JACKSONVILLE – A pair of games against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and an seven-game Ohio Valley Conference schedule highlights Jacksonville State's 2009 Football schedule, as announced by JSU Athletics Director Oval Jaynes on Thursday.

The Gamecocks open the season in Atlanta against Georgia Tech on Sept. 5 and then travels to face Florida State the following week on Sept. 12. Both Georgia Tech and Florida State each posted identical 9-4 records and 5-3 marks in the ACC last season, and it marks the second meeting between both schools.

“We're very excited about our 2009 football schedule,” said Jaynes. “We feel like playing Florida State and Georgia Tech allow our fans an opportunity to see the Gamecocks match-up against two of the premier football programs in the country.”

Jax State has a 1-0 record over Florida State, claiming a 7-0 win on December 6, 1947, while dropping a 41-14 loss at Georgia Tech last season.

The Gamecocks then travel to face Alabama A&M on Sept. 19, before traveling to play former Southland Conference rival Nicholls State on Sept. 26.

Ohio Valley Conference begins the following week in the home-opener against UT Martin on October 3 at Paul Snow Stadium, and the Gamecocks then travel to Murray State (Oct. 10).

JSU returns home to face Eastern Illinois on Oct. 24, before a pair of road trips to Austin Peay (Oct. 31) and Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 7). The Gamecocks then return to Paul Snow Stadium to face Tennessee Tech on Nov. 14 and defending OVC Champion Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 21.

“I would say this is the toughest football schedule in school history,” said JSU head coach Jack Crowe. “We are playing two quality FBS opponents in Florida State and Georgia Tech that both won nine games, and then considering the fact the Ohio Valley Conference had four teams with eight wins a year ago, this schedule will be demanding, but we're looking forward to the challenge.”

Jacksonville State finished with an 8-3 record last season and tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference. It marks the first time in school history the Gamecocks have played two FBS opponents in the season.

Date	Opponents	Time
Sept. 5	at Georgia Tech	TBA
Sept. 12	at Florida State	TBA
Sept. 19	at Alabama A&M	TBA
Sept. 26	at Nicholls State	TBA
Oct. 3	*UT Martin (Band Day/Family Day)	1 p.m.
Oct. 10	*at Murray State	TBA
Oct. 17	OPEN
Oct. 24	*Eastern Illinois (Homecoming)	1 p.m.
Oct. 31	*at Austin Peay	TBA
Nov. 7	*at Southeast Missouri	TBA
Nov. 14	*Tennessee Tech (Preview Day)	12 p.m.
Nov. 21	*Eastern Kentucky (Hall of Fame Day)	12 p.m.