Tag: UNLV

Former top recruit Jackson Arnold chooses UNLV

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Jackson Arnold, a top-10 recruit in the 2023 class, has transferred to UNLV, the program announced Wednesday.

Arnold joins the Rebels after playing two seasons at Oklahoma (2023-24) and one at Auburn (2025).

UNLV needed a quarterback after standout Anthony Colandrea transferred to Nebraska. Colandrea was the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year in 2025.

Arnold has passed for 3,293 yards and 22 touchdowns against eight interceptions during his college career. He has added 871 yards and 12 scores on the ground.

Last season for Auburn, Arnold passed for 1,309 yards and six touchdowns against two interceptions. He also rushed for 311 yards and eight scores.

But he was demoted in place of Ashton Daniels in late October and only saw minimal action over the last month of the season. Arnold also lost his starting gig during his Oklahoma stint before deciding to transfer.

Now Arnold will see if he can reach his potential with the Rebels, who will be part of the revamped Mountain West next season. He will play for coach Dan Mullen, who has had success with multi-purpose quarterbacks in the past.

–Field Level Media

Ohio’s defense stifles UNLV in Frisco Bowl victory

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sieh Bangura ran for 149 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and Ohio kept UNLV out of the end zone until the final five minutes of a 17-10 win Tuesday in the Frisco Bowl in Frisco, Texas.

Bangura’s 23-yard scoring jaunt at the 11:04 mark of the third quarter, followed by a 2-point conversion pass from Parker Navarro to Chase Hendricks, gave the Bobcats (9-4) a 14-0 lead. David Dellenbach added a career-long 45-yard field goal with 10:49 left in the game for a 17-3 advantage.

The Rebels (10-3) closed within a score when quarterback Anthony Colandrea rushed for a 2-yard score with 4:45 remaining, but they never saw the ball again. Ohio melted the remaining time away with three first downs, sealing the outcome when Navarro ran for 7 yards on third-and-3 with 1:51 on the clock.

“Forty (wins) is the best we’ve ever had here in (four years),” Ohio interim coach John Hauser said. “It’s unbelievable.”

Navarro completed 11 of 15 passes for 143 yards with an interception and rushed for the Bobcats’ first score. Colandrea, the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, hit 19 of 30 throws for 184 yards and an interception.

Ohio rushed for 207 yards and outgained UNLV 350-281, winning its seventh straight bowl game despite committing three turnovers. The Rebels were restricted to 97 rushing yards on 29 carries.

The pregame storyline was how the Bobcats would react to playing without Brian Smith, who was fired last week with cause by school administration after one season on the job.

“I’m just elated for these kids and coaches,” Hauser said. “Nobody flinched; they just came to work every day and they got it done.”

After a first quarter rife with mistakes — the teams combined for three turnovers and a blocked punt — Ohio managed to find some traction.

Navarro initiated scoring at the 10:02 mark of the second quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead. The 10-play, 84-yard march was extended when UNLV was flagged for offsides to negate a fourth-and-2 incompletion at its 19. Dellenbach missed the extra point.

Meanwhile, UNLV’s offense never got untracked as the Bobcats kept Colandrea in check all night. The Rebels didn’t get on the board until Ramon Villela bombed a 50-yard field goal midway through the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

After fired coach’s scandal, Ohio tries to focus on UNLV in Frisco Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Much like the higher-profile situation at Michigan that cost Sherrone Moore his head coaching position, Ohio is enduring a similar plight as it prepares for its appearance in the Frisco Bowl Tuesday night against UNLV in Frisco, Texas.

Brian Smith’s first year as the Bobcats’ coach was his only year, as he was fired with cause by the school’s administration Wednesday. The school placed him on leave on Dec. 1 and then let him go, alleging that he participated in an extramarital affair with an Ohio student and also violated school policies regarding alcohol.

