UNLV learns destination for 3rd straight bowl game

UNLV’s football team finally knows where it’s going bowling.

The Rebels will meet Ohio University in the Frisco Bowl at 6 p.m. Dec. 23 in Frisco, Texas.

The game will be televised on ESPN and played at the Ford Center at The Star, a 91-acre campus of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters. The Ford Center seats 12,000.

Five of UNLV coach Dan Mullen’s former college players are on the Cowboys, including quarterback Dak Prescott.

“It’s a great opportunity for our guys to travel and see a different city with all the (Dallas) Cowboys stuff around there,” Mullen said. “We have a lot of guys who have never been to Texas. I’m excited about the location. I know our guys are excited. They want to get back out there and play. The next two weeks are going to be pretty exciting for them.”

UNLV will take a 10-3 record into the game under Mullen, its first-year coach. It’s the third straight season the Rebels will participate in a bowl game.

The Rebels lost to Boise State 38-21 on Friday in the Mountain West championship game.

“I think when you play great teams, the margin for error gets smaller and smaller,” Mullen said. “Against a team like Ohio, the margin will get smaller. It’s about attention to detail, and when you play really good teams, the stakes go up massively.

“Our guys are really excited to play. This team has been together for less than a year. Our guys have a great time playing ball. They’re going to take that and finish things off the right way.”

Ohio, 8-4 overall, finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Mid-American Conference at 6-2. Western Michigan won the MAC with a 7-1 league record.

The Bobcats recently put coach Brian Smith on leave for undisclosed reasons. Defensive coordinator Jon Hauser has taken over on an interim basis.

Smith just completed his first regular season as the Bobcats’ coach.

Graduate student offensive lineman Davion Weatherspoon and senior running back Sieh Bangura earned first-team All-MAC honors.

UNLV is led by junior quarterback Anthony Colandrea, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year.

“I know more about the (Ohio) program than I do their staff, to be honest with you,” Mullen said. “It’s a very successful program that has gone to bowl games year after year after year.”

One interesting point: Mullen’s wife, Megan, attended Ohio University.

“Just make sure on game day if she shows up in green and red and says she’s just there being festive for the season, we’ll be sure she’s in all red,” Mullen said.

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