It's year number five for Colorado Mesa Head Coach Russ Martin, who has taken the Mavericks from 4-7 in 2012 to 9-2 last season and within a whisper of an RMAC title and playoff appearance. The highly successful 2015 season will be a tough act to follow.

The Mavericks traditionally have opened the season with a pair of non-conference games, but this season will have just one non-conference opponent, Azusa Pacific, and that will be the last game of the season.

CMU will open the season September 3 on the road against rival Western State and then host Chadron State on September 10, the Mavericks' first home game of the season.

The following week has the Mavericks playing at Colorado School of Mines' brand new stadium against the Orediggers. A second straight road game sends CMU to Durango to play up-and-coming Fort Lewis.

Parents weekend on October 1 brings perennial RMAC powerhouse and defending champion CSU-Pueblo to Stocker Stadium in a game that could potentially decide this year's conference champion.

After a trip to Spearfish, South Dakota to take on the Black Hills State Yellowjackets, the Mavs play back-to-back home games against Dixie State, a new addition to the RMAC, and the 2016 homecoming game October 22 against Adams State.

The last two conference games of the year will be at New Mexico Highlands and a home game against South Dakota School of Mines, another new addition to the RMAC.

Tickets for all Colorado Mesa home games are available from the Mavericks' website.

COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY
2016 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

September 3 at 1 p.m. @ Western State
September 10 at 1 p.m vs CHADRON STATE
September 17 at noon @ Colorado Mines
September 24 at noon @ Fort Lewis
October 1at 1 p.m. vs CSU-PUEBLO
October 8 at noon @ Black Hill State
October 15 at 7 p.m vs DIXIE STATE
October 22 at 7 p.m vs ADAMS STATE
October 29 at noon @ N.M. Highlands
November 5 at 1 p.m vs SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
November 12 at 1 p.m. vs AZUSA PACIFIC

More From ESPN Western Colorado