UNLV-UNR football game returns to Thanksgiving weekend

The UNLV-UNR football game is back on Thanksgiving weekend.

Both schools had wanted to play on that weekend to close the regular season, and the Mountain West obliged in releasing the conference portion of the schedule Wednesday. UNLV’s nonconference schedule previously had been announced as well as the league opponents.

UNLV faced the Wolf Pack on the final weekend of the 2014 season, but the teams usually met earlier in the year. That was changed when the conference decided to make exceptions in the scheduling when schools request it.

The Rebels open their season Sept. 1 at home against Jackson State and Mountain West play Oct. 1 against Fresno State, also at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The Rebels then are on the road for three of the following four weeks before a bye Nov. 5.

UNLV finishes with two of three games at home, but the one road trip is Nov. 18 at Boise State that will be televised on an ESPN channel.

Game times will be announced at later dates.