Arkansas State sets 2012 football slate

Arkansas State unveiled its football slate for the 2012 season Thursday, a docket featuring six home games, three TV games and nonconference road trips to Nebraska and Oregon.

The Red Wolves schedule was fixed after the Sun Belt Conference released its lineup, and ASU will have home conference games against Western Kentucky (Sept. 29), South Alabama (Oct. 13), Louisiana-monroe (Nov. 8) and Middle Tennessee (Dec. 1).

“We are looking forward to the non-conference challenges it will present against some of the nation’s top teams before we face a strong Sun Belt schedule,” ASU Coach Gus Malzahn said in a statement.

The Red Wolves open the season Sept. 1 at Oregon, which finished ranked No. 5 in the Bowl Championship Series standings after defeating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. ASU’S home opener comes a week later against Memphis, followed by a Sept. 15 visit to the Lincoln to face the Huskers.

The nonconference portion of the schedule ends with a visit from Football Championship Subdivision member Alcorn State on Sept. 22.

After opening conference play against Western Kentucky, the Red Wolves travel to Florida International on Oct. 4, a game that will air on ESPNU. ASU comes home to face South Alabama, and then goes on a two-game road trip.

Arkansas State’s game against Louisiana-lafayette on Oct. 23 is another weeknight tilt slated to be shown on either ESPN or ESPN 2, followed by a Nov. 3 visit to North Texas.

The Red Wolves come home to face Louisiana-monroe on Nov. 8 in another Thursday night TV game on ESPNU. ASU winds down it season with a road game at Troy (Nov. 17) and a season finale in Jonesboro against Middle Tennessee.