MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann announced Friday that the school has agreed to a two-game, home-and-home football series with UAB.

The arrangement begins with a meeting in Birmingham on Sept. 19, 2015, with the Jaguars and Blazers playing in Mobile on Sept. 10 the following season.

"Playing UAB is going to be good for our program as well as theirs, any time you can play teams in-state it's a good thing.  We are looking forward to that rivalry," stated Jag head coach Joey Jones. "I think this will be very similar to the UAB-Troy series which has been going on for a while now, both those schools have benefitted from that rivalry.  I feel that these games will be very similar in that respect."

USA played its first game against a Conference USA opponent the second week of this season, defeating Tulane 41-39 in New Orleans on Sept. 7.  After facing the Blazers, the Jaguars have three additonal two-game series with other members of the league's current lineup; they will face Louisiana Tech during the 2017 and '18 seasons, play the Green Wave again in '19 and '20 while taking on Southern Miss as part of their '20 and '21 schedules.

UAB will be the Jags' first non-Sun Belt Conference in-state opponent since opening the 2011 campaign with a 20-0 victory over West Alabama.

"This is truly a great in-state series for the fans," Erdmann commented.  "Each institution has a substantial amount of alumni and current students located within a reasonable driving distance of both Mobile and Birmingham.  We are excited about playing UAB and encourage our fans to mark their calendars far in advance."

USA concluded its first season at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level with a 6-6 mark — making the Jaguars eligible to participate in a postseason bowl — while finishing 4-3 to tie for third in the Sun Belt standings.  After being selected to come in seventh place in the preseason, Jones was named the league's Coach of the Year.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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