Traditional NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) powers Appalachian State, Montana and McNeese State have entered into a six-game agreement that will have Appalachian host Montana in 2012 and travel to face the Griz in Missoula, Mont., in 2013, the three schools announced Thursday.

ASU’s previously announced home-and-home series with McNeese State has been moved back one year as part of the arrangement, with games now scheduled for 2014 in Lake Charles, La., and 2015 in Boone.

Montana and McNeese will square off in 2016 and 2017 to round out the six contests.

“This is good for Appalachian, but it’s especially good for all of FCS football,” Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore said. “People look forward to games like Ohio State-Texas and Notre Dame-USC on the FBS level, so it’s great to give fans of our programs and FCS in general the opportunity to have games of a similar magnitude to look forward to as well. Also, I’ve always been a believer that to become a good football team, you have to play good football teams, and these matchups certainly fit the bill in that regard.”

Each home team is providing the visiting squad with a $100,000 guarantee to help offset travel expenses, and there is a $250,000 buyout clause for each program.

“This agreement is great for everyone associated with these three excellent football programs,” ASU athletic director Charlie Cobb said. “It gives our student-athletes and coaches the opportunity to compete against the best competition and in the best atmospheres that FCS has to offer. For the students, alumni and fans of all three schools, it provides four marquee non-conference games to each of our schedules that are sure to be among the nation’s most talked-about showdowns each year. We hope that this agreement serves as a catalyst for more intersectional matchups between high-level FCS programs in the future.”

Appalachian, Montana and McNeese State have combined for 48 Division I-AA/FCS postseason appearances and five national championships (Montana in 1995 and 2001; ASU in 2005, 2006 and 2007). They represent three of the nation’s top FCS conferences — the Southern, Big Sky and Southland, respectively.