RENO — The Nevada football team will face six bowl teams from 2018 as part of its 2019 schedule, which was announced Monday by the Mountain West.
The schedule includes the second-ever visit by a Big Ten team to Mackay Stadium as Purdue comes to Reno to kick off the season. Former Big Sky rival Weber State is Nevada’s other home non-conference game before Mountain West games against Hawai`i, San Jose State, New Mexico and UNLV.
In 2018, the second year under coach Jay Norvell, Nevada won eight games for the first time in its Mountain West history, and captured the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl in overtime. Coming off a second place finish in the West Division of the Mountain West, the Pack’s 2019 recruiting class has been ranked as high as second in the conference by national publications.
The schedule includes four home games before mid-October and concludes with the rivalry game against the Rebels as Nevada will be seeking revenge and possession of the Fremont Cannon.
Season ticket deposits are available for just $50; reserve yours by calling 775-348-PACK or visit NevadaWolfPack.com.
Nevada opens the season with Purdue on Aug. 31. The game is the back-end of a two-game series between the schools as Nevada went to Purdue in 2016. The Boilermakers will be just the first Big Ten team to travel to Mackay Stadium since Nevada beat Northwestern in 2006.
The Wolf Pack will then travel to Oregon to play the Ducks on Sept. 7, before returning home to take on Weber State on Sept. 14. The non-conference slate concludes on Sept. 21 with a trip to UTEP in El Paso.
Conference play opens Sept. 28 as Hawai`i comes to Mackay Stadium. Nevada will enjoy the first of two bye weeks during the Oct. 5 weekend.
Nevada returns to action Oct. 12 when it plays host to San José State. The Pack then hits the road for a pair of games against Mountain Division foes — Oct. 19 at Utah State and Oct. 26 at Wyoming — before coming home to host to New Mexico on Nov. 2.
The Pack returns to West Division play on Nov. 9 with a trip to San Diego State. Nevada will be looking for its second win in a row over SDSU after winning 28-24 this past season in Reno.
The second bye is the weekend of Nov. 16, giving Nevada a break before the final two regular season games. First is a showdown with West Division champion Fresno State at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno on Nov. 23.
The Battle for the Fremont Cannon against UNLV represents the regular-season finale on Nov. 30 at Mackay Stadium.