Indianapolis ? Top-ranked Southern California will open next season against Virginia Tech in the Black Coaches Association Football Classic.

The Trojans and Hokies will meet for the first time Aug. 28 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. USC is 11-1 and preparing to play Michigan in the Rose Bowl with a chance to win the AP national title.

“This is a great way for USC to open up the 2004 season,” USC coach Pete Carroll said after the BCA announced the matchup. “I’ve always said we’ll play anybody anywhere. This is an outstanding intersectional matchups against one of the premier football programs in the country.

Virginia Tech (8-4) plays California in the Insight.com Bowl on Friday, a game that matches the Hokies against the only team to defeat the Trojans this season. Virginia Tech is leaving the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.

“For us to be considered and chosen for this game makes a statement about our program, too,” Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. “Playing Southern Cal will be a big challenge for our football team, but one we look forward to.”

The night game will be televised by ESPN.

Virginia Tech was set to play in the 2000 BCA Classic but the game against Georgia Tech was canceled seconds before kickoff due to lightning.