STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Southern athletic director Tom Kleinlein said the Eagles will visit West Virginia for the 2015 football season opener.
The matchup, first reported by FBschedules.com, was confirmed by West Virginia sports information director Michael Fragale.
It will be staged on Sept. 5, 2015, and reportedly guarantees Georgia Southern an $850,000 payout. The longtime Division I-AA power is moving up to the FBS this season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
West Virginia also has 2015 nonconference home games with Maryland and FCS member Liberty, along with four Big 12 home games against Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech and Iowa State.
Georgia Southern won six I-AA national titles and added two runner-up finishes since reviving its football program in 1984. The Eagles’ final FCS game became a doozy when they upset Florida in Gainesville last November.