For the first time in program history, UNLV football has opened back-to-back seasons at 4-0. But head coach Dan Mullen insists the Rebels’ season is only just beginning. UNLV launches Mountain West Conference play on Saturday when they travel to Laramie to face Wyoming (2-2). The Rebels’ next eight games all come against league opponents, and the upcoming stretch features some of their toughest tests yet:
-
Air Force at Allegiant Stadium (Oct. 11)
-
Boise State on the road (Oct. 18)
-
New Mexico at home following a bye (Nov. 1)
“The season really kind of starts today,” Mullen said this week. “This is going to get us into a very different schedule and a very different routine in games that are critical.”
The Rebels have fallen to Boise State in each of the past two Mountain West Championship Games. With the Broncos and four other league members (San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Utah State) departing for the Pac-12 next season, this year is UNLV’s last opportunity to dethrone the blue-and-orange dynasty.
Before they can think about Boise, though, Mullen’s team must first deal with Wyoming — a program known for physicality and defense.
Wyoming Matchup
The Cowboys are giving up just 18.7 points per game, second-best in the Mountain West, and recently held an explosive Utah team to three points in the first half of a 31-6 loss.
“They’re a very stout, physical defense up front with the ability to stop the run,” Mullen said. “They’re going to give you a lot of different looks, both fronts and coverages on the back end to try to confuse the quarterback, and they play extremely hard.”
UNLV will need a cleaner performance than in its 41-38 comeback win over Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 20. The Rebels trailed by 14 points twice, allowed both a 100-yard kickoff return and a pick-six, and required 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to escape.
Game Notes
-
Kickoff: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
-
Location: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyoming
-
TV: CBS Sports Network
-
Series history: Wyoming leads 14-12, but UNLV won the last meeting 34-14 in 2023. This will be the Rebels’ first trip to Laramie since 2019, when Wyoming rolled 53-17.
UNLV Rallies Late, Beats Miami 41-38 for First-Ever Eastern Time Zone Victory
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
