Bobby Petrino is returning to the Georgia Dome.
Georgia State’s 2013 conference schedule was released by the Sun Belt on Friday, and it includes a date on Nov. 2 with Western Kentucky, now led by Petrino, the man who left the Falcons during the 2007 season to take a job with Arkansas.
Petrino was fired by the Razorbacks last April after a motorcycle accident led to the revelation of an affair with a woman who worked for him. He was hired by Western Kentucky in December.
Petrino hasn’t returned to Atlanta as a coach since leaving 13 games into the Falcons’ season.
Aside from what could be a fun weekend for Atlanta’s media, the schedule is tough for Georgia State, which went 1-10 last year. Trent Miles was hired to take over the team, which will have seven home games. Because they are in the second year of the two-year transition to FBS, the Panthers aren’t eligible to play in a bowl or win the Sun Belt.
The Hilltoppers are one of four bowl teams from the Sun Belt that the Panthers will play in five-week stretch that includes an off week. The stretch will start at Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 26, followed by Western Kentucky and continuing with a home game against Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 16. It end with a trip to Arkansas State on Nov. 23.
Miles said the entire schedule will be tough, not just the four-game stretch.
"I expect every one of these teams to be excellent, well-coached and fighting for bowls," he said.
The regular season will end with a home game against South Alabama on Nov. 30.
Overall, Georgia State will play six bowl teams, highlighted by games at West Virginia on Sept. 14 and at Alabama on Oct. 5.
2013 schedule
Date, Opponent (last year’s record). Comment
(click on the embedded links to read more about Georgia State's opponents)
Aug. 29 or 30 vs. Samford (7-4, 5-3 Southern). The two teams have never met. Samford is an FCS team.
Sept. 7 vs. Chattanooga (6-5, 5-3 Southern). The two teams have never met. The Mocs are an FCS team.
Sept. 14 at West Virginia (7-6, 4-5 Big 12). The two teams have never met. The Mountaineers started the 2012 season 5-0 and reached No. 5 in the AP poll before losing six of their last eight games. They must replace several key players on offense, including quarterback Geno Smith.
Sept. 21 vs. Jacksonville State (6-5, 5-3 Ohio Valley). The Gamecocks, an FCS team, have beaten the Panthers twice.
Sept. 28 BYE
Oct. 5 at Alabama (13-1, 7-1 SEC). The Crimson Tide won the national championship last year. Alabama defeated the Panthers in 2010.
Oct. 12 vs. Troy (5-7, 3-5 Sun Belt). Georgia State and Troy have never met. The Trojans had the eighth most-productive passing offense in the FBS last year, averaging 331.5 yards per game. They lost by six points to Mississippi State and by seven to Tennessee.
Oct. 19 at Texas State (4-8, 2-4 WAC). This will be the Bobcats' first season in the Sun Belt. They are led by former Alabama coach Dennis Franchione.
Oct. 26 at Louisiana-Monroe (8-5, 6-2 Sun Belt). The Warhawks were beaten by Ohio in the Independence Bowl. However, they defeated Arkansas and lost to Auburn in overtime during the regular season last year.
Nov. 2 vs. Western Kentucky (7-6, 4-4 Sun Belt). The Hilltoppers were beaten by Central Michigan in the Little Caesers Bowl.
Nov. 9. BYE
Nov. 16. vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (9-4, 6-2 Sun Belt). The Ragin' Cajuns almost knocked off Florida last year but did defeat East Carolina in the New Orleans Bowl.
Nov. 23 at Arkansas State (10-3, 7-1 Sun Belt). Gus Malzahn led the Red Wolves to the Sun Belt title and a win over Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl before resigning to join Auburn. Bryan Harsin replaced him as coach. The team's defense is led by former Georgia State defensive coordinator John Thompson.
Nov. 30 vs. South Alabama (2-11, 1-7 Sun Belt). The Panthers and Jags have played twice, with each team winning once.
