The UNLV Rebels ' quarterback battle has taken an unexpected turn just days before they open their season against the Memphis Tigers .
Coach Dan Mullen has decided against naming one starter, opting instead to play both of his quarterbacks: Jackson Arnold and Alex Orji . This prompted some strong reactions from the college football world.
After Mullen revealed the plan, college football fans and analysts noted what the decision means for the former five-star recruit, Arnold. Arnold and Orji will both play Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium, with Mullen choosing not to settle the competition before kickoff.
Arnold joined UNLV after stops at Oklahoma and Auburn, while Orji arrived from Michigan . Their contrasting styles give Mullen two different options as he prepares for the game against Memphis.
Arnold's path to Las Vegas has made the decision especially interesting. The former five-star recruit started his college career at Oklahoma but lost his starting job during the 2024 season. He then transferred to Auburn, where he again struggled to keep the starting role before moving to UNLV.
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Arnold's journey gave fans plenty to talk about on X after Mullen announced his plan.
One fan questioned Arnold's standing after the announcement, writing , "You know how bad you have to be to not beat out Alex Orji?"
Another fan connected the situation to Arnold's difficult season at Auburn, writing , "I actually feel bad for Auburn fans, they had to deal with [Hugh] Freeze making this guy their starter last year."
Arnold's journey with three programs in three seasons also became fodder for online jokes.
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One fan shared a board-game-style graphic depicting his journey from Oklahoma, with a question mark suggesting that another destination could follow if things go wrong.
It captured the uncertainty surrounding Arnold's collegiate career.
Another X user wrote , "Feel like I've seen this movie before."
Another fan posted , "This is a LOUD evaluation of Jackson Arnold (derogatory)."
Still, one fan argued that Mullen's decision should not be viewed as a judgment on Arnold. The user wrote , "It's not really an evaluation of Arnold. Mullen did the same thing with Orji and Colandrea last year. He likes his ability of two different types of QBs for different situations and doesn't want to tip his hand fully."
This explanation fits Mullen's approach entering Week 0. Rather than naming a quarterback and limiting his options, he can use Arnold's arm and Orji's running ability as needed.
Memphis coach Charles Huff has also kept his plans private, refusing to reveal several starting positions. The Tigers and Rebels will meet Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on FOX.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
