NEW ORLEANS – The University of South Alabama football program's 2017 schedule features match-ups with five teams that won a postseason bowl game a year ago, including a pair who defeated top-25 opponents.  It also will pit the Jaguars against five of the top six schools from the final league standings in 2016, all of whom finished with a record of .500 or better in the Sun Belt.

Not included in either of those groups — an opponent from the Southeastern Conference.

A visit from a Big 12 school and two games that will be broadcast nationally on the ESPN family of networks are also part of the slate, which was announced by the Sun Belt Conference office on Wednesday.

"This is a challenging schedule, starting with our non-conference games," Jag head coach Joey Jones said.  "Then you look at our conference games and we drew a very tough schedule with all the top teams in the league from last year.  But in order to be the best you have to beat the best; that's the attitude we're taking, we're looking forward to the opportunities we have this fall."

"As always the 2017 schedule is challenging and filled with exiting Sun Belt Conference and non-conference home and away contests," said USA Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann.  "We encourage people to get their season tickets and parking passes early and make plans to travel with the Jags as most of our away contests are within reasonable driving distances."

Click here to order 2017 South Alabama football season tickets online

The season will begin with back-to-back games against schools from Power 5 conferences, beginning with a Sept. 2 trip to Oxford, Miss., to take on Mississippi.  South opened last year with a road win at Mississippi State, it's first-ever victory over an SEC opponent.

The following week, Oklahoma State comes to Mobile for the Jaguars' home opener at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.  Last fall, the Cowboys went 10-3 overall and 7-2 in the Big 12, and after defeating then-No. 11 Colorado 38-8 in the Alamo Bowl were ranked 11th in both final national polls.

"There is no doubt that it helps when you plays teams like Ole Miss and Oklahoma State — very good football programs — to open the year," Jones explained.  "When our players are working throughout the summer, they realize they had better be on top of their game in order to come out and play well against Power 5 opponents."

Following a Sept. 16 home date against Alabama A&M, the Jags will begin a stretch of three straight contests against schools that won postseason bowl games in 2016.  South will conclude a three-game homestand Sept. 23 by playing host to Idaho in its Sun Belt opener, taking on a Vandal squad that finished 9-4 a year ago.  USA will close out the opening month on Sept. 30 with a trip to take on defending Conference USA West Division champion Louisiana Tech.

Two of the Jaguars' three games in October — both on the road — will be televised nationally, beginning with the annual "Battle For The Belt" at Troy on Wednesday, Oct. 11, that is set to be broadcast on ESPN2.  USA will visit Georgia State on Thursday, Oct. 26, with the match-up slated to air on ESPNU, and in between will face Louisiana-Monroe in a conference contest in Mobile on Oct. 21.

South will wrap up its home schedule with consecutive match-ups against 2016 bowl teams, facing Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 4 and defending SBC co-champion Arkansas State — a 31-13 winner over Central Florida in the AutoNation Cure Bowl — the next week.  The final two games of the regular season feature visits to Georgia Southern (Nov. 18) and New Mexico State (Dec. 2).

Game times and television information for the first three weeks of the season will be announced after June 1.  Beginning with the fourth week of the schedule, kickoff times and broadcasting selections will be released 12 days prior to the contest.

2017 South Alabama football season tickets can be purchased for the upcoming six-game home schedule online at www.usajaguars.com or over the phone by calling (251) 461-1USA.  Season tickets start at just $60 for end zone seating and are only $120 for sideline seats.  Information regarding tickets for Jaguar road games this fall will be released later in the spring.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Jaguar Athletic Fund (JAF) Priority Fund, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to the Priority Fund directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/sports/2013/3/13/Gridiron%20Club.aspx?id=22

—USA—