5 burning questions for Saturday’s UNLV-UCLA game

Five burning questions as UNLV’s football team prepares to take on UCLA at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Rose Bowl:

1. Will the Rebels be able to pressure Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen?

One of the top college quarterbacks in the country, Rosen threw for 343 yards and a touchdown, along with three interceptions, under heavy pressure in UCLA’s season-opening 31-24 overtime loss at Texas A&M.

UNLV finished last in the nation in sacks last season, with nine, and had one (by defensive end Antonio Zepeda) in its season-opening 50-point win over Jackson State. The Rebels need to generate a pass rush against Rosen or the sophomore will pick them apart.

2. Will UNLV be able to stop the run?

The Rebels limited Rosen to 22-for-42 passing for 223 yards, a TD and INT in last season’s 37-3 loss to the Bruins at Sam Boyd Stadium. But UNLV struggled against the run, giving up 273 yards and an average of almost 6 yards per carry. Former UCLA running back Paul Perkins led the way with 151 yards rushing and two TDs. Soso Jamabo had a team-leading 98 yards rushing against the Aggies and Bolu Olorunfunmi added 49 yards rushing and a TD.

The Rebels gave up 108 yards rushing (3.1 ypc) in the opener.

3. Will UNLV QB Johnny Stanton deliver against tougher competition?

Less than a week after getting named the starter following a lengthy battle with fellow junior Kurt Palandech, Stanton was sensational in his first Division I start, hooking up for TDs with Devonte Boyd on two of his first three passes and finishing 10 of 12 for 217 yards and three TDs in the win over FCS school Jackson State.

Stanton will need to bring his A game again Saturday as UNLV takes a major step up in class against UCLA, which opened the season ranked No. 16 in the country before dropping out of the top 25 following its loss in College Station, Texas.

4. How will the Rebels handle the loss of another starting wide receiver?

Less than a week after losing starting wideout Kendal Keys to season-ending knee surgery, the Rebels lost Brandon Presley, Keys’ replacement, to a foot injury in the opener. Boyd carried the load against Jackson State with three TD catches and 135 yards receiving in the first half alone but will need help from the team’s young wideouts going forward.

True freshman Mekhi Stevenson, who had one reception for 11 yards in the opener, will start in Presley’s place and UNLV also is counting on redshirt freshman Darren Woods Jr., who had a 35-yard grab against the Tigers.

5. Can the Rebels keep it close and/or pull off an upset?

UNLV’s best bet in this one was to catch UCLA looking ahead to Brigham Young. But after losing to Texas A&M, the heavily-favored Bruins (-26) should be laser-focused Saturday for their home opener. While the Rebels have made big strides since last season, when they were 31-point home underdogs to UCLA, they’ll need a defensive effort for the ages to pull off an outright upset. However, UNLV should be able to score enough points to cover the spread.