The UNLV football team has experienced a transformative offseason with significant coaching changes, strategic roster enhancements, and a renew sense of optimism going into the new season. Here is a quick summary of what has happened thus far for the Rebels in the offseason
Dan Mullen is the new sheriff in town
Following a successful 11-3 season that included a Mountain West Championship appearance and a bowl victory over Cal in the LA Bowl, the Rebels are coming off one of there most successful seasons in program history. All of that was lead by coach Barry Odom who also had a notable tenure with 19 total wins in two seasons with UNLV. That is the most wins the program has seen in a two year span. However Barry Odom departed the program just before the LA bowl game and signed with Purdue.
In response, UNLV athletics hired and appointed Dan Mullen as the new head coach of the Rebels. Mullen brings a ton of high level coaching experience to UNLV, having previously led SEC programs Mississippi State and Florida to a combined 103-61 record over 13 seasons. Mullen has also coached top level quarterbacks in Alex Smith, Dak Prescott, Kyle Trask, and Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow.
To bolster the coaching staff, Mullen hired Corey Dennis, formerly of Ohio State and Tulsa, as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach . Initially, Zach Arnett was named defensive coordinator but resigned in April for personal reasons.
Transfers and new talent
Dan Mullen certainly went all in this off season building a team that fits his system. Mullen’s first recruiting class was substantial, featuring 40 newcomers. Some of the big notable additions are:
Anthony Colandrea: Quarterback transfer from Virginia who can make solid throws in the pocket and is expected to compete for the starting role
Alex Orji: A dual-threat quarterback from Michigan, adding depth to the position .
Kamran Williams: A dynamic running back from Texas, known for his speed and agility .
Josh Tuchek: A promising defensive back with strong coverage skills .
These acquisitions aim to enhance both offensive power and defense resilience as the Rebels strive for continued success.
Notable Matchups
The 2025 season presents several pivotal games for the Rebels:
- September 6 vs. UCLA: A high-profile non-conference clash that could set the tone for the season. Will be huge game when it comes down to strength of schedule
- October 18 at Boise State: A crucial Mountain West matchup with conference title implications. The Rebels are certainly looking to get there paybacks against Boise after losing to them in the Mountain West Championship. This also seems to be a must win game if the Rebels want to gain momentum in the Mountain west.
- November 29 at Nevada: The annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon, a storied rivalry game. Even though Reno is ranked at the bottom of most experts Mountain West pre-season predictions, it is always a tough matchup and a loss can easily shake up the standings.
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