Football | 3/1/2017 10:54:00 AM

STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern Athletics Department and the Sun Belt Conference announced Wednesday the Eagles' 2017 football schedule, one that includes two Power 5 opponents, at least two nationally televised games and seven contests against teams that played in bowl games last year.

A Wednesday night ESPN2 game against Arkansas State on Oct. 4 highlights GS's schedule at Paulson Stadium, along with home Saturday contests against Sun Belt foes New Mexico State, Georgia State and South Alabama and a home tilt against New Hampshire.

The Eagles will open the 2017 season on the road at Auburn, marking the third time in the past four years GS has opened on the road at a Power 5 school (2014 at NC State, 2015 at West Virginia). Georgia Southern opens its home slate on Sept. 9 with a contest against New Hampshire of the FCS. The two schools have met just once before with the Wildcats downing the Eagles 27-23 in the 2004 NCAA I-AA Playoffs at Paulson Stadium.

After an open week, the Eagles head to Bloomington, Indiana, for a non-conference tilt against Indiana on Sept. 23. The Hoosiers will be the first current Big Ten school to ever take on the Eagles in football. 

October begins with the Wednesday night ESPN2 game against A-State at home in the first Wednesday game in Paulson Stadium history, followed by another home conference contest against New Mexico State on Oct. 14. Georgia Southern will then head north for its final non-conference game as the Eagles take on UMass on Oct. 21 in Amherst. October wraps up with a road conference game at Troy on Oct. 28.

GS will play four games in November, two of them in the friendly confines of Paulson Stadium. The Eagles open the month at home against in-state rival Georgia State on Nov. 4 and then have a short turnaround, playing at Appalachian State five days later. That Thursday night game on Nov. 9 will be televised by ESPNU. Senior Day will be Nov. 18 as Georgia Southern welcomes South Alabama to town for its final home game of the season before heading to Lafayette to take on Louisiana on Nov. 25. The regular season concludes on Dec. 2 with a road trip to conference newcomer Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina.

In all, the Eagles will face seven teams that played in bowl games last season: Auburn (Sugar Bowl), Indiana (Foster Farms Bowl), Appalachian State (co-SBC champ; Camellia Bowl champs), Arkansas State (co-SBC champ; Cure Bowl champs), Troy (Dollar General Bowl champs), Louisiana (New Orleans Bowl) and South Alabama (Arizona Bowl). Additionally, New Hampshire was selected for the FCS Playoffs, falling in the first round to eventual national champion James Madison.

Georgia Southern will have four open Saturdays, including one full bye week. The Eagles will not play the two Saturdays (Sept. 30 and Oct. 7) around the Wednesday night game at home against Arkansas State on Oct. 4, as well as Saturday, Nov. 11, following the Thursday night game at App State on Nov. 9. The bye week for Georgia Southern comes early this season as the Eagles will not play on Sept. 16.

Season ticket holders have only two weeks left to renew their 2017 tickets before the March 15 deadline. Fans may pre-order new season ticket packages by visiting GSEagles.com/Tickets or by calling 1(800) GSU-WINS during business hours (Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.). They can also stop by the Athletics Ticket Office at 203 Lanier Drive. Season tickets are as low as $75/each for family plan sections and require a minimum purchase of two.

GS will not play SBC members Idaho, ULM or Texas State this season.

Times and broadcast information for all 12 games, as well as promotional days for the five home contests, will be announced at a later date.

For the full schedule, click here.

2017 Georgia Southern Football Schedule
September
Sept. 2: at Auburn
Sept. 9: New Hampshire
Sept. 16: OPEN
Sept. 23: at Indiana

October
Oct. 4: Arkansas State * (Wednesday) - ESPN2
Oct. 14: New Mexico State *
Oct. 21: at UMass
Oct. 28: at Troy *

November
Nov. 4: Georgia State *
Nov. 9: at Appalachian State * (Thursday) - ESPNU
Nov. 18: South Alabama *
Nov. 25: at Louisiana *

December
Dec. 2: at Coastal Carolina *

* - denotes Sun Belt Conference opponent