UNLV is coming off its biggest win of the season against Cal, but Dan Mullen made it clear Monday that the challenge gets even harder with undefeated North Dakota State coming to Allegiant Stadium for Homecoming.

Mullen called NDSU one of the best teams UNLV will face this season and said he does not see an obvious weakness. The Bison have one of the top defenses in the country, one of the most efficient offenses in the Mountain West and a roster built largely through players who have developed inside the program rather than a complete portal rebuild.

The press conference also revisited UNLV’s 39-31 win over Cal. Mullen thought the defense played considerably better than the final score suggested, especially considering Cal received extra possessions and short fields because of special-teams mistakes. He also broke down what UNLV did well on special teams and where the Rebels still have to clean things up before Saturday.

Jackson Arnold was another major topic after earning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week. Mullen said Arnold’s growth is showing in his comfort reading defenses, recognizing when opponents are selling out to stop Jai’Den Thomas and knowing when the matchup gives him an opportunity to push the ball vertically.

Mullen also challenged Las Vegas again after Saturday’s atmosphere against Cal. With NDSU expected to bring a significant traveling crowd, Homecoming on campus and conference positioning already at stake, he wants Rebel fans to “double down” and fill Allegiant Stadium.

Then the press conference took a completely different turn when Mullen was asked about potential College Football Playoff expansion. His idea goes far beyond simply adding teams. Mullen floated rebuilding college football around eight- or nine-team divisions, a 16-team playoff and even promotion and relegation between levels.

Jake Pope and Kenyon Burnett also spoke after Mullen. Pope talked about UNLV embracing the underdog role against NDSU, while Burnett discussed his expanding role as a receiver, how motion helps him identify defensive looks and what it will take to move the football against a disciplined Bison defense that allowed only eight first downs against Wyoming.

North Dakota State brings championship expectations, an undefeated record and one of the most experienced program cultures in the Mountain West.

UNLV brings a two-game winning streak, its first major Power Four win of the season and another opportunity to prove the response after North Texas was real.

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UNLV picked up a major home win over Cal, and Dan Mullen’s biggest takeaway afterward was the toughness his team showed when the game turned against it.

The Rebels built momentum, watched Cal erase it and take the lead in the second half, then responded instead of letting the game get away. Mullen repeatedly came back to the way UNLV handled the swings of the game, especially with both teams dealing with injuries and the result still coming down to the final possession.

A major part of the offensive plan was creating explosive plays against a Cal secondary that Mullen clearly respected. UNLV used shifts, motions and formation changes to hunt favorable one-on-one matchups, while Jackson Arnold also hurt Cal when man coverage turned defenders’ backs and opened running lanes for the quarterback.

Arnold also talked about how much more comfortable he feels in the offense after five weeks. Mullen said the growth is showing less in simply knowing the system and more in understanding how to use it, when to take a shot and when the matchup gives him an opportunity to be aggressive.

That showed up throughout the game. Even after Cal broke up several early passes and later erased UNLV’s lead, Arnold said his focus was simply moving on to the next play. That became especially important after Cal went ahead in the second half and the Rebels had to regain control offensively.

Mullen also praised Corey Dennis for helping create the matchups that produced UNLV’s two long touchdown passes. He described both as complete football plays: protection, route, throw and catch all working against tight coverage rather than relying on a blown assignment.

Defensively, the fourth-down stops were enormous. Mullen described those plays as stolen possessions, especially in a game where special teams created extra opportunities for both sides. UNLV had some major positives in that phase, but also mistakes that Mullen knows cannot continue.

Now the focus turns to conference play and North Dakota State. Mullen challenged UNLV fans and students to “double down” after the atmosphere against Cal and create an even bigger home-field advantage next week.

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UNLV is finally back at Allegiant Stadium, and Saturday against Cal should tell us much more about whether the Rebels actually changed during the bye week.

Both teams enter 2-2, and both have spent the last week trying to make life easier on their quarterback. UNLV already went through that process after the 44-6 loss at North Texas and showed real improvement in a 38-10 win over Akron. Cal is doing it now after Clemson held the Bears to 231 yards with no offensive touchdowns.