While Smith’s attorney disputes all the claims the university made in the termination letter, Ohio (8-4) has moved on. Defensive coordinator John Hauser is the interim coach and he has the task of getting the team to focus on a good opponent.

“Keeping them locked in, doing a ton of good-on-good where we can get better offensively and defensively,” Hauser said when asked how the Bobcats have prepared. “The guys have been giving us the effort we want.

“For us, it’s a reward to go to the bowl game. There’s a lot of seriousness to it but there’s also some fun. For our seniors, it’s our last game and everyone in our organization wants to send them out the right way.”

Unlike some interim coaches who have to navigate numerous departures via the portal, Hauser appears to have the depth chart intact for this game. That means Ohio can count on quarterback Parker Navarro and running back Sieh Bangura to do what they’ve done all year — produce.

Navarro threw for 2,232 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 843 yards and eight scores on the ground. Bangura picked up 1,243 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, while Chase Hendricks caught 67 passes for 950 yards and seven scores.

As for UNLV, first-year coach Dan Mullen continued the work Barry Odom did the previous two seasons before taking over at Purdue. The Rebels went 10-3 and played in their third straight Mountain West Conference championship game, losing 38-21 at Boise State on Dec. 5.

Mullen, who formerly ran the programs at Mississippi State and Florida, said his team is excited to get one more game.

“They want to get back out there and play again,” Mullen said. “The one thing that makes bowl games unique is the opportunity to travel and learn something new. There’s a lot of guys on our team that have never gotten to experience that part of the country.”

UNLV is led by Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year Anthony Colandrea, a Virginia transfer who threw for 3,275 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding 621 yards and nine scores on the ground. Colandrea set career highs in most categories as he adjusted nicely to Mullen’s spread attack.

Jai’Den Thomas starred on the ground with 985 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 137 carries, while 6-foot-4 receiver Jaden Bradley grabbed 54 passes for 869 yards and four scores.

If recent history is a guide, the Rebels will need to be at their best to win. Ohio has won its last six bowl games, the second-longest streak of its kind behind only Minnesota’s eight in a row.

–Field Level Media

MWC final: Boise State downs UNLV for 3rd straight title

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Maddux Madsen threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another score as host Boise State completed a Mountain West Conference championship game three-peat with a 38-21 victory over UNLV on Friday night.

Madsen completed 17 of 31 passes for 289 yards for Boise State (9-4), which jumped out to a 21-0 first-half lead en route to its seventh Mountain West title. It was the 11th straight win over the Rebels for the Broncos, who also improved to 8-0 all-time against UNLV on their blue home turf.

Anthony Colandrea, the Mountain West’s Offensive Player of the Year, completed 18 of 38 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown and rushed 12 times for a team-high 66 yards and another TD for UNLV (10-3).

Madsen, who missed the final three regular-season games with a right leg injury, showed no ill effects from the injury, rushing 10 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0 and then tossing scoring passes of 9 yards to Dylan Riley and 7 yards to Cameron Bates to extend the lead to 21-0 midway through the second quarter.

Colandrea cut the lead to 21-7 with a 5-yard touchdown run by Colandrea but the Broncos answered with a 39-yard touchdown toss from Madsen to Malik Sherrod. Colandrea hit Troy Omeire with a 11-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds left in the half to make it 28-14.

UNLV got as close as 28-21 on a 7-yard touchdown run by JoJo Earle late in the third but the Broncos answered with a 10-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Sire Gaines early in the fourth.

Boise State’s Colton Boomer booted a 50-yard field goal with 3:13 left to finish the scoring.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) throws against the Utah Utes during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Host UNLV goes up big, holds off UCLA

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Coach Dan Mullen and the new-look UNLV football team survived their first major test of the season, beating Big Ten foe UCLA 30-23 on Saturday night in Las Vegas in the Rebels’ lone regular-season matchup against a Power 4 opponent this year.

Defensive back Aamaris Brown intercepted a deflected pass from UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava with 52 seconds remaining, ending the Bruins’ comeback bid while sealing a statement win for the Rebels (3-0).

UNLV managed to build a 23-0 first-half lead but allowed 13 unanswered points before responding with a timely touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter, ultimately providing sufficient cushion to take it to the finish line.

Quarterback Anthony Colandrea found Var’keyes Gumms for a 17-yard touchdown completion with 12:04 remaining on an impressive six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The highlight of the drive was Colandrea’s 33-yard run that brought UNLV from midfield to within the red zone.

Iamaleava and UCLA (0-2) answered UNLV’s response with a 30-yard touchdown run, again trimming the lead to 10 points as the extra point set the score at 30-20.

It appeared UCLA quickly struck paydirt again by intercepting an ill-advised Colandrea pass and returning it for a touchdown, but referees ruled the UNLV quarterback was down before he threw the ball.

The Bruins managed to march down the field again on their next possession, but a dropped pass in the end zone forced them to settle for Mateen Bhaghani’s 33-yard field goal to cut UNLV’s lead to 30-23. Their final drive appeared destined to tie the game, but Iamaleava’s untimely mishap spoiled it.

UCLA’s second-half rally began with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ate the first 7:12 of the third quarter. The march culminated with a 4-yard touchdown connection from Iamaleava to tight end Noah Fox-Flores to bring UCLA within 13 points, 23-10.

After forcing a three-and-out on UNLV’s first offensive drive of the second half, UCLA marched down the field again for a 14-play, 54-yard drive that ended with a 35-yard field goal from Bhaghani to cut UNLV’s lead to 23-13 while consuming another 6:50. In total, UCLA maintained possession for 14:02 in the third quarter alone.

UNLV began the early scoring on a 50-yard field goal from Ramon Villela with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter, as the Rebels’ opening drive ate nearly seven minutes of clock. After the first of many stops by UNLV’s defense, the Rebels marched down the field and closed the quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Colandrea to tight end Nick Elskins to go up 10-0.

While the defense remained uncharacteristically stout against Iamaleava and the Bruins’ offense, UNLV’s offense continued to produce. Colandrea found Troy Omeire, who made an impressive grab in the end zone for a touchdown that put UNLV up 17-0 after the extra point with 5:39 remaining in the first half.

UNLV’s hot start continued on its final drive of the half, as running back Keyvone Lee capped a five-play, 44-yard trek with a 19-yard touchdown carry.

Bhaghani booted a 33-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining in the first half to cut the UNLV lead to 23-3.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) throws against the Utah Utes during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

UNLV eyes 3-0 start; UCLA aims to recover from rout

Posted on | by Field Level Media

For the first time since hiring coach Dan Mullen this offseason, UNLV will play host to a Power 4 opponent as coach Deshaun Foster and UCLA come to Las Vegas on Saturday after taking a 43-10 trouncing at the hands of Utah last weekend.

The new-look Rebels haven’t passed the first two tests of the Mullen era with flying colors, but they are 2-0 despite struggling in a Week 0 outing against FCS foe Idaho State before an improved effort against Sam Houston State last Friday.

The most impressive part of UNLV’s 38-21 Week 1 win over Sam Houston State was the performance it received from Virginia transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who completed 19 of 23 passes for 249 yards while throwing two touchdowns and an interception.

Despite the gutsy effort from their quarterback, the lack of discipline down the stretch, starting with the offensive line, soured what was otherwise a consistent performance from the Rebels.

“At times, like other things, I thought we played really well on the (offensive) line,” Mullen said. “You saw some mistakes. Some of the mistakes were critical mistakes. I think sometimes in the game, we let one mistake add into two. Not just with the O-line (either), a lot of guys on the team, as you saw, we let one negative play affect us for multiple plays.”

Mullen’s group has a chance to change the narrative with a win over a vulnerable Big Ten opponent. UCLA was gashed for 286 yards on the ground against Utah, which could spell trouble against a UNLV rushing attack that is averaging 227.5 yards per game on the ground through two games.

The Utes held highly touted quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a transfer from Tennessee, to just 136 yards and a 50 percent completion percentage, but it seems unlikely that UNLV’s secondary will have similar success on Saturday.

“We’ve got to get back to the fundamentals and the details,” Foster said. “There are little things that we could have done better at every position. When each position has a little thing, it turns into a huge amount of stuff that we have to improve on.”

The only UCLA ballcarrier who gained more than 17 yards against Utah was Iamaleava with 47. UNLV has allowed 152.5 yards per game on the ground, so there will be a cause for concern if UCLA is unable to generate any production out of their running backs.

–Field Level Media

Team Brutus offensive tackle Ben Christman (71) during the Ohio State Buckeyes football spring game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, April 17, 2021.

UNLV OL Ben Christman died of heart issues

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The death of UNLV offensive lineman Ben Christman was caused by a heart condition, the coroner’s office in Clark County, Nev., said.

Christman was found dead in his off-campus apartment on Feb. 11, the day before his 22nd birthday. The coroner’s report said Christman died of cardiac arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat, and cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle.

Christman had complained of chest pains during practice the day before and had an EKG. The team’s cardiologist said nothing abnormal was apparent, per media reports.

His body was discovered by teammates who went to his apartment when Christman didn’t show up for practice.

A native of the Akron, Ohio, area, Christman spent two seasons with Ohio State, redshirting in 2021 and playing in one game the following season.

He transferred to Kentucky and played 12 games in 2024, then intended to play his final season at UNLV.

When Christman was in high school at Revere High School in Richfield, Ohio, 247Sports listed the 6-foot-6 lineman as a four-star prospect in the 2021 class.

–Field Level Media

Nov 20, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen on the sidelines against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

AD: UNLV can afford only first 2 years of Dan Mullen’s contract

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UNLV athletic director Erick Harper told the school’s Board of Regents last week that his department does not have enough funds to cover the final three years of football coach Dan Mullen’s contract, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Mullen signed a five-year, $17.5 million contract in December, and he is preparing for his first season with the Runnin’ Rebels. However, at a meeting last Friday, Harper told regents that the athletic department is $26 million to $31 million in debt and could handle only the costs of the first two years of Mullen’s contract as things stand now.

When pressed by one of the regents about how the department planned to pay for the remaining three years, Harper said he hopes to raise money through donations and increased revenue from football games while also seeking additional funding from donors.

“We have the funds to pay the coach over the next two years,” Harper said, per the Review-Journal. “We have been working with our donors to assist with philanthropic dollars. We have one that has already paid their commitment, and that money is in an unrestricted line and that will be utilized in the future to help with the salaries.”

Harper said the football program has sold an additional 970 season tickets since the hiring of Mullen, who has a 103-61 career record that includes stints at Florida and Mississippi State. That brings the total season ticket sales to 5,031 for the upcoming season.

Harper added that the university is increasing the price for single-game tickets, suite rentals and new VIP ticket holders. He said UNLV has received $2.5 million in revenue from football tickets sales ahead of next season, an increase from $1.8 million at the same time last year.

UNLV is also expected to received between $19 million and $24.8 million from the Mountain West for agreeing to stay in the conference after five schools departed for the Pac-12.

Mullen was hired to replace Barry Odom, who left for Purdue after leading the Rebels to a 19-8 record over two seasons and the program’s first bowl game in nine years.

It is another sensitive money-related situation from a program that was accused last September of failing to pay agreed upon name, image and likeness (NIL) funds from the school’s collective. That prompted quarterback Matt Sluka to enter the transfer just three games into the season, while UNLV was undefeated.

–Field Level Media

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Ben Christman (71) runs beside Ryan Smith (60) during football training camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021.

