LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV football team will play in its new home at the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium for the first time to kick off a 12-game schedule released Thursday by the Mountain West.
 
Under first-year head coach Marcus Arroyo, the Rebels will begin the season August 29 by hosting Pac-12 Conference member Cal for the first time ever. One week later, Louisiana Tech will come to Las Vegas for only the second time and first time since 1994. Another Pac-12 program, Arizona State, will play here the following week on Sept. 12 in the first meeting with the Sun Devils held in Las Vegas. A trip to Iowa State Sept. 19 to play the Cyclones for the sixth time overall and first time since 2008 will close out the non-conference slate.
 
After the first of two bye weeks, UNLV opens MW play by traveling to San Diego State on Oct. 3. Wyoming is the league opener at home Oct. 10 before the Rebels travel to San Jose State Oct. 17. Colorado State plays in Las Vegas for the first time since 2016 on Oct. 24 before UNLV heads to Boise State for a Halloween date with the Broncos.
 
West Division rival Fresno State comes to town on Nov. 7 before the Rebels head to Hawai'i for their road finale on Nov. 14 with the unique Golden Pineapple trophy on the line in the third edition of the Ninth Island Showdown sponsored by the California Hotel.
 
Following a second bye week, the regular season will wrap up during Thanksgiving weekend with the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon vs. UNR in Las Vegas on Nov. 28. That game is also part of the Silver State Series presented by IBEW and Nevada Donor Network.
 
"The first word that jumps to my mind is 'challenging,'" said Arroyo about a schedule that includes a school-record-tying nine teams coming off bowl trips. "Our pre-conference season is the most demanding in the Mountain West. In each game we play teams coming off big years and returning key starters. Three of them (Cal, Louisiana Tech and ASU) were bowl champions, and for the fourth, we have to go to Iowa State who returns one of the best young quarterbacks in the nation in Brock Purdy. I've coached in that environment and Ames, Iowa, is a tough place to play for anyone. We play Cal and ASU within two weeks of each other and it will be a huge ask for our young team. However, we see it as an opportunity to move this program forward and firmly establish our own footprint on the West Coast. That stretch will be a huge physical and mental demand on our players but we are excited about it. We want to become a program willing and eager to play anyone."
 
Thursday's announcement represents the first phase in the 2020 football schedule process. Mountain West national television partners CBS Sports and FOX Sports will now initiate a selection procedure that will also include the shifting of particular games to non-Saturday dates. That will be followed by the identification of national network outlets and kick times, along with the picks for regional partners.
 
UNLV, which signed a record-setting recruiting class earlier this month, opens its spring practice schedule March 24. Fans can make deposits for new 2020 season tickets for just $50 by visiting unlvtickets.com or calling (702) 739-3267.

DATE#      OPPONENT
Aug. 29      CAL
Sept. 5       LOUISIANA TECH
Sept. 12     ARIZONA STATE
Sept. 19     at Iowa State
Sept. 26     BYE
Oct. 3         at San Diego State*
Oct. 10       WYOMING*
Oct. 17       at San Jose State*
Oct. 24       COLORADO STATE*
Oct. 31       at Boise State*
Nov. 7        FRESNO STATE*
Nov. 14       at Hawai'i*
Nov. 21       BYE
Nov. 28      UNR*
 
#Dates are subject to change
*Mountain West Game