LANCASTER, Pa. - Led by second-year head coach Tom Blumenauer, the Franklin & Marshall football team is ready for a highly anticipated 2023 season. 

The Diplomats will begin the Fall on the road as they face Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa. on Friday, September 1 at 7 p.m. F&M then returns home to host TCNJ under the lights at Shadek Stadium for its home opener on Friday, September 8 at 7 p.m. 

After visiting Montclair State (Sept. 16), F&M will head to the bye week before traveling to Carlisle, Pa. to take on Dickinson (Sept. 29). The Diplomats then come back to Lancaster for back-to-back home games as they welcome Ursinus (Oct. 7) and Johns Hopkins (Oct. 14) to Shadek. 

Following a road game at McDaniel (Oct. 21), F&M faces Kean (Oct. 28) during True Blue Weekend. The team will close out the season with an away matchup at Muhlenberg (Nov. 4) and home game against Gettysburg (Nov. 11). 

2023 will be the first time since 2004 that the Diplomats have a first-time opponent scheduled in TCNJ and Montclair State. It is also the first time since 1983 that F&M has multiple first-time opponents. 

In his first season with the Diplomats, Blumenauer led the team to a six-win season and collected five victories against Centennial opponents. Amongst the conference, F&M ranked first in interceptions (20) and defensive touchdowns (3). 

Key contributors returning to this year's squad include defensive back Justin Gerhart, who was placed on the D3Football All-America team, and running back Aaron Rascoe, who made the All-Centennial Conference first-team.