Updated

Lamar University football will visit the game schedule announced Thursday.

Football Championship Subdivision teams usually play a maximum of 11 games, but the Cardinals are allowed to play the 12 games under NCAA rules because of the Sept. 15 game in Honolulu.

Lamar will play another Bowl Subdivision team when opens the season at Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 1. It is the first meeting between the programs since the Rajun Cajuns extended their series lead to 16-10 with a 42-33 win in 1989.

"I'm excited about the coming season and the schedule we will play," Lamar head coach Ray Woodard upon said. "We have some challenging road games with the two FBS contests.

"It will be a great way to open the season against longtime rival Louisiana- Lafayette, and, of course, there's the trip to Hawaii. That should be a lot of fun for the players, the coaches and the entire travel party."

Lamar will play six home games. The Cardinal will host Prairie View A&M (Sept. 8), Langston (Sept. 22) and McMurry (Oct. 13, Homecoming) in non-conference action and host Southland Conference foes Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 29), Sam Houston State (Oct. 27) and Nicholls (Nov. 10).

The Cardinals also will visit four Southland opponents, Northwestern State (Oct. 6), Central Arkansas (Oct. 20), Stephen F. Austin (Nov. 3) and McNeese State (Nov. 17).

Lamar restarted its program in 2010 and has gone 9-13 in two seasons, including 4-7 in 2011.

2012 Lamar Football Schedule

Sept. 1, at Louisiana-Lafayette, Lafayette, La.

Sept. 8, Prairie View A&M, Beaumont, Texas

Sept. 15, at Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii

Sept. 22, Langston, Beaumont, Texas

Sept. 29, Southeastern Louisiana*, Beaumont, Texas

Oct. 6, at Northwestern State*, Natchitoches, La.

Oct. 13, McMurry (Homecoming), Beaumont, Texas

Oct. 20, at Central Arkansas*, Conway, Ark.

Oct. 27, Sam Houston State*, Beaumont, Texas

Nov. 3, at Stephen F. Austin*, Nacogdoches, Texas

Nov. 10, Nicholls*, Beaumont, Texas

Nov. 17, at McNeese State*, Lake Charles, La.

* - Southland Conference game