In 2018, the Colorado football team will renew an old rivalry and, for the first time since joining the Pac-12, will close its regular season against someone other than Utah.

On Thursday, the Pac-12 released the full 2018 football schedule, and it includes CU playing a pair of Friday night games.

The Buffs open the 2018 season on Sept. 1 against in-state rival Colorado State at Sports Authority Field at Invesco Field.

The next week, on Sept. 8, the Buffs will travel to Lincoln, Neb., to face former Big 12 rival Nebraska. It will be the first meeting between the Buffs and Cornhuskers since 2010. After that season, CU moved to the Pac-12 and Nebraska to the Big Ten.

Since leaving the Big 12, CU has played just one former conference rival, losing to Oklahoma State, 38-8, in last year’s Alamo Bowl.

Following the home opener at Folsom Field against New Hampshire on Sept. 15, the Buffs will have a bye before playing nine consecutive weekends in Pac-12 play.

CU’s Pac-12 opener will be on Friday, Sept. 28, against UCLA at Folsom Field. The Buffs will also play Friday, Nov. 2, at Arizona.

The Buffs’ sixth and final home game of the year will be on Nov. 17 against Utah. That will be followed by a Nov. 24 trip to Berkeley to face California. It’ll be CU’s first regular season finale on the West Coast since playing at Washington in 1915.

CU has played Utah – its Pac-12 regional “rival” – on the final weekend of the regular season every year since the two joined the conference in 2011. In 2013, however, the Utes agreed to a Nov. 24, 2018, game against rival BYU.

“There’s much to like about this schedule,” CU athletic director Rick George said in a press release. “What stands out is the resumption of the Nebraska rivalry, the Friday night home game against UCLA, finishing the Pac-12 schedule in California and having the bye week fall at what is really the perfect time before conference play.”

Television selections and start times for the first three games will be announced by June 1.

CU’S 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Saturday, Sept. 1 – vs. Colorado State (Denver)

Saturday, Sept. 8 – at Nebraska

Saturday, Sept. 15 – New Hampshire

Saturday, Sept. 22 – Bye

Friday, Sept. 28 – UCLA*

Saturday, Oct. 6 – Arizona State*

Saturday, Oct. 13 – at Southern California*

Saturday, Oct. 20 – at Washington*

Saturday, Oct. 27 – Oregon State*

Friday, Nov. 2 – at Arizona*

Saturday, Nov. 10 – Washington State*

Saturday, Nov. 17 – Utah*

Saturday, Nov. 24 – at California*

Friday, Nov. 30 – Pac-12 Championship Game

(Home games in bold; * Pac-12 game)

Contact staff writer Brian Howell at howellb@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/BrianHowell33.