UNLV football schedule set for 2023

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Thursday, March 2, 2023 | 12:39 p.m.

The Mountain West released its football schedule for the 2023 season on Thursday, setting the stage for Barry Odom’s first year at the helm of the UNLV program.

The non-league schedule was already set, with dates vs. Bryant (Sept. 2), at Michigan (Sept. 9), vs. Vanderbilt (Sept. 16) and at UTEP (Sept. 23). With the eight MWC contests now locked in, the question is whether Odom can lead UNLV to six wins and a bowl berth for the first time since 2013.

The placement of UNLV’s game against UNR is sure to draw attention of fans from both sides of the rivalry. Instead of scheduling it as the season finale (as it was last year) or even on Nevada Day weekend, as it has been in the past, the battle for the Fremont Cannon will take place on Oct. 14 in Reno.

The Scarlet and Gray will be coming off their lone bye week heading into the UNR game, which should help their chances of keeping the cannon for another year.

UNLV will open the conference season by hosting Hawaii on Sept. 30. After the bye and the UNR game, they’ll host Colorado State (Oct. 21), Wyoming (Nov. 11) and San Jose State (Nov. 25). Road games include trips to Fresno State (Oct. 28), New Mexico (Nov. 4) and Air Force (Nov. 18).

The Mountain West championship game will be played on Dec. 2.

UNLV started 4-1 last year under head coach Marcus Arroyo before floundering in the second half and finishing 5-7.

The full 2023 schedule: 

Sept. 2 — vs. Bryant

Sept. 9 — at Michigan

Sept. 16 — vs. Vanderbilt

Sept. 23 — at UTEP

Sept. 30 — vs. Hawaii

Oct. 7 — BYE

Oct. 14 — at UNR

Oct. 21 — vs. Colorado State

Oct. 28 — at Fresno State

Nov. 4 — at New Mexico

Nov. 11 — vs. Wyoming

Nov. 18 — at Air Force

Nov. 25 — vs. San Jose State

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