UCLA’s opener moved to indulge ESPN

UCLA announced Thursday that it had moved up its football season opener against Cincinnati to accommodate a Thursday broadcast on ESPN.

The Bruins’ game against the Bearcats at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati will be played Aug. 29. Kickoff time has not been announced. UCLA has another Thursday game scheduled, at Stanford on Oct. 17.

Moving up the Bruins’ opener by two days will give the team extra rest heading into its home opener against San Diego State on Sept. 7 at the Rose Bowl. UCLA’s final nonconference game will be played Sept. 14 against Oklahoma at the Rose Bowl.

The Bruins will open Pac-12 Conference play at Washington State on Sept. 21.

Former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops is coming out of retirement to join the reincarnation of the XFL. Stoops, 58, was named coach and general manager of the league’s Dallas franchise . ... Texas quarterback Shane Buechele will transfer to Southern Methodist after graduating in May. Buechele, who was the Longhorns starter in 2016 when he set several Texas freshman passing records, was a backup to Sam Ehlinger last season . ... Maine running back Ramon Jefferson was arrested and charged with domestic violence assault, police said . ... The NCAA faces more than 300 lawsuits from former college football players who claim their concussions were mistreated, leading to medical problems spanning from headaches to depression and, in some cases, early onset Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.