ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Rock is returning to the Big House.

The University of Michigan athletic department, in a partnership with Slippery Rock University, announced Saturday that SRU will play Mercyhurst in a regular season game Oct. 18 of next year at Michigan Stadium.

The game will count on The Rock’s home schedule, will celebrate the 35th anniversary of SRU’s first game at Michigan and will be part of SRU’s 125th anniversary celebration.

This will be the third time SRU has played a football game at Michigan Stadium. The Rock lost a 45-14 decision to Shippensburg Sept. 29, 1979, in front of 61,143 fans. That remains the record for largest crowd to watch an NCAA Division II football game.

The Rock also played Wayne State (Mich.) at the “Big House” on Sept. 12, 1981, losing a 14-13 decision.