LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels will open their 58th season of football by hosting the Idaho State Bengals at Allegiant Stadium in the earliest game in Rebel history.
UNLV received permission to move this game from Sept. 13 to Aug. 23 so that the historic world-championship boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford can be held at the stadium as part of Mexican Independence Day festivities.
How to watch UNLV vs. Idaho State on TV
Fans can catch Saturday afternoon’s game between the Rebels and Bengals live on the Mountain West Network or the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network.
- Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. PT
- Channel: Mountain West Network or Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network
Tickets for UNLV vs. Idaho State
Student tickets are available at no cost for all current UNLV students. Click here to download your student ticket.
Fans attending Saturday’s game can get tickets for as low as $29 on UNLVtickets.com, the university’s official ticketing platform.
Weather Forecast For UNLV Game Day
Saturday is going to be a warm day in Las Vegas, but with the game indoors, fans should have a great experience.
The high temperature for Aug. 23 is forecast at 105 degrees, right around the seasonal average of around 104.
Whether you’re tailgating at the game, walking to the stadium or spending time on the Strip, you’ll want to stay hydrated and be careful of surfaces that could be hot to the touch.
What to watch for: UNLV vs. Idaho State
New season, new coach — The Rebels are the first team in Mountain West history to improve their win total four consecutive seasons by multiple wins. Their new head coach, Dan Mullen, is 11-2 all-time in season openers at his two stops leading Mississippi State and Florida, including five straight wins. Mullen is also promising to upgrade the entertainment experience at Allegiant Stadium with new seating for fans, a grand entrance for the team and other fan-friendly stadium experiences.
50+ years of history — As for the Rebels vs. Bengals, UNLV leads 7-2 in a series that dates back to Rebel football’s second year of existence, when the Rebels defeated Idaho State 35-31 in 1969. The following season, UNLV traveled to Pocatello and played the first collegiate game staged in Holt Arena, which was then called the ISU Minidome, in 1970. All nine meetings between UNLV and ISU have been won by the home team.
Quarterback battle — The Rebels have two quarterbacks who could start and play significant minutes: #1 Alex Orji, who transferred from the University of Michigan and #10 Anthony Colandrea, who transferred from the University of Virginia. As of Wednesday, Mullen has not said who will start or who will get most of the playing time.
Watch the run — The Rebels’ ground game, led by Jai’den “Jet” Thomas, is expected to be a strong aspect of the 2025 Rebels offense. How they perform in Saturday’s opener will be a good indication of what this team will do this season.