Updated

Sam Houston State won't take the easy way as it tries to return to the FCS national championship game.

The Bearkats, who finished 14-1 as the national runner-up this past season, will make trips to two in-state FBS schools in 2012, on Sept. 15 against Baylor in Waco and Nov. 17 against Texas A&M in College Station.

It will be Sam Houston State's third trip to Baylor in the last nine years and its first to Texas A&M since 1997.

The entire schedule has yet to be finalized, but Sam Houston State will play only three home games as a result of the Southland Conference losing Texas State and UTSA to the Western Athletic Conference.

Coach Willie Fritz's squad will play twice in Houston, Sept. 29 against Texas Southern at the new BBVA Compass Stadium and Oct. 6 versus Southland rival Stephen F. Austin in the annual Battle of the Piney Woods game at Reliant Stadium.