That makes this matchup fascinating. UNLV gets to test the offense it simplified for Jackson Arnold against a much better defense, while Cal gets its first look at whatever Tosh Lupoi, Nick Rolovich and the offensive staff decided to change around JKS.

For UNLV, everything starts with Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas.

Cal has allowed 191 rushing yards per game, 5.3 yards per carry and nine rushing touchdowns. UCLA ran for 277 yards and six scores. Clemson ran for 255. UNLV is 2-0 when Jet reaches 100 yards and when the team gets over 200 rushing yards. Against Akron, Thomas had 167 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. This is the matchup UNLV has to attack.

If Jet gets going, Cal has to bring Kingston Lopa closer to the line of scrimmage instead of leaving one of the country’s most productive ball-hawking safeties sitting deep against Arnold.

That is where the passing game opens up.

Taz Reddicks has 191 receiving yards over the last two games and is beginning to emerge as Arnold’s most trusted vertical target. Caden McGee is expected back, while freshmen Vince Carner and Peyton Zachary have earned larger roles because of injuries throughout the receiver room. UNLV suddenly has more answers in the passing game than it did a few weeks ago.

The offensive line has another test too. Arnold was not sacked against Akron after taking 11 sacks through the first three games. Austin Boyd remains out, so Griffin Scroggs and the rest of the group have to prove the Akron performance can hold up against a bigger Cal front.

On the other side, Cal is trying to simplify things for JKS. Expect quick throws, running backs involved in the passing game, potentially more tight ends over the middle and selected vertical shots instead of asking him to solve everything after the snap.

That puts pressure on UNLV’s linebackers. Paul Guenther wants to change pictures before the snap, squeeze the pocket and keep JKS from creating what Dan Mullen calls the “second play” when the original call breaks down.

The other major keys are turnovers, red-zone execution, special teams and the third quarter. UNLV cannot pile up 400 yards and come away empty inside the 20 again. It also cannot repeat the poor end-of-half clock management that has already cost scoring opportunities this season.

UNLV looked better against Akron.

Cal is where we find out how much better.

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UNLV needed a response after the 44-6 loss at North Texas, and the Rebels finally gave us one.

The 38-10 win over Akron got UNLV back to 2-2, but the final score does not tell the entire story. Akron moved the ball in the first half, UNLV still committed too many penalties and there are still questions around Jackson Arnold, the intermediate passing game, tackling and Alex Orji’s role.

But the Rebels were better.

UNLV finished with 493 yards, rushed for 203, averaged 7.8 yards per play, did not turn the ball over and did not allow a sack. The defense intercepted three passes, recorded three sacks and shut Akron out after halftime. More importantly, when something went wrong, UNLV did not allow one bad play to become five.

Jackson Arnold finished 17-of-29 for 290 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His deep passing was excellent, including four completions on six throws of at least 20 yards for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He also handled pressure considerably better than he had earlier in the season.

There are still things to watch. Arnold went 3-of-11 on throws between 10 and 19 yards, and his time to throw remained above three seconds. Against Cal, UNLV probably will not be able to live entirely on deep balls. The intermediate game has to become more consistent.

Jet Thomas looked like Jet again. He finished with 113 rushing yards on 15 carries, added 54 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns while forcing nine missed tackles. Taz Reddicks also took a major step toward becoming Arnold’s No. 1 receiver, catching four passes for 116 yards and a touchdown while consistently attacking Akron vertically.

The third quarter may have been the most encouraging part of the entire game. UNLV entered Saturday having been outscored 34-10 in third quarters this season. Against Akron, the Rebels turned a 14-10 halftime lead into 31-10 with three completely different scoring possessions: an explosive touchdown drive, a long possession ending in a field goal and a touchdown created by a defensive takeaway.

Defensively, the final score was cleaner than the first half actually looked, but Paul Guenther’s group adjusted. The pass rush improved, Cam Santee made one of the biggest plays of the game and Akron finished the fourth quarter with negative yardage.

So did the bye week fix everything? No.

Did UNLV get better? Absolutely.

Now Cal comes to Allegiant Stadium, and that matchup will tell us much more about whether the improvements in protection, explosive passing, the running game and the defense can hold up against better competition.

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Basketball season is here, and we finally got our first real look at Josh Pastner’s second UNLV team.

