UNLV football will play game at Sam Boyd Stadium in 2020

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 | 10:52 a.m.

UNLV football thought it would be moving into a new home for the 2020 season. The Las Vegas Raiders had other plans.

Due to a scheduling dispute with the Raiders, UNLV will not be playing all its home games at Allegiant Stadium next season, as the Rebels’ Sept. 5 contest against Louisiana Tech has been moved to Sam Boyd Stadium.

UNLV will still hold its season opener at Allegiant Stadium on Aug. 29 against Cal. A site for a third Rebels’ home game, Sept. 12 against Arizona State, is still to be determined.

The joint-use agreement negotiated by UNLV and the Raiders gives UNLV the right to schedule two non-conference home games per year at Allegiant Stadium — beginning in 2021. Only one guaranteed non-conference home game was allotted for 2020, but UNLV had two additional contests scheduled at Allegiant Stadium.

That hasn’t gone over well with the Raiders, who are still waiting for the NFL to release its 2020 schedule in May.

All 2020 scheduling — as well as the completion of the stadium itself — is contingent upon the COVID-19 outbreak. The NCAA has canceled all spring sports and has not set any concrete plans for fall sports.

Rebels football called Sam Boyd Stadium home from 1971 through 2019, and the team held a ceremony during last year’s home finale welcoming back all former UNLV football players. The Rebels won that game over San Jose State, 38-35.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.