LAS VEGAS — UNLV is one win from bowl eligibility as it pursues a fourth consecutive postseason appearance. One of the latest projections would send the Rebels into a rematch with Ohio.
College Football News’ Pete Fiutak has the teams meeting Dec. 21 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise. Ohio beat UNLV 17-10 in last season’s Frisco Bowl, ending Dan Mullen’s first year with the Rebels at 10-4.
Fiutak had UNLV facing Fresno State in Albuquerque a week ago. His new pick is among several changes following the Rebels’ 31-24 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday. Sports Illustrated also changed UNLV’s projected bowl and opponent, while Athlon Sports kept the Rebels in Honolulu against Texas State.
UNLV enters Saturday’s home game against Wyoming at 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Mountain West. A win would secure eligibility with three regular-season games remaining. The Rebels have never played in four consecutive bowls.
These Nov. 1-2 projections are forecasts, not invitations; they place UNLV in Boise, Albuquerque, Honolulu or Frisco, Texas. The potential opponents range from unbeaten-in-conference Ohio to Texas State, which came within a point of beating Boise State over the weekend.
Boise: Ohio or Western Michigan
Fiutak’s Ohio pick would bring UNLV back against a program that has won seven consecutive bowls. The Bobcats finished last season 9-4 after beating the Rebels, and they are 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the Mid-American Conference this year.
Ohio has built that record with an offense averaging 190.9 rushing yards per game and converting nearly half its third downs. The Bobcats have moved the chains on 50 of 103 attempts, thrown just three interceptions and averaged 31 minutes, 29 seconds of possession through eight games.
Brad Crawford’s CBS Sports projection also sends UNLV to Boise, against Western Michigan.
The Broncos reached six wins Saturday by beating Bowling Green 23-10. They led 14-10 at halftime and shut out the Falcons over the final two quarters, improving to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the MAC. Cole Cabana ran for 110 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown, and Aveion Chenault had 109 receiving yards.
Both projected opponents have already reached the six-win threshold UNLV is trying to meet. The Potato Bowl is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Pacific on ESPN at Albertsons Stadium.
Albuquerque: Louisiana or Fresno State
Sports Illustrated’s Bryan Fischer now projects UNLV against Louisiana in the New Mexico Bowl. Last week, he had the Rebels facing Fresno State in Hawai‘i.
Louisiana is 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Sun Belt, with two October losses decided in the final minute. The Ragin’ Cajuns lost 32-31 at Louisiana Tech, then 35-31 at Southern Miss on Oct. 24 before taking last weekend off.
Jerry Palm has Fresno State facing UNLV in his Nov. 1 forecast on Palm Brackets. His pick is separate from Crawford’s CBS Sports projection.
Fresno State, which left the Mountain West for the Pac-12 this summer, is coming off a 38-22 win over Oregon State. The Bulldogs ended the Beavers’ five-game winning streak, led 38-16 late in the third quarter and improved to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Either matchup would send UNLV to University Stadium on Christmas Eve. The Rebels already visit Albuquerque on Nov. 14 to play New Mexico, so a bowl invitation would mean a second trip 40 days later. The bowl kicks off at 11:30 a.m. Pacific on ESPN.
Honolulu: Texas State
Athlon’s Steven Lassan stayed with UNLV-Texas State in the Hawai‘i Bowl, retaining that matchup in his Nov. 1 update.
Texas State fell to 4-4 despite a 36-point second-half rally against Boise State on Saturday. The Bobcats trailed 28-3 at halftime, scored the next 36 points and eventually lost 46-45.
The Bobcats are 2-2 in the Pac-12 and need two more wins for eligibility. They visit Oregon State on Saturday.
A Hawai‘i Bowl invitation would return UNLV to the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, where the Rebels beat Hawai‘i 21-6 on Sept. 5. The Dec. 24 game follows the New Mexico Bowl on ESPN, with kickoff at 4 p.m. Pacific.
Frisco: Tulane
Diehard Sports Network’s Tim Stephens has UNLV returning to the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 23, this time against Tulane.
Tulane is 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the American after beating Charlotte 38-31 in overtime. The Green Wave host Tulsa on Saturday and need two victories over their final four games for eligibility. The Frisco Bowl is scheduled for 6 p.m. Pacific on ESPN.
UNLV’s destination will also depend on the Mountain West’s arrangements with ESPN. Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in July that the league and network would determine the matchup and location for the conference’s first available selection each year. “The No. 1 selection from the Mountain West will appear in an ESPN event bowl,” Nevarez said, as The Gazette reported. There is no fixed destination attached to a particular finish in the standings.
The Rebels can still finish the regular season 9-3 overall and 7-1 in conference play. After Wyoming, they travel to New Mexico and San José State before hosting Reno on Nov. 28. Saturday’s winner will reach six victories; Wyoming also arrives at 5-3, with a 4-1 conference record.
