UNLV still has chance to play in Mountain West football title game

RENO – Well, it means a lot more now than just a rivalry game for UNLV.

The annual clash between the Rebels and UNR is usually for state bragging rights and what color the Fremont Cannon will be painted for the next year.

But the Rebels have even more to play for than red and blue.

Should it beat UNR on Saturday night, UNLV would go to 6-2 in the Mountain West and slide into a first-place tie with Boise State, New Mexico and San Diego State.

That means the possibility for the Rebels to play in their third straight conference football championship game would remain very much alive.

In the case of a four-way tie, four computer metrics will decide which two teams will play in the title game and who will host it.

Computer results are expected to be announced Sunday morning.

How this all worked out: Boise State defeated Utah State 25-24 on Friday, and New Mexico outlasted San Diego State 23-17 in double overtime.

Now, it’s on UNLV to take care of business.

Note: If the Rebels (9-2) take an early lead, it might be wise for them to try to run up the score against the Wolf Pack (3-8, 2-5). Winning by a large margin certainly helps the metrics.

It’s different now

“There’s (computers) out there that are going to figure this all out,” UNLV coach Dan Mullen said this week. “We just have to worry about (UNR), worry about what we can control to play better this week than we did last week (in a 38-10 win against Hawaii). Prepare better, practice better, play a little bit harder and more disciplined. Make fewer mistakes and make more plays. Put in a better performance on Saturday.

“If we do that and win, I don’t know what the computers will spit out. I think that looks OK for us. We’ll go from there.”

It’s just different this time. All rivalry games seem to be in a transfer portal world. You no longer, for the most part, have teams filled with players who have been at the same school long enough to have experienced the same matchup four or five times.

Sometimes, not even once.

UNLV had nearly 60 new players this season. You can tell them about north against south and what possessing the cannon means to so many, but hearing about it and experiencing it is not the same. UNLV has won three straight in the series.

“We’ve talked about (the rivalry),” Mullen said. “Maybe it’s different in that there aren’t a lot of guys who have been here and played in this game year-in and year-out. But guys have played in rivalry games and understand it.

“This is a state rivalry, neighbor to neighbor. We (realize) how important it is to everybody in Nevada. We want to play our best because we still have the opportunity to continue trying to play for a Mountain West championship. The focus for us is if you want to end the season the right way, you have to win this game. You have to prepare and come with intensity.”

Mullen has been involved in some serious rivalries. Mississippi- Mississippi State. Florida-Georgia. Utah-BYU. He said the results stick with you for an entire year and sometimes longer. Especially the intrastate ones such as UNLV-UNR.

Mullen is convinced his players grasp the importance of the moment. If there was any question about that, it became answered once UNLV’s championship game hopes continued breathing.

Win big

Austin Boyd knows about the game. The junior offensive lineman has played against UNR twice and understands how chippy things can get.

“I had no idea coming in as a freshman about this rivalry,” Boyd said. “But it has been awesome playing for the cannon and keeping it red every year. It means a lot to our fans and the community of Las Vegas.

“I like road games and beating someone at their own home. It’s always a great feeling beating the team up north, always a great memory. The cannon is going to stay red this year for sure.”

But there is more to play for now. More than bragging rights and who gets to display that cannon at their school.

UNLV has every chance to play for a conference title again if it takes care of business Saturday.

Computers will ultimately decide the participants, but the Rebels have no margin for error.

And it sure wouldn’t hurt to win big. Like really big.

Contact Ed Graney at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.