The front end of the schedule is as challenging as any in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Runnin' Bulldogs will face four teams who were ranked in the FCS top-25 last season at some point, along with a BCS program in its first six games.

That stretch begins with perennial Southern Conference and top-10 power Wofford at home on September 1. Following a road trip to 2008 FCS National Champion Richmond (9/8), Gardner-Webb will return home to face fast-rising SoCon member Samford (9/15) and then hit the road for a date with Pittsburgh at Heinz Field (9/22).

Gardner-Webb will begin Big South Conference play on October 6 at 2011 runner up Liberty and - after an October 13 home game against NAIA powerhouse Mid America (Kan.) Nazarene - will trek to Long Island, N.Y., to battle 2011 Big South champion Stony Brook (10/20).

"We are excited to get this schedule completed and look forward to the challenge of playing a very difficult group of opponents," said GWU head coach Ron Dickerson, Jr., who is heading into his second season at the helm. "Our first three opponents, Wofford, Richmond and Samford, are programs that we have tremendous respect for - both on and off the field.

"We are facing a Mid America Nazarene squad that is coming off a top-5 national finish last season. Pittsburgh will be a homecoming of sorts, with my father growing up in the area and many family members still living there. My father and our defensive coordinator, Tony Pierce, were each on staff at Pitt earlier in their careers. The Big South Conference will be improved as well this season, and we will be challenged each week in league play."

The 'Dogs close the season with three of its final four games at home in league play, beginning with homecoming vs. VMI (10/27).

The last time Gardner-Webb played more than five home games in a season was in 2005, when the Runnin' Bulldogs hosted seven games at Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.

2012 Gardner-Webb Football Schedule

09/01 WOFFORD (6:00 PM)
09/08 at Richmond (TBA)
09/15 SAMFORD (3:00 PM)
09/22 at Pittsburgh (TBA)
10/06 at Liberty * (3:30 PM)
10/13 MID AMERICA NAZARENE (6:00 PM)
10/20 at Stony Brook * (TBA)
10/27 VMI * (1:30 PM) - Homecoming 2012
11/03 COASTAL CAROLINA * (1:30 PM)
11/10 at Charleston Southern * (1:30 PM)
11/17 PRESBYTERIAN * (1:30 PM)

HOME GAMES IN BOLD/ALL CAPS
All Times Eastern and Subject To Change
* Denotes Big South Conference Game