FRISCO, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will open the 2016 football season with a televised game against the Houston Baptist Huskies on "The Stripes" at First Security Field at Estes Stadium, the Southland Conference announced Tuesday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on the American Sports Network.

    The SLC football television plans for the first five weeks of the season were announced Tuesday. Matchups in the early portion of the schedule are set for telecast across ESPN3, the American Sports Network, Cox Sports Television and other outlets. For games on Oct. 8 and beyond, the conference will reveal most television choices 12 days prior to kickoff. This will allow for the best matchups to be selected each week for various partners.

     ESPN will exercise its option to make the initial choice most weeks, placing a top-tier game on ESPN3, its multi-screen network. The American Sports Network's selected game will be syndicated throughout the region and beyond. Cox Sports Television will also make several choices, scattered throughout the schedule.

     Opening night of the 2016 season falls on Thursday, Sept., 1, and will feature a conference matchup between HBU and UCA from Conway. The American Sports Network will carry the game on local affiliates across the country. ASN's list of partner stations will be announced at a later date.

    UCA's conference matchup at Abilene Christian on Saturday, Oct. 1 will also be broadcast on ASN from Abilene.

 Southland Conference Football: Early Television Selections

 Thursday, Sept. 1
Houston Baptist at Central Arkansas, 6 p.m., American Sports Network

 Friday, Sept. 2
Northwestern State at Baylor, 6:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net

 Saturday, Sept. 3
Southeastern Louisiana at Oklahoma State, 2:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net
Oklahoma Panhandle State at Sam Houston State, 6 p.m., ESPN3*
Coastal Carolina at Lamar, 7 p.m., ESPN3*
Stephen F. Austin at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., Fox Sports Net

 Thursday, Sept. 8
UIW at Northwestern State, 6 p.m., American Sports Network

 Saturday, Sept. 10
McNeese at Louisiana-Lafayette, TBD, ESPN Network TBD
Nicholls at Georgia, 11 a.m., SEC Network
Lamar at Houston, 11 a.m., ESPN3
West Alabama at Stephen F. Austin, 6 p.m., ESPN3*
Texas Southern at Houston Baptist, 7 p.m., ROOT Sports Southwest*

 Saturday, Sept. 17
Stephen F. Austin at McNeese, 6 p.m., American Sports Network
Abilene Christian at Houston Baptist, 7 p.m., Fox College Sports*
Sam Houston State at Lamar, 7 p.m., ESPN3*

 Saturday, Sept. 24
Central Arkansas at Arkansas State, TBD, ESPN Network TBD
Nicholls at South Alabama, TBD, ESPN Network TBD
Northwestern State at Southeastern Louisiana, 6 p.m., Cox Sports TV
Abilene Christian at Stephen F. Austin, 6 p.m., ESPN3*
Sam Houston State at Houston Baptist, 7 p.m., Fox College Sports*

 Saturday, Oct. 1
Central Arkansas at Abilene Christian, 2:30 p.m., American Sports Network
Stephen F. Austin vs. Sam Houston State, 3 p.m., ESPN3
Nicholls at McNeese, 6 p.m., Cox Sports TV
UIW at Texas State, 6 p.m., ESPN Network TBD
Southeastern Louisiana at Lamar, 7 p.m., ESPN3*

 Thursday, Nov. 17
Southeastern Louisiana at Nicholls, 6 p.m., American Sports Network