The biggest takeaway from practice was how closely this roster matches the way Pastner wants UNLV to play. He wants the Runnin’ Rebels to run, pressure the ball for 94 feet, make opponents uncomfortable before they can get into their offense and turn rebounds and turnovers into transition opportunities.

Terrance Ford Jr. said he was recruited with the expectation that he would pick up opposing point guards full court. Freshman Kota Suttle Jr. is doing the same thing to him in practice. Sebastian Mack gives UNLV a downhill scorer, Dontrez Williams can defend and create transition chances, MJ Thomas rebounds at a high level, and Tyrin Jones remains the rim protector in the frontcourt.

Jones is one of the biggest stories entering the season. He revealed that he played last year after tearing his labrum and dislocating his shoulder in August 2025 before having surgery in April. He is scheduled to return to contact Oct. 1. After averaging nearly 12 points, five rebounds and a Mountain West-best 2.2 blocks while playing hurt, a healthy Jones could make a major difference.

His jumper is worth watching too. Jones spent much of rehab working on his shot and made several threes during the open portion of practice. I am not turning him into a stretch five after one practice, but if defenders have to respect him outside the paint, Ford and Mack get more room to attack.

There are still questions. Tyler Harris is working back from an MCL injury. Issac Williamson is dealing with a hamstring issue. AJ Storr remains ineligible but can practice, and his status could significantly change the starting lineup.

Without Storr, my projected starting five is Terrance Ford Jr., Sebastian Mack, Dontrez Williams, MJ Thomas and Tyrin Jones. Williamson should have an important bench role when healthy, Jeremy Foumena should be the first true big off the bench, and Harris gives UNLV another bigger shooting wing. Cam Miles, Moustapha Loum, Kota Suttle Jr. and Jackson Kiss give Pastner more options deeper in the rotation.

That is why the three exhibitions matter. UNLV gets Utah, BYU and Missouri before opening the regular season against Northern Arizona. Pastner did not schedule three easy games. He wants this team tested before November.

The identity is clear: UNLV wants to speed teams up, pressure the ball and run before the defense gets set. The question is what happens when an opponent takes that away and forces the Rebels to execute in the half court.

Full 2026-27 UNLV basketball season preview:
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Dan Mullen Weekly Presser: Cal Preview, Austin Boyd Update, Jackson Arnold and Tre Fulton

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Dan Mullen, Jackson Arnold, Tre Fulton and Jackson Brown met with the media after UNLV’s 38-10 win at Akron and ahead of the Rebels’ home matchup against Cal.

Mullen opened by discussing the opportunity for UNLV to bring a Power Four opponent to Allegiant Stadium and the challenge presented by Cal on both sides of the ball. He broke down quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s arm talent, quick release and ability to extend plays when the original call breaks down, along with the size and talent UNLV will see from Cal’s defense.

Mullen also provided injury updates for the Rebels. DeAngelo Irvin Jr. remains out and is expected to miss additional time, while Jaylon Glover will also be unavailable against Cal. Kayden McGee and Amorion Walker are expected back. Mullen also said Austin Boyd is well ahead of his original recovery timeline after the Rebels initially feared his injury could cost him the season.

The press conference went deeper into what changed for UNLV against Akron after the 44-6 loss at North Texas. Mullen discussed the seven-turnover swing between the two games, better gap discipline on defense, UNLV’s second-half adjustments after Akron recorded 15 first downs before halftime and the effort that prevented several explosive plays from becoming touchdowns.

Offensively, Mullen explained why Jackson Arnold going unsacked at Akron was about more than the offensive line. He discussed Arnold getting the ball out, protection responsibilities, running back pickups and the line giving deeper routes enough time to develop. He also explained how UNLV finally hitting explosive passes downfield forced Akron to stop crowding the line of scrimmage and opened up throws underneath.

Mullen discussed Cam Santee earning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week, Tre Fulton being named UNLV’s defensive player of the game, the competition at punter between Matt Choules and Ethan Schwartz and whether the Rebels are getting closer to establishing an offensive identity.

