Big matchups highlight Southern's 2017 schedule
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(STATS) - The MEAC-SWAC Challenge will kick off Southern's 11-game schedule announced Friday.
The Jaguars will host South Carolina State at A.W. Mumford Stadium on Sept. 3 in the season-opening matchups of the FCS conferences for historically black colleges and universities. Southern owns the only SWAC wins in the series, which the MEAC leads 9-2 after this year's game was canceled by inclement weather.
Other highlights are first-ever matchups against FBS schools Southern Miss (Sept. 9) and UTSA (Sept. 16) and the annual Bayou Classic against rival Grambling State (Nov. 25) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Jaguars finished 8-3 this season, including 8-1 in the SWAC, under coach Dawson Odums.
2017 Southern schedule
Sept. 3, South Carolina State
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sept. 9, at Southern Miss
Sept. 16, at UTSA
Sept. 23, at Alcorn State
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sept. 30, Fort Valley State
Oct. 7, Alabama A&M*
Oct. 21, at Jackson State*
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Oct. 28, at Arkansas-Pine Bluff*
Nov. 4, Prairie View A&M*
Nov. 11, at Texas Southern*
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nov. 25, Grambling State* (at New Orleans)
* - SWAC game