“We’re extremely excited about this special opportunity to kick off the 2012 season with a nationally televised game against Boise State, the nation’s winningest football program since 1997 (140-31, .819),” Hollis said in a statement. “As we try an innovative concept with a Friday night Labor Day weekend game, we couldn’t pull something like this off without campus-wide cooperation.”

The 2012 game is set for Friday, Aug 31. The game is Friday because Michigan high schools will play Thursday because of Labor Day.

The Spartans will travel to Boise State in 2022 and the Broncos will return to Spartan Stadium in 2023.

Boise State is one more prestigious football program MSU has added to future schedule in the last 18 months. Future opponents include West Virginia (2014-15), Alabama (2016-17) and Miami-Fla. (2020-21). MSU also extended its series with Notre Dame through the 2031 season, with two-year breaks in 2014-15, 2020-21 and 2026-27.

“With teams like Boise State, West Virginia, Alabama, Miami and Notre Dame on our future schedules, our fans can look forward to a lot of special game days in Spartan Stadium, as we continue to bring the top programs in college football to our state,” Hollis said.

MSU’s home slate in 2012 now includes Boise State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Iowa, and Nebraska, as well as Eastern Michigan and Northwestern.