UNLV football (5-1) has the chance to become bowl eligible once again if the Rebels can defeat Oregon State (4-2) at Reser Stadium. A victory would mark a historic moment for UNLV, as it would be the first time the Rebels achieve back-to-back bowl eligibility. The Rebels are coming off a decisive win against Utah State, beating the Aggies 50-34, while the Beavers recently lost to UNLV’s in-state rival, the Nevada Wolfpack, with a score of 42-37. This matchup is the first between the two teams since 2009, and UNLV currently leads the all-time series against Oregon State 3-2.
The Rebels and there go-go offense, enter this game fourth in the nation of scoring averaging 45.3 points per game and fifth in the nation in rushing offense with 262.0 yards per game.
To start the game both teams trade field goals but the Beavers put together a 12 play 75 yard drive, and it ends with Gevani McCoy with a one yard quarterback sneak touchdown to give the Beavers a 10-3 lead.
UNLV responds right back with a field goal, however Gevani McCoy uses his legs once again, this time he reads a UNLV blitz that leaves the middle field wide open, and he took it to the house for a 71 yard rushing touchdown. 17-6 Oregon State.
With Oregon State performing strongly on offense, UNLV desperately needed a touchdown, and they achieved it with a well-executed drive led by Hajj Malik Williams. Hajj guided the team down the field with five plays covering 75 yards, ultimately rushing for a two-yard touchdown. The Rebels cut the lead to 17-13.
UNLV gets their first defensive stop by forcing a punt. Once again special teams delivers for the Rebels, it is Ricky White blocking yet another punt, as he achieved his third blocked punt of the season. This gave the Rebels excellent field position, which ultimately set up Caden Chittenden for a 34-yard field goal, cutting the Beavers’ lead to 17-16 as they headed into halftime.
This season, the Rebels’ identity has focused on ball security on offense and creating turnovers on defense, resulting in a +12 turnover margin. The UNLV defense gets yet another turnover when Jalon Catalon stripped the ball from Anthony Hankerson, which was then recovered by Cameron Oliver. This is UNLV’s 16th takeaway, currently the highest in college football.
The fumble puts UNLV in great field position and Hajj Malik Williams once again uses his speed and athleticism for a 9 yard rushing touchdown to give the Rebels a 23-17 lead, there first lead of the night.
UNLV’s defense locks down in the 4th quarter, blitzing and attacking Gevani McCoy as he got sacked 6 times in the second half. Antonio Doyle was one of those game changers in the second half as he finished the night with 3 sacks.
One of Doyle’s sacks came on a 4th down, putting UNLV in scoring position. Hajj then finds his favorite target, Ricky White, off a slant route that UNLV frequently runs in the red zone, scoring another six points.
However the Rebels make it difficult on themselves in the final minutes of the game. The Beavers were able to get another touchdown and convert on a two point conversion to put the game within 8 points for a score of 33-25.
Oregon gets the ball back with over a minute remaining and three timeouts in their pocket. Oregon State advances all the way to UNLV’s 8-yard line. With just 3 seconds left and a final play needed to reach the end zone, McCoy drops back to throw. He targets Jermaine Terry II, but the pass is broken up by Antonio Doyle Jr. With no time left on the clock, UNLV remains undefeated on the road and secures bowl eligibility for back-to-back years.
This was the Rebels’ last non-conference game, meaning they will now focus solely on Mountain West teams. Their next match is particularly significant as they will face the 15th-ranked team in the nation, the Boise State Broncos. This game is a rematch of last year’s Mountain West Conference Championship.
If the Rebels want to secure a spot in the College Football playoffs as a team from a Group of Five conference, this game is crucial for them. There’s a lot at stake for both teams, as this will be the most significant match of the year. The game is set to kick off at Allegiant Stadium next Friday at 7:30 PM. Vegas Sports Today will provide coverage of the event.
