NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University released its 2010 football schedule on Wednesday. Highlighting the non-conference slate are another date at Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Rutgers, the continuation of the Spartans' rivalry with Virginia State and a date at Savannah State to close the season.

The Spartans open the 2010 schedule by traveling to Piscataway, N.J., to face Rutgers University on Thursday, Sept. 2. The schools first met in 2007, with the 13th-ranked Scarlet Knights of the Big East prevailing 59-0. NSU went on to finish 8-3 that season, their best mark since moving to Division I in 1997. The Scarlet Knights finished 9-4 last year, winning their fourth straight bowl game with a 45-24 victory over Central Florida in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

“It's a tremendous opportunity whenever you get to play an FBS team,” NSU head coach Pete Adrian said. “Rutgers has been an excellent program over the last several years and this year will be no exception. We felt like playing there in 2007 really helped serve as a catalyst to our 8-3 season, and it's a great challenge to play them again.”

The Spartans begin their five-game home schedule the following week, opening MEAC play against North Carolina A&T on Sept. 11 in the annual Fish Bowl Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium.

NSU then hosts Virginia State on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. The teams have met every year since 1963, though this will be the first meeting not on Labor Day weekend since 1990. VSU holds a 26-20-1 series edge, though NSU has won the last four meetings.

“We're happy we can play Virginia State again this year,” Adrian said. “It's always a tremendous atmosphere when the two teams play, which makes it a fun game for the players and fans.”

NSU returns to MEAC play for its next seven games, beginning Sept. 25 at Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla. Following its one bye week of the season, the Spartans then play at South Carolina State (Oct. 9) and Hampton (Oct. 16) before hosting Florida A&M for Homecoming on Oct. 23.

A game at Howard rounds out the October schedule on Oct. 30. The Spartans then host Morgan State (Nov. 6) and Delaware State (Nov. 13) to complete the MEAC schedule before closing out the regular season at Savannah State on Nov. 20. The Tigers replace Winston-Salem State on the Spartans' schedule this season. The Spartans are 4-1 all-time against SSU. The schools last met in 2005.

“It's always difficult to find a non-conference game the last week of the season, so we were fortunate that Savannah State was able to fit us in,” Adrian said.

The Spartans return 15 starters, including seven All-MEAC performers, from last season's 7-4 squad.

To view the entire 2010 football schedule, click here.