UNLV’s next opponent: Central Michigan coming off improbable victory

The UNLV football team (1-1) will try to rebound from its 42-21 loss to UCLA in Saturday’s game at Central Michigan (2-0). Here’s everything you need to know about the game against the Chippewas:

■ WHO: Central Michigan Chippewas

■ WHEN: Noon PDT Saturday

■ WHERE: Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

■ TV: ESPN3 (streaming)

■ LINE: Central Michigan -13½

■ SERIES: UNLV leads 3-1

■ LAST MEETING: UNLV 31, Central Michigan 21 (Sept. 14, 2013 at Sam Boyd Stadium)

■ CONFERENCE: Mid-American

■ 2015 RECORD: 7-6 (6-2 MAC). Lost 21-14 to Minnesota in Quick Lane Bowl.

■ 2016 RECORD: 2-0. Beat then-No. 22 Oklahoma State 30-27 on Saturday.

■ HEAD COACH: John Bonamego (Overall record: 9-6, second year; school record: 9-6, second year)

■ RETURNING STARTERS: 8 offense, 8 defense

■ THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Cooper Rush, WR Tyler Conklin, WR Jesse Kroll

■ ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS:

— Stunned then-No. 22 Oklahoma State on Saturday in a wild 30-27 upset win when officials mistakenly awarded them a final play with no time left on the clock and they scored on a 51-yard Hail Mary hook-and-ladder play. Rush lofted a Hail Mary pass caught by Kroll, who lateraled to Corey Willis at the Cowboys’ 12-yard line. Willis then cut across the field and fought his way into the end zone.

— Oklahoma State tried to run out the clock with four seconds left by throwing the ball away on fourth down, but it was penalized for intentional grounding, which is a loss-of-down penalty. Rules state that the game can’t end on an accepted live-ball penalty but officials said afterward there’s an exception to that rule that should’ve brought the game to an end.

— Rush completed 30 of 42 passes for 361 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception, at Oklahoma State.

— Conklin had a team-leading seven catches for 96 yards and two TDs and Kroll had six catches for 91 yards vs. the Cowboys.

— In their last meeting with the Rebels, the Chippewas blew a 21-0 second-quarter lead as UNLV scored 31 unanswered points in its 31-21 triumph.

TODD DEWEY/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL