UNLV vs NDSU Preview: Can Jackson Arnold and Jet Thomas Crack the Bison Defense?

North Dakota State comes to Allegiant Stadium 5-0, 2-0 in Mountain West play and allowing only 49 points through five games. UNLV is 3-2 after back-to-back wins over Akron and Cal. This is the matchup that should tell us a lot about both teams. North Dakota State is disciplined, physical, well coached and has already forced 11 turnovers. The schedule has not tested the Bison the same way UNLV should, but the film shows a defense that understands its assignments, tackles well and can create pressure without constantly sending extra rushers. The key player on that side is linebacker Donovan Wolin. He can attack the run, threaten pressure, drop underneath routes and force the quarterback to identify him before the snap without knowing exactly what he is going to do afterward. That makes him one of the most important players Jackson Arnold and the UNLV offensive line have to account for. But Arnold gives UNLV a dimension North Dakota State has not consistently faced. Against Cal, Arnold threw three touchdowns and ran for 110 yards and two more scores. When Cal sold out to stop Jet Thomas, Arnold punished the space that created with his legs and the deep ball. North Dakota State now has to decide how much attention it can commit to Jet without opening those same opportunities for Arnold. Jet remains the other major piece. UNLV is undefeated this season when it has produced a 100-yard rusher. If Jet gets going early and forces North Dakota State to commit more bodies to the box, the passing lanes for Arnold, Taz Reddicks and Caden McGee become much more favorable. On the other side, North Dakota State is built around a patient, physical run game and a West Coast-influenced offense that can change personnel and formations without changing its basic identity. The Bison can run inside, attack the perimeter, use multiple tight ends, throw off play action and get quarterback Nathan Hayes involved with his legs. Hayes showed another part of that offense against Wyoming when he ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns. UNLV cannot focus so heavily on the backs that it opens clean lanes for him. That makes tackling enormous. North Dakota State wants four-yard runs to become six, stay ahead of the chains and keep the entire playbook available. UNLV has already shown this season what happens when missed tackles start multiplying. The Rebels have to end plays at first contact and force Hayes into obvious passing situations. For me, this game ultimately comes back to the UNLV offense. Paul Guenther’s defense has been good enough to keep UNLV in games. The question is whether Corey Dennis can call a complete game against one of the most disciplined defenses the Rebels will see all season. Can he get Jet going? Can he keep Arnold out of bad down-and-distance situations? Can UNLV continue creating the explosive plays that showed up against Akron and Cal without disappearing offensively for an entire quarter? That is the game. More UNLV coverage: https://the-scarlet-standard.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTPBxVqczV4vLqAlivI3FPw X: https://x.com/SS_MediaLV Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ss_medialv/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Scarlet-Standard-LV-61577609316045/ Vegas Varsity: https://vegasvarsity.com/ Use promo code *SSM10* for 10% off your order. #UNLVFB #UNLVFootball #NDSU #MountainWest #CollegeFootball