Brown, Fulton and Arnold followed Mullen during the player portion of the availability. Brown discussed his connection to Cal and his progression on the offensive line. Fulton talked about his sack against Akron, UNLV’s three-interception performance, the defensive response after North Texas and the second-half adjustments that helped shut Akron down. Arnold discussed UNLV’s red-zone execution, Jai’Den Thomas’ impact on the offense and what the Rebels have to carry forward into Cal week.

Tap in for the full UNLV football media availability ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Cal at Allegiant Stadium.

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UNLV has spent two weeks talking about what went wrong against North Texas. Now the bye week is over, and none of the explanations matter anymore.

The Rebels are 1-2 heading into Saturday’s game at Akron, and Dan Mullen has talked about toughness, fundamentals, communication, tackling, receiver blocking, getting players into better roles, making Jackson Arnold more comfortable and finding a bigger role for Alex Orji. That is all fine. Now UNLV has to show it on the field.

Akron is not a team UNLV should lose to, but this is also not a matchup the Rebels can sleepwalk through. Joe Moorhead’s offense is built around quick throws, RPOs, screens and getting the ball into space, which makes tackling one of the biggest issues in this game after UNLV missed 29 tackles against North Texas. Jordan Gant gives Akron a legitimate running back, Sean Patrick can create problems in space, and the quarterback situation between Sebastian Broughton and Brayden Roggow changes how UNLV has to defend the offense. Pasted text

On the other side, this has to be the game where UNLV’s offense starts looking functional again. Akron has generated only two sacks through three games, while UNLV has allowed 11. If Jackson Arnold is still running for his life against this defense, the conversation gets much bigger than one bad afternoon in Denton.

The same goes for the red zone. UNLV has moved the ball at times this season and then repeatedly found ways to destroy its own drives inside the 20. Missed protections, sacks, penalties, turnovers and mistakes have turned scoring opportunities into nothing. Against Akron, getting into the red zone has to result in touchdowns. Pasted text

I also want to see Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas create explosive plays again, the receivers block well enough to turn six-yard gains into 20-yard gains, and Alex Orji actually have a real role if the coaching staff truly believes he can help. Arnold can remain the starter while Orji still has a package. Those are two completely different conversations. Pasted text

Most importantly, UNLV needs to look organized again. Start clean. Protect Arnold. Get Jet going. Use Orji if you intend to use him. Tackle the first guy. Finish red-zone drives. Win the third quarter. And when one bad play happens, do not allow it to become five bad plays.

The CFP conversation is over. The Mountain West race is not. UNLV has been to three straight conference championship games, and the standard now has to be more than simply getting back there. Akron and Cal will not decide the Mountain West standings, but they will tell us whether this team is actually capable of competing for the championship when conference play takes over the schedule. Pasted text

UNLV and Akron kick off Saturday at 9 a.m. Pacific.

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UNLV entered the season talking about a College Football Playoff run. Three games later, the Rebels are 1-2, coming off a 44-6 loss at North Texas, and the conversation around this team has completely changed.

Jason W. Kelly from the Let’s Run Podcast joins me for Part 2 of our conversation to figure out what the rest of the 2026 season can realistically become. We go game by game through every matchup left on UNLV’s schedule, set a floor and a ceiling for Dan Mullen’s team, and try to determine what should now qualify as a successful season.

We both believe UNLV should beat Akron coming out of the bye, but the bigger question is what the Rebels actually look like doing it. Does Jackson Arnold finally put together a complete game? Does Corey Dennis get the offense moving? Does Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas start producing the explosive plays this team expected from him? And does UNLV finally look like the Mountain West contender it expected to be before the season started?

From there, the schedule gets much more interesting. We both currently have Cal as a loss, although neither of us believes that game is unwinnable. Then North Dakota State comes to Allegiant Stadium, and that matchup ends up becoming the most important part of the entire conversation.

Jason thinks North Dakota State beats UNLV. I think the Rebels find a way to win it.

That one disagreement changes almost everything about how we see the second half of the season.

We also have very different views on the trip to Air Force before working through Northern Illinois, Wyoming, New Mexico, San Jose State and the regular-season finale against Nevada. By the end of the exercise, Jason has UNLV finishing 6-6, while I land at 8-4.

My ceiling for the Rebels is 9-3, with a floor of 4-8. Jason sees an 8-4 ceiling and a 5-7 floor.

