Western Kentucky announced its full 2016 football schedule Thursday, highlighted by games against two Southeastern Conference opponents, including the first ever at home, and a season opener at home against a league opponent for the first time since 2000.

The defending Conference USA champion Hilltoppers have six home games and six road games, including four within 315 miles of Bowling Green. The conference schedule flipped from the 2015 slate.

WKU opens at home against C-USA West Division foe Rice on Sept. 3. It’s the Tops’ first opening home game against a league foe since welcoming Tennessee-Martin in 2000.

Three of WKU’s first five games are at home.

The Tops travel to defending national champion Alabama on Sept. 10 and to Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 17.

After two weeks on the road, WKU returns home for two contests, starting with Vanderbilt on Sept. 24. That marks the first time an SEC opponent will play at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

FCS opponent Houston Baptist visits Oct. 1 to close WKU’s non-conference schedule. WKU will pay Houston Baptist $300,000 for that trip.

WKU’s remaining seven games are all league games as follows: at Louisiana Tech (Oct. 8), at Middle Tennessee (Oct. 15), vs. Old Dominion (Oct. 22), at Florida Atlantic (Oct. 29), vs. FIU (Nov. 5), vs. North Texas (Nov. 12) and at Marshall (Nov. 26).

The Hilltoppers’ bye week comes after 11 games the week of Nov. 19 – ahead of the regular-season finale against Marshall. It’s WKU’s longest stretch without a bye week since 1996.

The combined 2015 record of WKU’s 2016 road opponents was 46-32. The combined 2015 record of the ’16 home opponents was 22-49.

The Tops won’t host a team that had a winning record a year ago. The best record was 5-7 by Rice, Old Dominion and Florida International.

On the other side, WKU will travel to four foes that won at least seven games in 2015, led by reigning national champ Alabama (14-1).

Kickoff times will be announced at a later date as the league works to finalize its television schedule. Dates are subject to change.

WKU SCHEDULE

SEPT. 3 – RICE*

Sept. 10 – at Alabama

Sept. 17 – at Miami (Ohio)

SEPT. 24 – VANDERBILT

OCT. 1 – HOUSTON BAPTIST

Oct. 8 – at Louisiana Tech*

Oct. 15 – at Middle Tennessee*

OCT. 22 – OLD DOMINION*

Oct. 29 – at Florida Atlantic*

NOV. 5 – FIU*

NOV. 12 – NORTH TEXAS*

Nov. 26 – at Marshall*

* denotes Conference USA game