One win. That is all UNLV needs.
The Rebels (5-4, 3-2 Mountain West) travel to first-place No. 23/25 New Mexico (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West) on Saturday, Nov. 14, in Albuquerque. A victory makes UNLV bowl eligible for a fourth consecutive season.
Kickoff is 4:30 p.m. PT at University Stadium, which holds 37,440 on an artificial surface. The CW carries the game, and ESPN 1100 AM and 100.9 FM carry it on Las Vegas radio.
A Ranked Test the Rebels Have Not Faced in Two Years
New Mexico is the first ranked opponent for UNLV since the Mountain West Championship game on Dec. 6, 2024, against No. 10 Boise State. That is the size of this test.
Both teams bring fresh proof. UNLV fell to Wyoming, 41-35, at home last week.
New Mexico won 31-3 on the road at Nevada. That was the Lobos' first game as an AP-ranked team, per New Mexico Athletics.
Here is the part most fans miss. UNLV has already played in five different time zones this season, the only FBS program to do so in 2026, per UNLV Athletics.
Saturday sends the Rebels back to the Mountain Time Zone. No excuses. Just the hardest road game left on the schedule.
Two Streaks Collide, and Jet Thomas Chases History
UNLV has won four straight games in Albuquerque. The last trip ended 56-14 in 2023.
The visiting team has won seven of the last eight meetings in this series. UNLV leads the all-time series 15-13 and has won nine of the last 14 meetings.
The road numbers back it up. UNLV has 13 road victories since the start of the 2024 season, more than any other team in college football, per UNLV Athletics.
New Mexico counters with a fortress. The Lobos have won 11 straight games at University Stadium, one short of the school record of 12, set in 1928.
They have also won 11 straight conference games. A 12th straight conference win is on the line Saturday.
Then there is the defense. New Mexico leads the nation in scoring defense at 10.9 points per game, interceptions with 17, total defense at 240.1 yards per game, and turnover margin at plus 2.00, per New Mexico Athletics.
UNLV's best answer is Jet Thomas. He leads the Mountain West in rushing yards with 753 after a 96-yard, two-touchdown game against Wyoming.
Thomas owns 42 career touchdowns scored: 37 rushing, four receiving, and one on a kickoff return. That total stands second in the nation among all active players.
One more touchdown ties the UNLV all-time record held by Lexington Thomas from 2015 to 2018. Watch every red zone trip. History could move on any carry.
How to Follow It, and What Comes Next
Plan your Saturday around these three lines:
- TV: The CW, with Jack McMullen, Cody Kessler, and Marshall Newhouse on the call.
- Radio: ESPN 1100 AM and 100.9 FM, with Matt Neverett, Caleb Herring, and Steve Cofield.
- Crowd watch: New Mexico expects its largest crowd of the season, and a crowd of 32,142 would give UNM the Mountain West attendance lead.
Center Austin Boyd is back, too. Injured in Week Zero, he returned to the starting lineup last Saturday against Wyoming, per UNLV Athletics.
The finish after Saturday is clear. UNLV plays at San Jose State on Nov. 21, then closes at home against UNR on Nov. 28 in the Battle for the Fremont Cannon.
Win Saturday, and the bowl ticket is punched early. Lose, and those last two games carry the whole season.
Either way, this is the swing game. Settle in at 4:30 p.m. PT and watch the Rebels take their shot.
