Williamsburg, KY – The new football season will begin in September at James H. Taylor, II Stadium. Coach Matt Rhymer announced his ten-games season featuring five games in Williamsburg and a road-trip to Florida.
 
The seven-game conference slate has the Patriots on the road for the majority of MSC contests. Cumberlands will host their conference opener against Bethel, homecoming against Campbellsville, and senior day against Lindsey Wilson.
 
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Cumberlands will see Kentucky Christian come to town for the season opener on September 4. Rhymer and company have seen the Knights a handful of times, however not since a road trip to Grayson, KY in 2018. The winner of the last time these two met to open up a season was UC in 2009, a blowout 74-7 win. Cumberlands is undefeated all-time against Kentucky Christian, outscoring them 306-73 since their first matchup in 2009.
 
On September 11, the Patriots will make the trip for some Sun Division action at Florida Memorial. It will be the first time in program history these two teams will meet on the field. The Lions started their program ahead of the 2020 season, going 0-3 before cancelling the rest of their inaugural schedule.
 
Cumberlands opened their 2018 slate against Southeastern, a thrilling 27-26 win for the Patriots. It will be an interesting matchup to watch this season as well as the Fire make the trip north for the fourth week of action, following a bye for the Patriots. The Fire went 5-1 in their Sun Division schedule, their only loss by three points to NAIA-qualifier Keiser.
 
The game will be followed by another seven straight weeks of football with the Patriots opening up their Bluegrass Division slate at home against Bethel on October 2. While dropping their contest in McKenzie, TN this spring, the Patriots still finished ahead of the Wildcats in the standings by end of season. Martize Smith is also a weapon for the Patriots, who gained over 240 yards on the ground in their meeting on March 12.
 
Cumberlands will travel for a two-game stint, first against Cumberland followed by Thomas More. The 2019 matchup between the Patriots and the Phoenix in Lebanon began a two-game win streak for the boys in red and blue against their opponents. That season also saw the first program meeting with the Saints of Thomas More, dominating the game in Crestview Hills 45-31. The Patriots did go toe-to-toe with Thomas More this spring, an overtime thriller ending with a one-yard punch in by Smith.
 
Cumberlands will host Campbellsville for homecoming as they did in 2019 as well, the showdown between the Patriots and the Tigers will be at 7 PM on October 23. UC will look for their sixth consecutive win against the Tigers dating back to August 2015. A week later, The Patriots will make the trek to Pikeville on October 30. In the spring, Nathan Arnold led the Patriots on a 31-28 comeback victory against the Bears.
 
Rounding out the season, the Patriots look to avenge their losses against Georgetown and Lindsey Wilson. Cumberlands opened the spring against the eventual NAIA-qualifier Georgetown, losing that contest 27-20. Following the road trip to meet the Tigers, Cumberlands concludes their season against 2020 NAIA Champion Lindsey Wilson on November 13. The defense will look to contain the Blue Raiders and snap their five-game win streak against the Patriots.
 
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