Feb. 7, 2001

LAS VEGAS - UNLV will play back-to-back Friday games on national television as part of the Rebels' most challenging schedule in history, which was released by the Mountain West Conference Wednesday.

"The schedule is rough for us from top to bottom," UNLV head coach John Robinson, whose team went 8-5 in 2000, said. "The first five games are similar to BYU's early season schedule last year. The challenge will be for us to be at the top of our game from the first whistle. The home schedule is very attractive for fans, which will help us in our continuing goal of filling Sam Boyd Stadium."

UNLV will open the season playing at SEC member Arkansas in Little Rock on Sept. 1. The game will be a rematch of last December's Las Vegas Bowl, which the Rebels won 31-14. UNLV then plays host to defending Big 10 Conference co-champion Northwestern on Friday, Sept. 7, and then defending MWC champ Colorado State on Friday, Sept. 14. Both games will be shown live on ESPN at a time to be determined. UNLV, which had 11 of 13 games broadcast on various outlets a year ago, including two on ESPN2 and one on ABC, last appeared on ESPN in 1994's Las Vegas Bowl.

"This proves that the networks have noticed the rise of UNLV football under John Robinson and that the Rebels are becoming an exciting product with national appeal," UNLV Director of Athletics Charles Cavagnaro said.

Remaining ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional broadcasts will be announced in the coming months.

The Rebels then travel to Pac-10 member Arizona on Sept. 22 for the first-ever meeting of the two schools before hosting traditional league power Brigham Young on Sept. 29.

The Battle For The Cannon vs. Nevada, Reno will be waged up north on Oct. 6. San Diego State comes to town on Oct. 13 before UNLV's only off week. The Rebels then will face playing three of their final four games on the road. After traveling to Wyoming on Oct. 27, UNLV hosts Utah in the home finale on Nov. 3. Trips to New Mexico on Nov. 10 and Air Force on Nov. 17 round out the regular-season slate. The date of the finale ties for the earliest ending to a season in school history (1990 and 1973).

Kickoff times for all games are still to be determined.

2001 UNLV FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE            OPPONENT
Sept. 1         at Arkansas (Little Rock)Sept. 7         NORTHWESTERN     (ESPN Friday Broadcast)Sept. 14    COLORADO STATE*  (ESPN Friday Broadcast)Sept. 22    at ArizonaSept. 29    BYU*Oct. 6          at Nevada, RenoOct. 13         SAN DIEGO STATE*Oct. 20         OFFOct. 27         at Wyoming*Nov. 3          UTAH*Nov. 10         at New Mexico*Nov. 17         at Air Force*
*Mountain West Conference Game