Ethan Miller/Getty Images
When the UNLV Rebels and San Diego State Aztecs take the field at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, both teams will honor the victims of the mass shooting that took the lives of 59 people and injured over 500 more earlier this week.
"Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the victims and the families impacted by this senseless act of violence," UNLV director of athletics Desiree Reed-Francois said in a statement.
The University of Las Vegas is just three miles from the Mandalay Bay Hotel where the shooting occurred.
For the game, the Rebels will wear the ribbons as decals on their helmets, rather than their usual logo.
San Diego State announced that they will also have the ribbon on their helmet.
"While football is just a game, it can also serve as a rallying point of unity and allow all of us to recognize the incredible heroism displayed by so many this week," Reed-Francois said. "We are all extremely proud of our community's response over the last couple of days."
The game has also been designated as "Heroes Night." The ribbon will also appear on the playing field, and fans in attendance will receive one on entry.
There will also be a pregame ceremony honoring the victims and first responders ahead of the game, which will be broadcast nationally at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Here is the special helmet @unlvfootball will wear Saturday in tribute to the victims and in honor of the heroes from Sunday. #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/ojJ49mhSFl
- UNLV Athletics (@UNLVathletics) October 4, 2017.@unlvfootball & @Aztec_Football will wear these decals on their helmets this Saturday night. Big thank you to @UNLVEquipment. #VegasStrong pic.twitter.com/yZGfynLOgk
- SDSU Equipment Room (@SDSU_EQ) October 4, 2017