The Pac-12 Conference released its 2017 football schedule on Wednesday, and the WSU football team faces a somewhat unbalanced slate of games next semester.

The Cougars have seven games at Martin Stadium on the docket, but begin the season with five-straight home games punctuated with a Friday night showdown with USC on Sept. 29.

The last time WSU began its season with more than three-straight home games dates back to 1907, when the team played four-consecutive home games to start the season.

“We face a unique situation this fall starting the season with five-straight home games,” WSU Athletic Director Bill Moos said. “The schedule is out of our control, and we will make this a positive, having the opportunity to build momentum early in the year without having to put on a road jersey until week six.”

The Cougars open their season on Sept. 2 with a matchup against Montana State and complete a home-and-home series with Boise State the following week on Sept. 9.

Following the matchup with the Broncos, WSU kicks off Pac-12 play with a Sept. 16 matcup with Northwest foe Oregon State. The Cougars currently enjoy a three-game winning streak against the Beavers and most recently stole a 35-31 win last season at Reser Stadium.

WSU then finishes its non-conference slate against Nevada a week later on Sept. 23 to lead into its fifth home game against the Trojans six days later.

“Ideally, we would like to have our home schedule more spread out,” Moos said. “But playing seven home games for the second-straight season gives our fans the chance to enjoy Martin Stadium at the best time of the year and get us off to a fast start.”

WSU Athletic Communications said that WSU Athletics is “working with campus entities to ensure a fan- and faculty-friendly environment as it relates to logistics surrounding playing a home game with classes being held,” regarding the Friday night match-up with the Trojans.

Following its run of five-consecutive home games, WSU hits the road for its first of two back-to-back sets of away games.

The Cougars travel to Eugene on Oct. 7 for a game against Oregon and then play their second of two Friday night contests in Berkeley against California on Oct. 13. WSU defeated Oregon and California last year with scores of 51-33 and 56-21 respectively.

The Cougars return to Pullman to host Colorado the following week on Oct. 21. The game against the Buffalos will also feature Homecoming Week festivities.

WSU then travels to Tucson on Oct. 28, looking to make it three-straight wins over Arizona before its final home game of the season on Nov. 4 against Stanford. The home finale will also be a part of Dad’s Weekend.

To conclude the regular season, WSU plays its second of two back-to-back road trips with a game on Nov. 11 in Salt Lake City against Utah, and the Apple Cup match-up with Washington on Nov. 25 in Seattle.

WSU’s lone bye week does not come until week 12 of the regular season on Nov. 18.

Deposits for 2017 season tickets are being taken at wsucougars.com.