ATLANTA — A Thursday night season opener, games against two 2010 playoff teams and two trips to Texas highlight Georgia State’s 2011 football schedule, announced Wednesday by the school.

After posting a 6-5 record in its inaugural season, Georgia State will compete as an independent member of the NCAA Division-I Football Championship Subdivision in 2011 before joining the Colonial Athletic Association in 2012.

The Panthers’ 11-game slate features six home contests at the Georgia Dome, kicking off Thursday, Sept. 1 as Georgia State hosts Clark Atlanta.

“The Thursday night home opener is a game we will schedule whenever possible,” said athletics director Cheryl Levick. “Our team and fans love the big-game atmosphere of a Thursday night at the Dome, and the opportunity to kick off the college football season in Atlanta is great exposure.”

Future CAA foe Old Dominion visits the Georgia Dome on Sept. 10, along with Murray State (Oct. 8), South Alabama (Oct. 22), Lambuth (Nov. 5) and Campbell (Nov. 19). The South Alabama game is slated for homecoming.

“We’re pleased with the quality and variety of opponents, and the structure of the schedule sets up well for our team and our fans,” Levick said. “After such an overwhelmingly positive response to our inaugural season, we can’t wait to kick off year two.”

Georgia State’s road schedule is highlighted by a game at NCAA FBS foe Houston on Sept. 24 at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Panthers return to Texas for an Oct. 29 game versus Texas-San Antonio at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The Panthers will take on two teams that earned spots in the 2010 NCAA FCS playoffs with trips to Jacksonville State (Sept. 17) and South Carolina State (Oct. 15). A visit to West Alabama rounds out the road slate.

“As with any schedule, you try to achieve the right balance, and I think we’ve done that,” coach Bill Curry said. “As we saw last season, with a young football team every road game is challenging, and we have some very difficult ones.

“The game at Houston is obvious, but we also play two established, highly successful FCS programs on the road at Jacksonville State and South Carolina State.”

After opening the season with consecutive home dates followed by back-to-back road trips, the remainder of the schedule alternates home and away games each week. Game times are to be announced.