Feb. 18, 2002

LAS VEGAS - A nationally televised visit by Wisconsin, six home games overall for the first time in six years and a season-ending showdown with perennial league power Colorado State highlight the 2002 UNLV football schedule, which was released by the Mountain West Conference Monday.

"This is a very challenging schedule again for us both in and out of conference, especially on the road," UNLV head coach John Robinson said. "The two byes do come at what could be opportune times in the season if things go well, however. We look forward to getting back on the field and getting started."

The Rebels, who have not opened a season at Sam Boyd Stadium since a 1994 win over Eastern Michigan in what was former head coach Jeff Horton's debut, will welcome Wisconsin on August 31, which will mark only the third time in history UNLV will be in action during the summer month (Aug. 30, 2000, at Arkansas and Aug. 31, 1996, at Tennessee) and first time ever at home. The game, which will be the fifth in the series between the Big Ten and MWC conference teams, will be televised by ESPN2 at a time to be determined. The Badgers have come to Las Vegas twice before, which resulted in the only two sellouts in Sam Boyd history (40,091 in 1996 and 32,207 in 1986).

Next, the Rebels stay at home for a second week by meeting Big 12 Conference member Kansas for the first time in history on September 7, which will mark the first time UNLV opens a year with two consecutive home games since 1992 (victories over UTEP and Northern Arizona).

UNLV heads to Pac-10 Conference member Oregon State on September 14. The match-up with the Beavers, who are just one season removed from a Fiesta Bowl title, will be the fourth meeting between the schools (UNLV leads the series 3-0) but the first since 1991 and the first in Corvallis since 1990.

The Rebels travel to Mid-American Conference-champion Toledo on September 21, marking the second meeting between the schools and the first since UNLV downed the Rockets in the 1984 California Bowl. Toledo has gone 20-3 over the past two seasons, including a Motor City Bowl title in December.

After the first of two scheduled byes, UNLV will host Nevada, Reno in the 28th edition of the Battle for the Fremont Cannon on October 5. Although UNR leads the overall series 15-12, the Rebels have won two straight over the Wolf Pack.

UNLV will play its fourth home game in six dates on October 12 by opening MWC play by hosting New Mexico in a series that the Rebels lead 5-4.

A trip to defending MWC king BYU on October 19 follows and the Rebels will attempt to down the Cougars for the first time since 1981.

UNLV will stay on the road and take on San Diego State on October 26 when Robinson's team will look for its third straight win over the Aztecs.

Wyoming comes to town November 2 looking to break the Rebels' three-game winning streak in the series. UNLV then heads to Utah on November 9 looking for its first-ever win in Salt Lake City.

The home schedule closes out November 16 when Air Force invades Sam Boyd Stadium hoping to snap the Rebels' two-game winning streak in the series. The sixth home date will mark the most for UNLV since its first season in the Western Athletic Conference in 1996.

After their second week off, the Rebels will head to Colorado State on November 30, which will mark the fourth-latest regular-season game in school history. The Rams, who won the inaugural New Orleans Bowl, are the last of four bowl teams the Rebels will face in 2002.

2002 UNLV FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATE      OPPONENT (TV)       SITE      SERIES
Aug. 31   WISCONSIN (ESPN2)   Las Vegas     UW 3-1Sept. 7   KANSAS              Las Vegas     First MeetingSept. 14  at Oregon State     Corvallis, OR UNLV 3-0Sept. 21  at Toledo       Toledo, OH    UNLV 1-0Sept. 28  OFFOct. 5    NEVADA, RENO        Las Vegas     UNR 15-12Oct. 12   NEW MEXICO*         Las Vegas     UNLV 5-4Oct. 19   at BYU*             Provo, UT     BYU 8-1Oct. 26   at San Diego State* San Diego, CA UNLV 6-5Nov. 2    WYOMING*        Las Vegas     UNLV 6-4Nov. 9    at Utah*            Salt Lake City    UU 6-1Nov. 16   AIR FORCE*          Las Vegas     AFA 4-3Nov. 23   OFFNov. 30   at Colorado State*  Fort Collins, CO  CSU 6-3-1
*Mountain West Conference Game