Challenges come early for UNLV football next season

UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3) runs for a touchdown in the third quarter against Air Force Falcons in the football game at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

UNLV’s football schedule was back-loaded last season.

The Rebels will be tested early next season.

They play at Northwestern on Sept. 14, at Wyoming on Sept. 28, against Boise State at Sam Boyd Stadium on Oct. 5, at Vanderbilt on Oct. 12, at Fresno State on Oct. 19 and home against San Diego State on Oct. 26.

Last season, the Rebels played a November schedule against Fresno State, at San Diego State and Hawaii and against UNR though they won two of those in finishing 4-8.

One other difference is UNLV will have an additional bye next season, coming on the Sept. 21 and Nov. 9 weekends.

“The season is not any longer, but (the extra) bye is good for recovery for the guys,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said Monday. “You’ve got the first three games, and two of them are at home, which is nice, and then at the very end you have two at home. On the flip side, there’s a seven-week stretch where we only play at home twice in the middle.

“Like any schedule, there will be some challenges, but overall it’s not a bad schedule at all. I like where the byes fall.”

UNLV opens its season Aug. 31 at home against Southern Utah and closes it at UNR on Nov. 30.

Some games could be shifted to other dates if CBS Sports Network or an ESPN outlet picks up a particular broadcast. All game times and TV information will be announced later. The initial portion was announced Monday.

This will be the Rebels’ final season at Sam Boyd. They move to the new Raiders stadium in 2020.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.