The Wolf Pack will host the Southland Conference team from Thibodaux, La., in their home opener Sept. 15 at 6:05 p.m. at Mackay Stadium. Ault also announced on Tuesday future home-and-home series with Texas Tech and Missouri of the Big 12 Conference.

"What's critical to understand is next year's schedule is tough enough," said Ault, whose team opened spring practice Tuesday afternoon.

"Nebraska, then back across the country for Northwestern, those are critical games to open the season. Our mental toughness is going to have to equal our physical toughness," he told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

"When you add those non-conference games to our existing conference games and UNLV each year, it certainly raises the bar. We are anxious to meet those expectations."

Nevada travels to Lincoln, Nev., to face the Big 12's Cornhuskers on Sept. 1 and hits the road again to play the Big Ten's Northwestern on Sept. 8 at Evanston, Ill.

The Wolf Pack also hosts UNLV on Sept. 29 before opening Western Athletic Conference play against Fresno State in Reno on Oct. 6 for Homecoming.

Nicholls State posted a 4-7 record last year, including a 56-7 loss at Nebraska. The 2007 schedule also features two bye weeks, Sept. 22 and Nov. 10.

"In this day and age, you've got to have six home games," Ault said. "Teams like San Jose State and Boise State are all playing I-AA teams. This fits into our M.O."

Nevada had previously announced future games at Notre Dame in 2009 and Florida State in 2013.

"We are absolutely committed to bringing high-quality opponents to Mackay Stadium," Nevada athletic director Cary Groth said.

Texas Tech and Missouri first appear on the schedule in 2008 when Texas Tech comes to Mackay Stadium on Sept. 6 and Nevada visits Missouri on Sept. 13. The UNLV game will be in Las Vegas on Sept. 27.

The 2009 season features a Sept. 5 game at Notre Dame. Other 2009 games include at Colorado State (Sept. 19), vs. Missouri (Sept. 26) and vs. UNLV (Oct. 10).

The Pack hosts Colorado State (Sept. 11) and San Diego State (Sept. 18) and visits UNLV (Oct. 2) in 2010.

The 2011 non-conference schedule features games at Oregon (Sept. 10), vs. UNLV (Sept. 17) and at Texas Tech (Sept. 24).

Only one game, UNLV at Las Vegas (Sept. 8) has been scheduled so far for 2012.

In 2013, the Wolf Pack hosts Oregon (Sept. 7) and UNLV (Sept. 14) before traveling to take on Florida State (Sept. 21).

Nevada will play a 12-game season each year, four of which will be non-conference games. The 2009 non-conference schedule is complete. All others between 2008 and 2013 still have at least one game to fill.

Nevada, a I-AA program until 1992 has in recent years worked to include high-profile teams on its schedule. Among its big-name opponents in the last five years are Arizona State, Washington, Oregon, BYU, Colorado State and Northwestern. The Pack defeated Northwestern last season, 31-21. It was the first time the Pack had played a Big Ten team.

"Our fans deserve the opportunity to watch our team compete against first-rate competition," said Rory Hickok, an associate athletic director whose duties include football scheduling. "By playing these teams, we get a chance to measure our program on a national level."