DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman will play Florida State as the final part of its 2013 football schedule, it was announced Monday afternoon by B-CU Director of Athletics Lynn W. Thompson. The Wildcats and Seminoles will meet on September 21 at FSU's Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla.

"It was always our intent to play a BCS opponent this year, and with the cancellation of the UCF game, we were able to work with the ACC and FSU to reach an agreement in order to make this happen," said Thompson. "This is a natural matchup for us that falls in line with our philosophy of competing with the best Division I universities in the state of Florida."

This will be the first ever matchup between the Wildcats and Seminoles in football, but the third time in as many years that B-CU will compete against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent. The Cats took on the University of Miami in 2011 and 2012, both games taking place in Miami Gardens, Fla.

For B-CU, the game against Florida State comes in the wake of numerous Division I institutions contacting the school about a possible contest to fill the vacant 2013 schedule dates for either September 21 or September 28. The Circle City Classic in Indianapolis was one of those possibilities.

"We were invited by the Circle City Classic to play in 2013, but they could not find a suitable Division I opponent for us," said Thompson. "We were also contacted by numerous BCS universities across the nation, but to find a matchup in the state for our fans and student-athletes is an opportunity too good to pass up. We have a luxury of not having to leave the state of Florida to play the best BCS teams in the nation."

When asked about the opportunity to play FSU, B-CU head coach Brian Jenkins was excited from the very beginning.

"We have a chance to play another top-level opponent," said Jenkins. "We have had Miami on the schedule - and hopefully can continue to have them on in future years, while the FSU game this year allows us another top level school in the state of Florida. This gives our program a chance to play against some of the best talent and one of the best programs out there."

For Bethune-Cookman Football season ticket information, please call the B-CU Ticket Office at (386) 481-2465, or visiting TicketMaster.com by clicking here.

To view the complete 2013 B-CU football schedule, please click here.

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