Memphis, UNLV Meet for First Time in Season Opener

The Memphis Tigers and UNLV Rebels will meet for the first time in program history on Saturday night, August 29, 2026, in a Week 0 showdown at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The game, scheduled for a 10 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX, marks the opening of the 2026 college football season for both teams and carries significant early implications for their respective conference title and College Football Playoff aspirations. The matchup pits two programs undergoing major transitions against each other. UNLV, under second-year head coach Dan Mullen, is coming off a 10-4 season that included a Mountain West Championship Game appearance. The Rebels are considered favorites to win their conference and are positioned as a top contender for the Group of Five's automatic playoff berth. Memphis, meanwhile, begins a new era under head coach Charles Huff, who takes over after successful stints at Marshall and Southern Miss. The Tigers finished 8-1 last season but lost their final four games. Both teams feature revamped rosters and questions at quarterback.