LSU announced today that it will open their 2010 football season in Atlanta, GA against the North Carolina Tar Heels. The game will be played on September 4 at the Georgia Dome. The contest will be televised by ESPN in what will be a prime time national broadcastcast.

“This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our program on a national scale against a top program from the ACC,” LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva said. “This will be an exciting way to start the season and we think this will be a great experience for our fans. A prime time national telecast means tremendous exposure for our football program and our university.”

This will mark the seventh meeting between the two schools, the teams last met in 1986 when LSU posted a 30-3 win over North Carolina in Tiger Stadium. LSU leads the overall series with North Carolina, 5-1.

“We are excited about the opportunity to play North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game next season,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “This game will mean a great deal of exposure for our football program. Atlanta is a great city and a place that has always treated us very well. We are looking forward to playing in this game to open the 2010 season.”

In addition to the North Carolina contest, LSU rounded out its 2010 schedule by adding McNeese State to the slate. The Tigers will face the Cowboys in Tiger Stadium on Oct. 16 of next year. It will be the first meeting between LSU and McNeese State in football and it will also mark the first time the Tigers have played an in-state FCS (formerly I-AA) opponent.

LSU also filled a void in its 2011 schedule by adding Northwestern State. The Tigers will host the Demons in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 10, 2011. The Demons are coached by former LSU assistant Bradley Dale Peveto.

“By scheduling McNeese and Northwestern State, we are keeping money in-state and at the same time providing financial assistance with the game guarantee to two of our fellow universities here in Louisiana,” Alleva said. “It makes sense for us to play games against in-state schools when our schedule allows rather than bringing in an FCS school (formerly I-AA) from another state.”

2010 LSU Football Schedule

Sept. 4 North Carolina Atlanta, Ga.

Sept. 11 Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn.

Sept. 18 Mississippi State Baton Rouge

Sept. 25 West Virginia Baton Rouge

Oct. 2 Tennessee Baton Rouge

Oct. 9 Florida Gainesville, Fla.

Oct. 16 McNeese State Baton Rouge

Oct. 23 Auburn Auburn, Ala.

Nov. 6 Alabama Baton Rouge

Nov. 13 Southern Miss Baton Rouge

Nov. 20 Ole Miss Baton Rouge

Nov. 27 Arkansas Little Rock, Ark.

2011 LSU Football Schedule

Sept. 3 TBA

Sept. 10 Northwestern State Baton Rouge

Sept. 17 at Mississippi State Starkville, Miss.

Sept. 24 at West Virginia Morgantown, W.Va.

Oct. 1 Kentucky Baton Rouge

Oct. 8 Florida Baton Rouge

Oct. 15 at Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn.

Oct. 22 Auburn Baton Rouge

Nov. 5 at Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Nov. 12 TBA

Nov. 19 at Ole Miss Oxford, Miss.

Nov. 26 Arkansas Baton Rouge