UNLV has announced that its home football game vs. Idaho State will move from September 13 to August 23 in order for Las Vegas to host the championship boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford at the Rebels' home venue, Allegiant Stadium.

The NCAA approved UNLV's waiver request, which allowed the Rebels to move their home-opener to Week Zero and in turn allowed Allegiant Stadium to host the historic megafight in September.

"The World Championship Boxing Match is important to Las Vegas, and the impact it will have on tourism is unmatched," UNLV Director of Athletics Erick Harper said. "Las Vegas is the Sports and Entertainment Capital, and we are a part of this amazing epicenter. As community members and an institution that works closely with many of the city's great constituents, we felt it was important to request a waiver to show our commitment to the community. We looked at multiple alternatives to make it happen, and moving to Week Zero was the only possibility and also the most logical, if a waiver could be approved. I want to thank UNLV President Dr. Chris Heavey, LVCVA CEO and President Steve Hill, and Las Vegas Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan, along with the many others who supported UNLV Football through this process, and we look forward to continuing to build great partnerships with the Las Vegas community. We also look forward to our spectacular fans having the opportunity to see the debut of new head coach Dan Mullen at Allegiant Stadium to kick off our season two weeks earlier than expected."

Kickoff time and TV information for the new date vs. the Bengals is to be announced. It will mark the earliest football game in UNLV history, beating the August 27 game in 2022 – also against Idaho State at Allegiant Stadium.

NOVEMBER 1 GAME TIME UPDATE: An additional schedule update for UNLV football was also announced. The Rebels' game vs. New Mexico on Saturday, November 1 will kick off at 12 p.m. PT. TV information for that contest is still TBA.