Story by
Heading to Hawai’i, Where Does UNLV Stand after a Week Zero Letdown?
- Story by
- Heading to Hawai’i, Where Does UNLV Stand after a Week Zero Letdown?
Dan Mullen and UNLV were one of the Group of Six darlings this offseason, selected by many to break through and make the College Football Playoff.
But before the calendar even flipped to September, that dream was crumpled up and tossed away by the college football faithful.
Advertisement
Like many who wake up after a bad Saturday night on the Vegas Strip, the Rebels woke up on Sunday with a question: What happened?
It helps when the answer is familiar: a lack of a run game, explosive plays on defense, and, most of all, undisciplined football.
"Losing sucks, I'll tell you that," head coach Dan Mullen said at the postgame press conference. "Some critical errors, some areas we got to be better at."
A 48-yard touchdown pass and a 36-yard touchdown run from Memphis, both coming on drives that took less than two minutes to open the second half, proved to be the difference-makers in UNLV's 27-21 loss.
Advertisement
Some untimely penalties littered the second half for the Rebs as well, finishing with seven penalties for 75 yards in the game.
On offense, the next chapter for Auburn transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold began.
Arnold finished with 25-for-3 for 291 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the offense couldn't come up big in the red zone, going one for three in red zone trips.
Arnold's play also took away from star senior running back Jai'Den Thomas, finishing with just 44 yards on 12 carries.
Defensive struggles, penalties and lack of presence from the running back room create deja vu from their last big-time matchup, almost exactly nine months ago: a Mountain West championship loss at Boise State, 38-21.
Advertisement
So, after 300 words of negativity, is there any hope for UNLV's season after this loss?
100%. Conference play hasn't even begun. The Rebels are still a favorite in the MWC, thanks to talent that pops off the paper. Some of those names were present on Saturday.
Jai'Den Thomas showed off his versatility with six catches for 54 yards, finishing with over 100 yards of total offense. Arnold's 291 yards is his most passing yards in a game in his entire college career. Freshman Tavian McNair hauled in a 38-yard touchdown in his college debut.
Defensive back Jake Pope led the way with 13 tackles, including five solo. Along with him in the DB room, senior Denver Harris recovered a fumble, and Tre Fulton recorded the first sack of the UNLV season.
Advertisement
There is still plenty to like about the 2026 Rebels, but after a big non-conference loss like this, a season of potential could slowly shift into a "do or die" scenario for many individuals.
Dan Mullen is likely one big season away from truly entering the Power Four job picture once again. Jackson Arnold is looking to salvage what has been a lackluster collegiate run with a renaissance of a senior season. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther needs a rebound after a mess of a defensive year in 2025.
While their season didn't end in Week 0, a lot of weight now rests on how the Rebels show up for Week 1: a massive trip to the island to face Hawai'i.
Not only would a win help the Rebs avoid a 0-2 start, but it may be vital in the Mountain West standings down the line. Hawai'i battled with Power Four's Stanford in Week 0, labeled as a dark horse in the MWC throughout the offseason.
Can UNLV get back on the right foot in the Aloha State? Or will their season quickly be washed out with the waves?
UNLV visits Hawai'i on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 10:00 p.m. EST.
