The Lindenwood football team opens up the 2017 season on Thursday night in Edmond, Okla. The Lions will take on Central Oklahoma in a 7 p.m. contest.

The game will be the first contest for Jed Stugart as the head coach of the Lindenwood football program. Stugart enters the season ranked third among NCAA Division II active coaches in winning percentage (.791), and 22nd in overall wins (91).

Lindenwood has won eight straight season openers, including having a perfect 5-0 mark when opening against a MIAA opponent. Four of those games have been decided by six points or less. The last team to beat the Lions in a season opener was MidAmerica Nazarene, back when it was coached by Jed Stugart in 2008.

Lindenwood and Central Oklahoma tied for eighth in the MIAA standings last year after both had a 3-8 overall record. In the preseason coaches poll this season, the Bronchos were selected eighth, one spot ahead of the Lions.