Cheney, WA (Sports Network) - The Eastern Washington football program will play the University of Toledo for the first time in 2013 as part of the Eagles' 12- game schedule.

The Eagles from the Big Sky Conference will meet Toledo at the UT Glass Bowl on Sept. 14 in their first game against a Mid-American Conference program.

The NCAA is allowing FCS programs to play 12-game schedules in the regular season in 2013 and '14.

"The opportunity to play 12 games gives us the chance to play a team such as Toledo," said Eastern Washington athletic director Bill Chaves, who made the announcement jointly with his counterpart at Toledo, Mike O'Brien. "In the way the Big Sky Conference schedule broke for us, we had a number of open dates in September, and when this game presented itself, we took advantage of it."

Prior to the Toledo game, Eastern Washington will visit Oregon State on Aug. 31 and host Western Oregon at Roos Field on Sept. 7.

The Eagles were the 2010 FCS national champions.

2013 Eastern Washington Schedule

Aug. 31, at Oregon State; Sept. 7, Western Oregon; Sept. 14, at Toledo; Sept. 21, Open; Sept. 28, at Sam Houston State; Oct. 5, Weber State*; Oct. 12, at North Dakota*; Oct. 19, Southern Utah*; Oct. 26, at Montana*; Nov. 2, at Idaho State*; Nov. 9, Montana State*; Nov. 16, at Cal Poly*; Nov. 23 Portland State*

* - Big Sky Conference game

07/10 15:09:49 ET