SEMO season opener against Dayton canceled due to COVID-19

Southeast Missouri and Dayton jointly announced Monday that their season-opening football game scheduled for Sept. 3 has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With challenges related to COVID-19, Dayton would not have time for its football team to be physically prepared with the proper exercise and heat acclimatization needed prior to its first game.

This year's meeting was the first game of a home-and-home series and both teams will work to reschedule the game in Cape Girardeau during a future season.

Dayton was 8-3 overall and tied for second in the Pioneer Football League with a 6-1 mark in 2019.

SEMO is searching for another opponent to fill the vacancy.