Mention All-NCAC in 2019 and will be well protected as the team also returns Trey Dawkins (First-Team All-NCAC) and Sean McCafferty (Second-Team All-NCAC) on the offensive line.

Returning defensively for Denison is Ryan Hallinan (Second-Team All-NCAC), Cory Swartzmiller, Francis Fay and Anthony Rooney. On special teams, Pat Kramer (10-13 FGs, 48-48 PATs) earned his second-career All-NCAC honor after making the second-team in 2019.

To follow the action all season long, please check out our Live Events page for all of the video and live stats details: https://denisonbigred.com/coverage