The CFP path may be gone, but UNLV still has a Mountain West championship to play for. The question now is whether the next few weeks reveal a team that can still contend for it or one whose season is headed in a completely different direction.

Jason W. Kelly covers UNLV and hosts the Let’s Run Podcast. You can follow him on X at @jasonkredline and subscribe to his YouTube channel here:

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Dan Mullen met with the media during UNLV’s bye week and addressed what the Rebels need to fix after their 1-2 start.

Mullen said UNLV needs to develop more toughness and an edge while continuing to improve its fundamentals. The Rebels are using the bye week to focus on turnovers, tackling, individual technique and the consistency that disappeared during the 44-6 loss at North Texas.

Mullen also discussed UNLV’s offense and quarterback situation. He said the staff is still learning what Jackson Arnold is most comfortable running and emphasized that the offense needs to put Arnold and the rest of the unit in better situations to succeed.

Alex Orji could also become a larger part of the offense. Mullen said Orji does some things well and that he would like to get him on the field more, but UNLV first needs to establish better offensive flow so those packages can become part of the game plan.

The conversation also covered UNLV’s receivers, the need to win one-on-one matchups and block better on the perimeter, the Rebels’ difficult travel schedule and how injuries could create opportunities for younger players.

Mullen said UNLV counted 29 missed tackles against North Texas after having fewer than that combined over the first two games, another example of the inconsistency the Rebels are trying to eliminate before returning against Akron.

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Has Dan Mullen already failed at UNLV?

After a 1-2 start and a 44-6 loss at North Texas, that question has started following the Rebels into their bye week.

On this episode of Rebel Daily Drive, Mike Cooper explains why the answer is no, but also why “it’s only been three games” cannot excuse everything.

UNLV entered the season expecting to compete for the Mountain West championship and push into the College Football Playoff conversation. Those expectations came from a program that had reached three straight conference championship games, won 10 games in Mullen’s first season and openly talked all offseason about taking the next step.

The CFP conversation has nearly disappeared. The Mountain West goal has not.

Mike breaks down what success should look like now, why a 9-3 season with a Mountain West championship would still be a success and why another title-game appearance without winning it would create a more complicated evaluation.

The episode also covers Corey Dennis, UNLV’s lack of offensive identity, Jackson Arnold’s development, the offensive line, Alex Orji’s unclear role, situational football, the 29 missed tackles against North Texas, Paul Guenther’s defense and Mullen calling the Rebels mentally soft.

00:00 - Has Dan Mullen Already Failed at UNLV?
02:33 - Expectations Mullen Inherited
04:17 - CFP Dream vs. Mountain West Goal
05:44 - What Success Looks Like
07:43 - UNLV Still Has to Win the Mountain West
08:22 - Another Title Game Without a Win?
10:32 - Grading Mullen’s Start
11:51 - Offense Was Supposed to Be the Safe Part
13:34 - Corey Dennis Enters the Conversation
15:47 - UNLV Has No Offensive Identity
17:49 - North Texas Had 70 New Players
20:10 - Corey Dennis Under Pressure
22:07 - Jackson Arnold Comfort Questions
25:19 - Offensive Line Problems
27:04 - Coaching vs. Player Responsibility
28:20 - Situational Football Problems
30:19 - North Texas Goal-Line Failure
35:24 - Alex Orji’s Role
38:38 - 29 Missed Tackles
41:04 - Mullen Calls UNLV Mentally Soft
43:15 - Can the Bye Week Create an Edge?
43:44 - Travel and Scheduling Questions
49:14 - Mountain West Race Is Still Alive
50:02 - Rest-of-Season Expectations
52:49 - Would 8-4 and Another Title Game Be a Failure?

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UNLV went to Denton and got embarrassed.

On this episode of Rebel Daily Drive, Mike Cooper reacts to North Texas’ 44-6 win over UNLV and why this was easily the Rebels’ worst performance of the season.

The episode starts with Dan Mullen’s halftime comments on the UNLV radio broadcast, where he called the Rebels mentally soft after a sloppy first half filled with turnovers, missed assignments and failed chances. Mike breaks down why that word will hang over the program during the bye week and why Mullen does not get to stand outside the problem if that is his diagnosis of the team.

