The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University football teams will meet Sept. 15 -- the third week of the season -- at the Glass Bowl to begin Mid-American Conference play.

This will be the earliest the rivals have squared off.

The MAC released its schedule Thursday, revealing among other things that Bowling Green will play Buffalo on Nov. 23 in the first ever FBS game at Columbus Crew Stadium.

The news of UT and BG playing in week three comes as a surprise, as the rivalry typically is renewed in October or November. They've played in September just once -- Sept. 24, 1988.

UT will play three mid-week games on ESPN2 or ESPNU to close the regular season -- vs. Ball State (Tuesday, Nov. 6), at defending MAC champion Northern Illinois (Wednesday, Nov. 14), and vs. Akron (Tuesday, Nov. 20). The NIU matchup is scheduled for 9 p.m. UT will host Central Michigan on homecoming Oct. 6.

BG plays non-Saturday games at Ohio (Wednesday, Nov. 7 on ESPN2) and against Buffalo (Friday, Nov. 23) in the regular season finale at Columbus Crew Stadium to be aired on ESPNU or ESPN3. The Falcons will host Rhode Island on homecoming Sept. 29 and will visit MAC newcomer Massachusetts on Oct. 20.

First Published March 30, 2012, 6:06 a.m.