NEWARK, Del. -- Non-league games vs. North Carolina, Lafayette, and Jacksonville (Fla.) and a rare Colonial Athletic Association opener vs. Villanova highlight the 2015 University of Delaware football 11-game schedule announced Thursday.



The Colonial Athletic Association announced the complete league schedule Thursday for all 12 schools.



Delaware will play CAA home games vs. William & Mary, New Hampshire, Albany, and James Madison and will hit the road to take on Villanova, Rhode Island, Towson, and Elon as part of the eight-game slate. For the second straight year, Delaware will not play league opponents Stony Brook, Maine, and Richmond. The Hens have yet to face Stony Brook since the Seawolves joined the CAA in 2013.



Delaware and Villanova have traditionally played during the final week of the season and have done so each year since 1999 but that will change for just one year next fall when Delaware opens league play by travelling to the Wildcats on Sept. 19. The move comes about in order to accommodate Villanova, which needed to alter the dates of several games due to the scheduled visit of Pope Francis to the Philadelphia area next September.



The Blue Hens will open the season with two non-league games vs. Jacksonville (Fla.) on Sept. 5 and vs. Lafayette on Sept. 12 followed by the visit to Villanova on Sept. 19. A first-ever game vs. Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina closes out the month on Sept. 26 in Chapel Hill, N.C.



Delaware will play Jacksonville for the second time in three years after also opening the 2013 season vs. the Dolphins at Delaware Stadium in head coach Dave Brock 's UD coaching debut. The Blue Hens last played Patriot League foe Lafayette during the 2004 NCAA Tournament opening round, winning by a score of 28-14 at Delaware Stadium. The teams have not met during the regular season since a 27-0 Delaware victory in 1972.



October action will begin with Delaware hosting William & Mary on Oct. 3 followed by an Oct. 10 visit to Rhode Island, a bye week on Oct. 17, a home game vs. current CAA leader New Hampshire on Oct. 24, and the short trip down to Towson on Oct. 31.



In November, Delaware will host Albany on Nov. 7 and James Madison on Nov. 14 before closing the regular season Nov. 21 with another trip to the state of North Carolina at CAA newcomer Elon.



The dates for special events such as Homecoming and Parents Day will be announced later as will game times.



2015 Delaware Football Tentative Schedule

Sept. 5 vs. Jacksonville (Fla.)

Sept. 12 vs. Lafayette

Sept. 19 at *Villanova

Sept. 26 at North Carolina

Oct. 3 vs. *William & Mary

Oct. 10 at *Rhode Island

Oct. 17 – Bye

Oct. 24 – vs. *New Hampshire

Oct. 31 – at *Towson

Nov. 7 – vs. *Albany

Nov. 14 – vs. *James Madison

Nov. 21 – at *Elon