UNLV turned the ball over four times, failed to reach the end zone, went 0-for-3 in the red zone and left multiple scoring chances on the field. North Texas, meanwhile, scored on eight of its 12 possessions and turned six red-zone trips into 34 points.

Mike also goes deep on Corey Dennis’ play calling, the lack of offensive rhythm, the failed fourth-and-goal sequence before halftime, the continued questions about Alex Orji’s short-yardage role and why UNLV’s offense has become too fragile to survive one negative play.

Defensively, the Rebels survived terrible field position early, but eventually got gashed and gassed. North Texas finished with 18 explosive plays for 354 yards, repeatedly erased long-yardage situations and dominated the third quarter.

00:00 - UNLV Embarrassed at North Texas
01:00 - North Texas Wins 44-6
01:28 - Dan Mullen Calls UNLV Mentally Soft
02:25 - Why Mullen Owns the Diagnosis
03:11 - UNLV’s Missed Opportunities
06:44 - Turnovers Put UNLV in Trouble
09:06 - Corey Dennis Becomes a Major Concern
11:31 - No Offensive Rhythm
12:45 - Vincent Carner Bright Spot
16:22 - Final First-Half Drive Meltdown
17:18 - Fourth-and-Goal Decision
18:33 - Alex Orji Short-Yardage Question
19:24 - No Plan B for the Offense
22:03 - Halftime Soft Comments and No Response
23:07 - North Texas Opens Second Half With a Touchdown
27:33 - Defense Starts Getting Gassed
29:22 - Third Quarter Problems Continue
32:55 - UNLV Moved the Ball But Could Not Finish
34:25 - Red Zone Failure Defines the Game
37:05 - Explosive Play Disaster
39:37 - Final Offensive Numbers
41:50 - First Down and Third Down Breakdown
43:39 - Coaching Staff Has to Own It
45:02 - Final Thoughts

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UNLV-North Texas is here.

On this episode of Rebel Daily Drive, Mike Cooper puts together the full pregame show after a week of coverage on the Rebels and Mean Green.

UNLV enters 1-1 after responding to the Memphis loss with a 21-6 win at Hawaii. North Texas enters 0-1 after a 52-16 loss to Indiana, but the final score did not tell the full story. The Mean Green outgained Indiana, ran 21 more offensive plays, had one more first down and held the ball for more than 37 minutes.

Mike breaks down why this matchup is more dangerous than the score suggests, how Neil Brown rebuilt North Texas with 70 newcomers and no returning starters, and why this roster is still filled with experienced players.

The show looks at UNLV’s offensive structure after Hawaii, including the heavier 12 and 13 personnel packages, Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas’ workload, Jackson Arnold’s running threat, Kenyon Burnett’s role at tight end and the need for UNLV’s receivers to win against a North Texas secondary dealing with injuries.

Mike also goes into the offensive line without Austin Boyd, Griffin Scroggs and BJ Tolo at center, Matt Powledge’s aggressive 4-2-5 defense, Jaheim White, Tavian Jackson, North Texas’ short passing game, kickoff coverage issues and Jackson Arnold returning home to Denton.

00:00 - UNLV-North Texas Pregame Show
00:55 - Why North Texas Is Dangerous
01:25 - North Texas’ Loss to Indiana
02:10 - Neil Brown’s Rebuilt Roster
03:03 - UNLV’s Offensive Structure
03:41 - Hawaii Run Game Blueprint
04:30 - Heavy Personnel and Kenyon Burnett
05:10 - Wide Receiver Questions
06:54 - Jackson Arnold’s Passing Profile
09:15 - Search for a No. 1 Receiver
10:05 - North Texas Secondary Injuries
11:18 - Offensive Line Without Austin Boyd
11:56 - North Texas Pressure Looks
12:45 - Staying Ahead of the Chains
15:25 - Jaheim White Preview
16:29 - Tavian Jackson and Short Passing Game
17:20 - What UNLV’s Defense Has to Do
19:53 - Special Teams Advantage
20:46 - Jackson Arnold Returns Home
21:24 - Arnold’s Role and Alex Orji Packages
22:52 - Next Step for Arnold
23:36 - Final Keys to the Game
25:12 - Scarlet Standard Coverage Recap
27:07 - Closing Thoughts

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