WKU football will open next season against Kentucky on Sept. 1 at LP Field in Nashville, according to the 2011 schedule released by the Sun Belt Conference on Tuesday.

The Toppers will play six home games in Bowling Green next year, including three games against teams that earned trips to bowl games last season.

WKU will also host Navy for the first time ever on Sept. 10.

But on Oct. 1, WKU will enter conference play, facing a home matchup against Arkansas State.

Homecoming will take place on Oct. 22, when the Toppers host Louisiana-Lafayette, and they’ll travel to LSU on Nov. 12 for a late non-conference tilt.

WKU starts spring practice on March 21, and the annual Red and White game will take place at 4 p.m. on April 16.

2011 WKU football schedule

September 1 KENTUCKY (LP Field in Nashville, Tenn.)

September 10 NAVY

September 17 INDIANA STATE (Parents and Family Weekend)

September 24 Open Date

October 1 ARKANSAS STATE

October 6 at Middle Tennessee (ESPNU)

October 15 at Florida Atlantic

October 22 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (Homecoming)

October 29 at Louisiana-Monroe

November 5 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL

November 12 at LSU

November 19 at North Texas

November 26 TROY

** Home games in caps