RENO, Nev. The University of Nevada has finalized its 2008 football schedule with the completion of the Western Athletic Conference portion of the schedule.
The schedule is challenging and features a pair of home games to open the season, just the second time since 1994 that has been the case. The non-conference schedule was finalized in the fall and the WAC schedule was announced by the conference today.
“I think the schedule speaks for itself,” Nevada coach Chris Ault said. “When you combine the non-conference games with the conference games there's no question that we are facing a very challenging and exciting schedule. We look forward to the opportunity.”
Nevada opens the season at home when Grambling State comes to Mackay Stadium on Aug. 30. The school’s famed “Best Band in the Land” will also make the trip and will perform the night before the game and at halftime. The Pack will remain at home for a historic game on Sept. 6 as Texas Tech comes to Mackay Stadium. That will mark the first time a BIg 12 opponent has traveled to Reno and is just Nevada’s third-ever game against a Big 12 school.
The Pack will then travel to face another Big 12 school as it makes the trip to Columbia, Mo., to face Missouri on Sept. 13. After a bye week, Nevada will hit the road again, this time to Las Vegas to face UNLV in the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon on Sept. 27. Nevada has held possession of the cannon for three straight years and holds an 18-15 lead in the series.
Nevada’s WAC opener will be Oct. 4 at Idaho and following that game, the team will come home for back-to-back WAC home games against New Mexico State (Oct. 11) and Utah State (Oct. 18). Following that home stand, Nevada will travel to face Hawai1i. After another bye week, Nevada will hit the road again for the only non-Saturday game of the schedule when it takes on Fresno State on Nov. 7
The Pack will then come home for two more games, facing San Jose State on Nov. 15 and Boise State on Nov. 22. The regular season concludes on No.v 29 at Louisiana Tech.
Nevada has a pair of national television games already on the schedule as ABC or ESPN will broadcast the Texas Tech game from Mackay Stadium on Sept. 6. Nevada’s game at Fresno State on Nov. 7 will be televised on ESPN2. Additional televised games can and will be added to the schedule, including some away games on the Nevada Sports Network
Nevada has two bye weeks in the schedule and they come at pivotal times.. The Pack will get a week off before facing in-state rival UNLV on Sept. 27 and the team will get another bye week after traveling to face defending WAC champion Hawai`i.
“I believe our fans will have a great opportunity to enjoy first-rate home games this year,” said Nevada athletics director Cary Groth. “We have two wonderful non-conference games at home and the conference schedule is also challenging. This is a great schedule.”
Times for kickoff will be announced at later date. The schedule dates are subject to change for television.
2008 Nevada Football Schedule
(Kickoff times and additional television information to be announced at a later date)
Date Opponent Location TV
August 30 Grambling State Reno, Nev.
September 6 Texas Tech Reno, Nev. ESPN or ABC
September 13 @ Missouri Columbia, Mo.
September 20 BYE
September 27 @ UNLV Las Vegas, Nev.
October 4 @ Idaho Moscow, Idaho
October 11 New Mexico State Reno, Nev.
October 18 Utah State Reno, Nev.
October 25 @ Hawai`i Honolulu, Hawaii
November 1 BYE
November 7 @ Fresno State Fresno, Calif. ESPN2
November 15 San Jose State Reno, Nev.
November 22 Boise State Reno, Nev.
November 29 @ Louisiana Tech Ruston, La.
