LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV football team will open with two consecutive home games for the first time in seven years and make its last-ever appearance at Sam Boyd Stadium November 23 as the 2019 conference schedule was released Monday by the Mountain West.

Under fifth-year head coach Tony Sanchez, the Rebels will kick off the season August 31 by hosting Southern Utah for the fifth time overall but first time since 2011. One week later, Arkansas State will come to Las Vegas for only the second time and first time since 1995. The Red Wolves, who are returning UNLV's trip to Jonesboro last fall, are the first of nine Rebel opponents who were bowl-eligible last year, including four who finished first in their respective conference division in 2018.

UNLV will make its road debut September 14 when it plays at Northwestern for only the second time and first time since 1998. The Wildcats, who finished last season ranked No. 21 by the AP and 19 in the Amway Coaches Poll, won the Big Ten West Division and played Ohio State in the conference title game. The Rebels last faced Northwestern in Las Vegas in 2001.

The 2019 season features two bye weeks for the Rebels for the first time since 2013, including the first on September 21. UNLV opens Mountain West play the following week at Wyoming, traveling to Laramie for the first time since 2015. MW Mountain Division champion Boise State (#23/24) then comes to town October 5 to kick off the Rebels' league home slate.

The non-conference schedule concludes October 12 when UNLV makes its first trip to Nashville, Tennessee, to play Vanderbilt for the beginning of a home-and-home series that will see the Commodores come to Las Vegas in 2023. This game will mark the first SEC opponent for the Rebels since traveling to play Tennessee in 2004.

UNLV will be away for the fourth time in five games the following week with a trip to defending Mountain West champion Fresno State (#18/18). Divisional rival San Diego State comes to town October 26 before the Rebels play Colorado State in the Rams' new on-campus stadium for the first time one week later.

After a second bye week, UNLV welcomes Hawai'i to Las Vegas for the third edition of the Ninth Island Showdown sponsored by The California Hotel. The Rebels will close out their home schedule November 23 by hosting San Jose State in what will be the program's final game played at Sam Boyd Stadium -- its proud home for the last five decades. UNLV is scheduled to move into the state-of-the-art Las Vegas Stadium near campus in 2020.

The regular season ends Thanksgiving weekend when the Rebels travel to Reno November 30 for the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon vs. UNR, which is also part of the Silver State Series presented by IBEW and Nevada Donor Network. UNLV won back the famed cannon trophy in last year's thrilling season-capper in Las Vegas.

"I really like the balance of this schedule," said Sanchez. "It's great to have two games at home to start out and then have a bye following a big road trip. We play six straight games before the next week off and then finish with two out of three at home so it sets up really well for us."

New season ticket deposits are available now by visiting UNLVtickets.com or calling (702) 739-FANS (3267). Information about 2019 football season ticket renewals, a special offer for current season ticket holders and information about the 2020 transition into Las Vegas Stadium will be released Thursday. 

Monday's announcement represents the first phase in the 2019 football schedule process. Mountain West national television partners CBS Sports Network and ESPN will now initiate a selection procedure that will also 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 AT&T SportsNet, Stadium and Spectrum Sports (Hawaii).

2019 UNLV FOOTBALL
Aug. 31      SOUTHERN UTAH
Sept. 7       ARKANSAS STATE
Sept. 14      at Northwestern
Sept. 21      BYE
Sept. 28      at Wyoming*
Oct. 5         BOISE STATE*
Oct. 12        at Vanderbilt
Oct. 19        at Fresno State*
Oct. 26       SAN DIEGO STATE*
Nov. 2         at Colorado State*
Nov. 9         BYE
Nov. 16      HAWAI'I*
Nov. 23      SAN JOSE STATE*
Nov. 30       at UNR*
 
*Mountain West Game