The University of Maryland will play a 12-game regular season in football this year, featuring games against seven bowl teams and two Thursday night Atlantic Coast Conference matchups on ESPN.

The Thursday night games are Oct. 23 at Georgia Tech and Nov. 13 vs. Virginia at Byrd Stadium in College Park.

The Terps will open on Aug. 30 with a nonconference matchup at Northern Illinois, then travel to play ACC champion Florida State on Sept. 6.

Northern Illinois is one of two new opponents on Maryland's schedule, joining The Citadel, a Division I-AA team that will visit College Park on Sept. 13.

The Terps, 21-5 in two years under coach Ralph Friedgen, went 11-3 this past season, including a Peach Bowl victory over Tennessee.

Terps' 2003 schedule(Times to be announced)

Day Date Opponent

Sat. Aug. 30 at Northern Illinois

Sat. Sept. 6 at Florida State*

Sat. Sept. 13 Citadel

Sat. Sept. 20 West Virginia

Sat. Sept. 27 at Eastern Michiga

Sat. Oct. 4 Clemson*

Sat. Oct. 11 Duke*

Thur. Oct. 23 at Georgia Tech* (ESPN)

Sat. Nov. 1 North Carolina*

Thur. Nov. 13 Virginia* (ESPN)

Sat. Nov. 22 at N.C. State*

Sat. Nov. 29 at Wake Forest*

*-Atlantic Coast Conference game