Beating Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference was the highlight of the 2004 season for the University of Maine football team.

Next season, the Black Bears will encounter an even more formidable challenge against a Division I-A opponent.

The university announced Friday that coach Jack Cosgrove’s UMaine team will open the 2005 season Sept. 3, on the road against the Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Big 12 Conference.

“This is a great opportunity to measure our program against a I-A program that is one of the best in the country,” said UMaine center Ben Lazarski, who will be a senior in the fall. “It provides us an opportunity to gain confidence for conference play and to experience a great game-day atmosphere.”

As was the case with the Mississippi State game, there are multiple benefits for UMaine to accept such a challenge.

The UMaine athletic department will receive $350,000 to make the trip to Lincoln, according to UMaine athletics spokesman Brent Williamson. The Bears must deduct their travel and lodging expenses, approximately $50,000, from that amount.

This year, UMaine put the net profits from its trip to Mississippi State toward the increased cost of scholarships that resulted from a tuition increase implemented during the summer.

Depending upon how the money is budgeted for next year, UMaine should be able to spread some of it around to help other Black Bear athletic programs defray the cost of scholarships.

While those funds will be a great boon to the department, the benefits to the players and coaches can’t be measured in dollars.

“Playing the highest competition possible in an exciting atmosphere is very important to our student-athletes,” said UMaine athletic director Patrick Nero. “Obviously, opening the season against Nebraska with over 75,000 people in attendance meets these criteria.”

Nebraska plays at historic Memorial Stadium, where the Cornhuskers have been spoiled to play in front of an NCAA-record 268 consecutive sellout crowds, a streak which began in 1962. Last season, Nebraska averaged 77,692 fans at its seven home games.

That likely will mean UMaine plays in front of the largest crowd ever to witness a Black Bear football game.

“I know that for our football team, opening the season running out onto the Memorial Stadium turf will provide them with an emotional experience that will last a lifetime,” Nero said. “This type of game provides us with tremendous exposure to inform people about our university and athletic program.”

From a football perspective, the Bears will take on a program with a storied history of success. Nebraska is coming off a 5-6 season, including a 3-5 Big 12 record, during which it was not selected to play in a bowl game for the first time in 36 years.

The ‘Huskers have won five national championships (1970, ’71, ’94 and ’95 and ’97) and has produced three Heisman Trophy winners. The meeting will be the first between the two programs.

“It is an exciting opportunity to play a team from the Big 12,” Cosgrove said. “This will be a challenge for our players to raise their level of play against a Division I-A opponent.”

Nebraska will be UMaine’s only I-A opponent next season. The Bears reportedly are also working on a future game with Boston College.

UMaine had been negotiating for a game with a couple of other I-A schools, including Washington State, according to Williamson. However, the aim for UMaine was to solidify its schedule and Nebraska agreed to entertain the Bears.

“The earlier you can lock in your opponents, the better,” Williamson said.

The Bears’ complete 2005 schedule is expected to be announced in the near future.