UNLV’s first game in series with Cal likely opener at new stadium

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The UNLV football program today announced a four-game series with Cal-Berkeley of the Pac-12 Conference. The teams have never met.

The first installment of the series will be Aug. 29, 2020 and likely the Rebels' first home game at their new stadium near the Las Vegas Strip. Cal makes another trip to Las Vegas in 2025. UNLV travels to Berkeley, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2022, and Sept. 5, 2026.

“This is a series we have been working on since I arrived and is beneficial for both programs,” UNLV Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois said in a statement. “Playing a Pac-12 institution such as California upgrades our non-conference schedule for our fans and also benefits our program’s recruiting efforts in the area. These are the types of games that impact our city and the fact that UNLV and California have never met before makes it even more anticipated.”

The 2020 contest could have an interesting storyline. UNLV redshirt freshman quarterback Armani Rogers, who would be a senior in 2020, was formerly a Cal commit.

UNLV will be no stranger to facing Pac-12 opponents. It opens next season at USC and has a home-and-home series scheduled with Arizona State — Sept. 12, 2020, in Las Vegas; Sept. 11, 2021, in Tempe, Ariz.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21