5 things to watch for in UNLV’s game against San Jose State

Five things to look for when UNLV's football team plays San Jose State at 6 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium:

1. The Rebels' aggressiveness. Coach Tony Sanchez said UNLV will open the playbook even with backup Kurt Palandech taking over at quarterback. How far the Rebels will go will set the tone for how the game plays out.

2. Dalton Sneed. Should Palandech struggle, will Sanchez pull the redshirt on the freshman quarterback? If UNLV's offense gets off to a slow start, look to the sideline to see if Sneed begins to warm up.

3. UNLV's energy level. The Rebels came out flat two years ago against San Jose State. That game came a week after the Rebels won at UNR, just like this season. Sanchez is really good at pushing his players and not letting them become satisfied, so it shouldn't be as much of an issue this time.

4. Tyler Ervin. San Jose State's workhorse running back is capable of taking over a game, and the Rebels must make limiting him the priority and force the Spartans to try to win the game through the air.

5. UNLV's run game. The Rebels have been up and down this season, and they need more consistency to relieve stress on Palandech. They also need to take advantage of a Spartans defense that allows 235.8 yards rushing per game.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65