LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV will open its 50th season of football against Howard University on September 2 and close its six-game home slate with the return of BYU on November 11 as the Mountain West Conference released its entire 2017 schedule Thursday.

The scheduling format for the 12-member football lineup consists of five intra-divisional games and three cross-divisional contests. Each institution will play four home and four road Conference games.

The 2017 schedule will play out over 14 weeks and conclude on Sat., Dec. 2 with the Mountain West Football Championship Game to be played at the home stadium of the higher ranked of the two divisional champions.

Today's release represents the first phase in the 2017 football schedule process. Mountain West national television partners CBS Sports Network and ESPN will now initiate a selection procedure which will include the shifting of particular games to Thursdays and Fridays. That will be followed by the identification of network outlets and kick times, along with the picks for regional partner ROOT SPORTS and the Mountain West Network on Campus Insiders.

The Rebels kick off under third-year head coach Tony Sanchez on Sept. 2 by hosting HBCU FCS opponent Howard for the first time. After a trip to Idaho one week later, UNLV's bye week comes early on the calendar in mid-September. UNLV continues its non-conference slate by making its first trip to play Big Ten Conference power Ohio State on Sept. 23.

Mountain West play opens with the Rebels hosting San Jose State on Sept. 30 in what is the first of five home games in a seven-week span. San Diego State is next up at Sam Boyd Stadium on Oct. 7 while a trip to Air Force is slated for Oct. 14. A home date with Utah State is set for Oct. 21 before a trip to Fresno State one week later. Longtime rival Hawai'i will be here Nov. 4 before a final non-conference game will see BYU play UNLV in Las Vegas for the first time since 2009 when the Cougars were also members of the MW.

The Rebels close the regular season with back-to-back road trips as UNLV travels to New Mexico on Nov. 18 and then closes with the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon against Nevada, Reno on Nov. 25.

UNLV opened spring practice on Wednesday and the annual Spring Showcase is scheduled for Saturday, April 1 at the soccer stadium on campus. Kickoff for that free event is set for noon.

New football season tickets are on sale now with a special price for all six home games starting at only $79 (plus fees) until March 5. Starting Monday, prices for new season tickets will start at $99. Renewals are also available now until June 1. Log on to www.unlvtickets.com or call (702) 739-FANS for more information.