Florida A&M releases 2017 football schedule

Florida A&M University (FAMU) released its 2017 football schedule Wednesday, which includes a season-opening home game for the first time since 2010.

The Rattlers will open their third season under Head Coach Alex Wood on Saturday, Aug. 26, against an old rival from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), the Tigers of Texas Southern University, in the inaugural Jake Gaither Classic in Bragg Memorial Stadium.

A portion of the proceeds from the game will benefit the Jake Gaither House with a goal of assisting in the preservation of the home of the Hall of Fame Rattler coach, located just off the FAMU campus.

Bragg Stadium will also be the scene for three other home games against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion Eagles of North Carolina Central (Sept. 30), the Aggies of North Carolina A&T (for the 2017 Homecoming game on Oct. 14), and the Bison of Howard University (the Nov. 4 home finale).

The 2017 Rattler Road Tour features a seven-game slate opening Sept. 2 against the Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

Other whistle stops on the Rattler Road Tour will feature face-offs against the Tigers of Savannah State in the MEAC opener (Sept. 23, Savannah, Ga.); the Spartans of Norfolk State (Oct. 7, Norfolk, Va.); the Pirates of Hampton University (Oct. 21, Hampton, Va.), and the Bears of Morgan State (Oct. 28, Baltimore, Md.)

The Tigers of Tennessee State make a return to the FAMU schedule on Sept. 16, at a site to be announced at a later date.

FAMU closes out the regular season with the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic against arch-rival Bethune-Cookman University at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Nov. 18.