2016 Pack football schedule

The University of Nevada football team has released its 2016 schedule, highlighted by Mountain West home games against Fresno State, Wyoming, San Diego State and Utah State. The conference office announced dates for all league games on Wednesday, while telecast and kickoff times will be announced at a later date.

Carrying momentum following a bowl victory last season, head coach Brian Polian and the Wolf Pack will open the 2016 campaign on Sept. 3 at the newly renovated Mackay Stadium. Nevada will play host to Cal Poly (Sept. 3), Buffalo (Sept. 17), Fresno State (Oct. 8), Wyoming (Oct. 22), San Diego State (Nov. 12) and Utah State (Nov. 19) this season.

The Wolf Pack will travel to Notre Dame (Sept. 10) and Purdue (Sept. 24) in nonconference play. In league play, Nevada will play at Hawai’i (Oct. 1), San Jose State (Oct. 15), New Mexico (Nov. 5) and at rivals UNLV (Nov. 26).

“We are excited about today’s release of the 2016 schedule,” said Polian, who enters his fourth season at the helm after guiding Nevada to back-to-back bowl games. “I feel like it presents a number of great opportunities for our football team – road games against nationally recognized programs in Notre Dame and Purdue, home games against conference foes Fresno State, Wyoming, San Diego State, and Utah State, and the opportunity to finish the regular season with a rivalry game in Las Vegas. With the completion of the Mackay Stadium renovations and this exciting slate of games, 2016 should prove to be a great year for Wolf Pack football.”

The announcement by the conference represents the base football schedule. Dates are subject to change.

Saturday, Sept. 3

Cal Poly at Nevada

Mackay Stadium - Reno, Nev.

Fans will get their first look at the 2016 Pack and a renovated Mackay Stadium on ept. 3 as Nevada hosts Cal Poly in its season opener. A few of the new features at Mackay Stadium following the renovation project will be an 8,000-square foot stadium club, loge boxes, club seats and chair backs. The season opener will also mark the first meeting between Nevada and Cal Poly since 1998 as the Pack leads, 6-3, in the series history. Cal Poly – a member of the Big Sky Conference in FCS – went 4-7 last year.

Week 2 – Saturday, Sept. 10

Nevada at Notre Dame

Notre Dame Stadium – South Bend, Ind.

Nevada’s first road game in the 2016 season will be at one of the most storied college football stadiums in the nation. The Pack will play Notre Dame on Sept. 10 at Notre Dame Stadium. Nevada previously played at Notre Dame in 2009, which was the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Head coach Brian Polian was on the sideline opposite of Nevada for that game, as Polian served as the special teams coordinator for the Fighting Irish from 2008-09. Notre Dame posted a 10-3 record last year and played in the Fiesta Bowl.

Week 3 – Saturday, Sept. 17

Buffalo at Nevada

Mackay Stadium – Reno, Nev.

Nevada plays its final home nonconference game on Sept. 17 as Buffalo travels to Reno for the final game of a home-and-home series. Last season, James Butler rushed for 177 yards and Dameon Baber intercepted two passes as Nevada downed the Bulls, 24-21, at UB Stadium. This will be Buffalo’s second-ever trip to Reno as Nevada downed the Bulls, 38-13, at Mackay Stadium in 2004.

Week 4 – Saturday, Sept. 24

Nevada at Purdue

Ross-Ade Stadium – West Lafayette, Ind.

Nevada returns to the state of Indiana to close its nonconference slate against a power-five foe, meeting Purdue on Sept. 24. This will be the first meeting between the Wolf Pack and Boilermakers in program history. It will also mark Nevada’s first game against a Big Ten foe since playing at Northwestern in 2007.

Week 5 – Saturday, Oct. 1

Nevada at Hawaii

Aloha Stadium – Honolulu, Hawaii

Following a 2,000-mile trip to West Lafayette, Ind., Nevada will open Mountain West play with a 2,600-mile flight to Honolulu. The Wolf Pack will meet the Rainbow Warriors on Oct. 1 in both team’s conference openers. Nevada will be looking to improve on a five-game winning streak against Hawai’i. Last season, the Pack used a 30-3 scoring advantage in the final 35 minutes of play to defeat Hawaii, 30-20, on Homecoming at Mackay Stadium.

Week 6 – Saturday, Oct. 8

Fresno State at Nevada

Mackay Stadium – Reno, Nev.

The Wolf Pack’s first Mountain West game at Mackay Stadium is set for Oct. 8 as Nevada hosts Fresno State. The game will mark the 48th all-time meeting between the Pack and Bulldogs. Last season, Nevada snapped a three-game skid to Fresno State with a dominant 30-16 win in Fresno. The Pack out-gained the Bulldogs by a 335-73 margin in the second half and Baber matched a MW record with three interceptions.

Week 7 – Saturday, Oct. 15

Nevada at San Jose State

Spartan Stadium – San Jose, Calif.

Nevada returns to the road with a trip to San Jose State on Oct. 15 at Spartan Stadium. The Wolf Pack will look to continue its dominance in the series history, carrying an eight-game win streak against San Jose State. Last season, Nevada won a thriller in overtime, 37-34, against the Spartans.

Week 8 – Saturday, Oct. 22

Wyoming at Nevada

Mackay Stadium – Reno, Nev.

The Wolf Pack hosts Wyoming on Oct. 22 at Mackay Stadium in another MW showdown. It will mark the Cowboy’s first trip to Reno as a member of the MW conference. The series history between the two programs is tied, 3-3.

Week 9 – BYE

Week 10 – Saturday, Nov. 5

Nevada at New Mexico

University Stadium – Albuquerque, N.M.

Following a bye week, Nevada returns to action on Nov. 5 against New Mexico. This will be the Pack’s first game at University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M., since 2012. Nevada has posted three straight wins against the Lobos after rushing for a season-high 351 yards in a 35-17 victory last season.

Week 11 – Saturday, Nov. 12

San Diego State at Nevada

Mackay Stadium – Reno, Nev.

The reigning Mountain West champions travel to Mackay Stadium on Nov. 12 as Nevada hosts San Diego State in a MW West Division battle. The Aztecs lead the series history by a 5-3 margin, while Nevada is 2-1 all-time against San Diego State at home.

Week 12 – Saturday, Nov. 19

Utah State at Nevada

Mackay Stadium – Reno, Nev. Nevada’s final home game of the season is set for Nov. 19 as Nevada hosts Utah State on Senior Day. The Wolf Pack will honor its senior class prior to kickoff at Mackay Stadium. Nevada is 8-2 all-time when playing the Aggies at home.

Week 13 – Saturday, Nov. 26

Nevada at UNLV

Sam Boyd Stadium – Las Vegas, Nev.

The annual Battle for Nevada returns to its rightful place as the last game of the regular season. Rivals Nevada and UNLV will compete for the Fremont Cannon and for Governor’s Series points on Nov. 26 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The Pack leads the series history against the Rebels, 24-17.