UNLV OL Ben Christman dies at age 21

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UNLV senior offensive lineman Ben Christman, a recent transfer who played at Ohio State and Kentucky, has died. He was 21.

UNLV said Christman was found dead in an off-campus apartment on Tuesday morning. The university said it had no further details, and that the Clark County Coroner’s Office would determine a cause of death.

“Our team’s heart is broken to hear of Ben’s passing,” UNLV football coach Dan Mullen said in a statement from the university. “Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program. Ben was an easy choice for our Leadership Committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship of all his teammates. Our prayers go out to his family and all who knew him. Ben made the world a better place and he will be missed.”

The 6-foot-6, 325-pound Christman graduated from Kentucky in December with a degree in communications. He appeared in all 12 games last season on special teams for the Wildcats.

Christman, a native of Akron, Ohio, enrolled at Ohio State, redshirted in 2021 and played one game in 2022. He transferred to Kentucky in the spring of 2023 and missed the entire season due to knee injury. He was the top-ranked offensive lineman in Ohio as a four-star prospect out of Revere High School in Richfield.

UNLV director of athletics Erick Harper said counseling services are being provided.

“There is little that can be said to lessen the pain of suddenly losing a member of our university family at such a young age, and my heart breaks for all who knew and loved him,” UNLV president Keith E. Whitfield said in a statement. “On behalf of UNLV, our sincere condolences are with Ben’s family, friends, loved ones, and teammates during this very difficult time.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2024; Inglewood, CA, USA; UNLV Rebels quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams (6) throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Kayden McGee (not pictured) in the first half against the California Golden Bears at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

No. 24 UNLV defeats Cal in LA Bowl, secures 11-win season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jacob De Jesus caught a touchdown and gained 142 all-purpose yards to lead No. 24 UNLV to a 24-13 win over Cal in the LA Bowl on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif.

UNLV clinched their first 11-win season since 1984 with the victory, although all those wins were later vacated after the NCAA penalized the Rebels for using ineligible players. It was the program’s first bowl win since beating Arkansas in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl.

De Jesus tallied 75 yards on punt returns, 27 yards on punt returns and 38 yards receiving in his final collegiate game. Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Jackson Woodard also closed his career with a strong performance, racking up 11 total tackles.

Ricky White was a gametime scratch, presumably because the wide receiver expects to be an NFL draft pick in April.

UNLV’s Jai’Den Thomas ran for 72 yards on 18 carries, while Kylin James ran for a touchdown and 37 yards on seven carries.

UNLV took a 14-10 lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter when DeJesus hauled in a 9-yard touchdown reception from Hajj-Malik Williams. The Rebels executed a fake punt on the previous play, as punter Marshall Nichols hit a wide-open Cameron Oliver with a shuffle pass for 52 yards.

Cal was faced with a goal-to-go situation at the two-minute warning in the first half, trailing 14-10. UNLV’s defense held firm and forced Cal to kick a 30-yard field goal after Johnathan Baldwin sacked CJ Harris for a loss of nine on third down.

Harris was replaced by EJ Caminong on Cal’s second drive in the first quarter before eventually going to the locker room with an undisclosed injury. Caminong served as the Golden Bears’ fourth-string signal caller during the regular season but was given reps with Cal starter Fernando Mendoza in the transfer portal and the second- and third-stringers unavailable due to injury.

Harris finished with 109 yards through the air, completing 13 of his 20 attempts. In his college debut, Caminong struggled in relief, completing only 6-of-19 pass attempts for 57 yards. Jaydn Ott ran for 79 yards on 11 carries.

Cal opened the scoring with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter on a 43-yard field goal by Derek Morris. UNLV responded quickly with a 43-yard touchdown connection from Williams to Kayden McGee for McGee’s first career touchdown. He entered with just three receptions on the season.

Josiah Martin capped a nine-play, 89-yard drive with a 29-yard touchdown run to give Cal a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter.

–Field Level Media