UNLV Receives $1.75M From TKO For Moving Week 0 Opener

UNLV football agreed to move its season opener against Idaho State from September 13 to Week 0, August 23, to accommodate a high-profile boxing event between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford hosted by TKO at Allegiant Stadium. In return, TKO paid UNLV's athletic department $1.75 million, along with providing a suite and 100 tickets to the fight, helping the department address its nearly $27 million debt. UNLV also compensated Idaho State with a $500,000 guarantee due to the rescheduling. This move allowed UNLV to showcase its new head coach Dan Mullen in his debut and was predicted to result in a dominant win over Idaho State, with expectations of a decisive offensive performance despite some uncertainties at quarterback. UNLV athletic director Erick Harper highlighted that the funds and resources gained would be strategically used to strengthen athletic programs and emphasize the student-athlete experience. The arrangement was seen as beneficial both financially for UNLV and for Las Vegas, which hosted two major sporting events on the same weekend.