Athens, Ohio -- Big Ten members Minnesota and Northwestern and the Big East's Virginia Tech will visit Peden Stadium as part of upcoming Ohio football schedules, Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh announced today. The Bobcats have at least one opponent under contract through the 2010 season.

The release of upcoming schedules includes changes made when UCF – a non-conference opponent in four of the next five years – became a football-playing member of the Mid-American Conference. Ohio and Kentucky recently signed a deal to play in Lexington twice to fill the open dates.

The Bobcats begin a three-year contract with Pittsburgh in their season opener later this month. The Panthers will host Ohio again in 2004 before

visiting Athens the following year. Fellow Big East member Virginia Tech also has a two-for-one situation with the Bobcats, with the teams scheduled to play in Blacksburg in 2005 and 2007 and in Athens in 2006.

The Northwestern contract calls for another two-for-one. The Bobcats travel to Evanston in 2005 and 2010 with the return game set for Peden in 2008. Another new addition is Wyoming, who will travel to Athens in 2007 before hosting the Bobcats a year later.

"Mid-American Conference football has made tremendous strides over the past five years, much of it due to the success that the league has had in

non-conference play," said Bobcat head coach Brian Knorr. "The opportunity to play not only BCS conference teams but national powers like Pitt, Va.

Tech and Northwestern in Peden Stadium will be a tremendous boost to our recruiting and very exciting for our loyal fan base."

Season and individual-game tickets are now on sale. Call the Ohio ticket office at 1-800-575-CATS for more information.

2003 Non-Conference Opponents

Aug. 28SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE

Sept. 6@ Iowa State

Sept. 13MINNESOTA

Oct. 18@ Kentucky

2004 Non-Conference Opponents

Sept. 2 VMI (Thursday)

Sept. 11@ Pittsburgh

Oct. 2@ Kentucky

2005 Non-Conference Opponents

Sept. 3@ Northwestern

Sept. 10PITTSBURGH

Sept. 24@ Virginia Tech

2006 Non-Conference Opponents

Sept. 9VIRGINIA TECH

Sept. 23@ East Carolina

2007 Non-Conference Opponents

Sept. 1@ Virginia Tech

Sept. 22WYOMING

2008 Non-Conference Opponents

Aug. 30at Wyoming

Sept. 20NORTHWESTERN

2009 Non-Conference Opponents

Sept. 5CONNECTICUT

2010 Non-Conference Opponents

Sept. 4at Northwestern

The Associated Press