UNLV spent its bye week searching for an identity. By the end of Saturday afternoon in Akron, the Rebels had found at least a promising version of one.
A four-point halftime game became a 38-10 UNLV win as the Rebels overwhelmed Akron after the break. UNLV scored 24 unanswered second-half points, forced three interceptions and finished with 493 yards of offense in its strongest all-around performance of the season.
The response carried extra weight after a 44-6 loss at North Texas two weeks earlier. UNLV improved to 2-2 overall and remained 1-0 in Mountain West play after using the open week to reassess what was working, what was not and which players needed bigger roles.
During the bye week, head coach Dan Mullen said UNLV needed to establish an identity and determine what it could consistently do well. Against Akron, the Rebels looked much closer to finding that answer.
Arnold and Thomas give UNLV its offensive balance
Jackson Arnold delivered his most complete passing performance since transferring to UNLV, completing 17 of 29 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Just as important, Akron never sacked him.
That protection gave Arnold time to attack downfield, something UNLV had struggled to do consistently through its first three games.
Akron struck first with a 75-yard touchdown drive, but UNLV responded immediately. Arnold found Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas for a 40-yard touchdown to finish an 81-yard drive and tie the game 7-7.
Thomas caught another touchdown in the second quarter, this time from 2 yards, to put UNLV ahead 14-7. Akron trimmed the lead to 14-10 before halftime, leaving the game unsettled despite UNLV’s early offensive success.
The Rebels changed that quickly after the break.
Arnold connected with Taz Reddicks for 45 yards on UNLV’s first second-half possession. Thomas finished the five-play, 75-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run only 1:27 into the third quarter.
Thomas finished with 113 yards on 15 carries and caught three passes for 54 yards. His three touchdowns accompanied 167 yards from scrimmage as UNLV leaned on its most established offensive weapon.
Reddicks gives passing game an explosive element
Reddicks provided something else UNLV badly needed: explosive production on the perimeter.
The senior caught four passes for 116 yards, becoming the Rebels’ first 100-yard receiver of the season. His two longest receptions came during the third-quarter surge that broke the game open.
After Cam Santee intercepted Akron quarterback Brayden Roggow, UNLV needed only two plays to cash in. Arnold found Reddicks for a 59-yard touchdown that pushed the advantage to 31-10 with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter.
Taeshaun Lyons also contributed a 36-yard reception as UNLV finished with 290 passing yards and 203 rushing yards. The Rebels averaged 7.8 yards per play while scoring more than 21 points for the first time this season.
Defense turns halftime adjustment into a shutdown
Mullen had emphasized tackling in space during the week because of Akron’s ability to pair its running game with RPO concepts. The concern looked justified early as the Zips scored on their opening possession and stayed within four points at halftime.
Then UNLV shut them down.
Akron managed only 74 yards in the second half and did not score. Its six possessions after halftime ended with a punt, interception, missed field goal, punt, interception returned for a touchdown and another punt.
The Rebels also generated all three of their sacks after halftime. Tre Fulton, Elias Rudolph and Andre Porter each brought down Roggow as Akron became increasingly dependent on the passing game.
UNLV’s ability to force Akron into those situations changed the game. The Zips finished with 107 rushing yards after opening with enough success on the ground to keep the first half competitive.
Turnovers swing back in UNLV’s favor
The turnaround was most obvious in the turnover column.
Mullen had pointed out during the week that UNLV committed no turnovers in its first two games before giving the ball away four times at North Texas. Against Akron, the Rebels protected the football and took it away three times.
Fulton intercepted a Jordan Gant pass in the first quarter, Santee picked off Roggow in the third and Mumu Bin-Wahad supplied the final blow.
Bin-Wahad intercepted Roggow at the Akron 35 with 7:29 left in the fourth quarter and returned it for a touchdown. The 35-yard pick-six completed a plus-three turnover day and gave UNLV a 38-10 lead.
Santee, who attended high school in nearby Avon, Ohio, also led the Rebels with 10 tackles.
After three uneven games and a bye spent evaluating personnel, execution and identity, UNLV left Ohio with its clearest performance yet. The offense protected Arnold and generated explosive plays, Thomas controlled the ground game and the defense turned a close contest into a second-half rout.
Up next
UNLV returns to Allegiant Stadium on Saturday to host Cal after three consecutive road games.
Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
