Featuring games against perennial NCAA Division III powers Hardin-Simmons and Cal Lutheran, plus contests with traditional Northwest Conference foes Pacific Lutheran, Whitworth and Willamette, the 2012 Linfield College football schedule is loaded with quality opponents.

Beginning his seventh season as head coach, Joseph Smith’s Wildcats will likely start the new season rated among the nation’s top 10 teams. The Wildcats concluded the 2011 campaign with a 10-1 record and a No. 6 national ranking.

The season kicks off Sept. 1 at home against Menlo, marking the earliest start of a Linfield football season in program history.

On a quest for an unprecedented 57th consecutive winning season, the Wildcats host five home games, including the first two on the schedule.

After the season-opener with Menlo, led by former Willamette coach Mark Speckman, the Wildcats host Hardin-Simmons of the American Southwest Conference. The game begins a new two-year home-and-home scheduling arrangement.

Linfield then faces another Top 25-caliber program the following week when the ‘Cats visit Cal Lutheran on Sept. 15. Game times for the first three games on the schedule are yet to be determined, pending confirmation of each team’s flight arrangements.

Sandwiched between two open weeks, the Sept. 29 game at Pacific Lutheran opens Northwest Conference play. The game will be played at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup, Wash.

Whitworth is the Wildcats’ Homecoming opponent on Oct. 13 before Linfield heads to 2011 NWC runner-up Lewis & Clark the following weekend.

Willamette makes the short trek from Salem to McMinnville on Oct. 20 to continue the Wildcats and Bearcats’ storied rivalry.

Linfield heads to Puget Sound for a 1 o’clock game on Nov. 3, then hosts Pacific in the annual AT&T Hall of Fame Game to conclude the regular season. Kickoff for the season finale’ is set for 1 p.m.

Season ticket packages are expected to go on sale in mid-June. Current season ticket holders will be contacted about renewing their existing seats.