JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville State has signed contracts to play Michigan State and Central Florida (UCF) in football for the 2014 season, JSU Athletics Director Oval Jaynes announced today.

“We are pleased to announce that we will play Michigan State and UCF during the 2014 season,” Jaynes said. “Michigan State is one of the top programs in the country and has ranked among the nation's top 25 in attendance in football over the last 54 years.

“I know it will be a challenge for our team, but I know our coaches, players and fans will be excited about the opportunity to play in Spartan Stadium,” Jaynes added.

The Gamecocks will open the 2014 season on August 30 at Michigan State, and financial terms of the contract were not announced. It marks the first opponent from the Big Ten on the JSU football schedule.

Jax State will also play another FBS opponent that season by traveling to Orlando to face Central Florida.

“We are also very excited about the opportunity to travel to face UCF,” Jaynes said. “The state of Florida is our third largest state with alumni and we are proud they will get an opportunity to see the Gamecocks play against an in-state opponent.”

This will mark the second game in the state of Florida over the next four years as the Gamecocks will also visit the University of Florida in 2012.

Jacksonville State has never played UCF in football, although the two schools were members of the Atlantic Sun Conference in all other sports from 1995 through the 2003 athletic season.

The two teams will play on Saturday, September 20, 2014, and the financial terms of the contract were not announced.

Jacksonville State has faced a pair of Conference USA opponents over the last five years, including Memphis in 2007 and UAB in 2005.