In the Pac-12 Conference’s release of its 2016 football schedule Tuesday, it was plain that the Huskies and Cougars are attempting to stay in-country in their attempts to fatten the record against non-conference opposition.

Only one of the six non-conference games is against a foe outside the Northwest — Rutgers of New Jersey will open the Washington season at Husky Stadium Sept. 3. UW follows up with Idaho of the Sun Belt Conference the following week, then Portland State of the Big Sky Conference Sept. 17.  All are home games.

On the same dates, Washington State will host Eastern Washington, travel to Boise State and then host Idaho.

At least the Cougars, for the first time since 1999, will play seven games at Martin Stadium.

As the new custom, no starting times were announced. Sportspress NW could not confirm that the Pac-12 was attempting to start each game in 12 time zones, starting with Helsinki Standard Time and working west, allowing the conference to appeal to half the globe.

WASHINGTON HUSKIES 2016 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 3 – RUTGERS
Sept. 10 – IDAHO
Sept. 17 – PORTLAND STATE
Sat., Sept. 24 – at Arizona
Fri., Sept. 30 – STANFORD
Sat., Oct. 8 – at Oregon
Sat., Oct. 15 – bye
Sat., Oct. 22 – OREGON STATE (Homecoming)
Sat., Oct. 29 – at Utah
Sat., Nov. 5 – at California
Sat., Nov. 12 – USC
Sat., Nov. 19 – ARIZONA STATE
Fri., Nov. 25 – at Washington State
Fri., Dec. 2 – Pac-12 Championship Game

WASHINGTON STATE 2016 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 3 – EASTERN WASHINGTON
Sept. 10 – at Boise State
Sept. 17 – IDAHO
Sept. 24 – Bye
Oct. 1 – OREGON
Oct. 8 – at Stanford
Oct. 15 – UCLA (Homecoming)
Oct. 22 – at Arizona State
Oct. 29– at Oregon State
Nov. 5 – ARIZONA (Dad’s Weekend)
Nov. 12 – CALIFORNIA
Nov. 19 – at Colorado
Nov. 25 – WASHINGTON (Apple Cup)