MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Gophers will open the 2012 football season a bit earlier than planned.

UNLV and the Mountain West Conference asked Minnesota to move their game in Las Vegas to Thursday, Aug. 30. They were originally going to play that Saturday.

The switch was announced Thursday by the school. Kickoff time and television coverage are to be determined.

Minnesota and UNLV have never met before in football. The two teams are scheduled to open the 2013 season as well in Minneapolis.

This will be the fifth opener in 12 years that Minnesota plays on a Thursday on the road.

This will be the third Big Ten team the Rebels have played at home. They hosted Northwestern in 2001 and Wisconsin five times between 1986 and 2010.

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