3 things we’ve learned about UNLV through 3 games

UNLV entered the bye week of the 2026 campaign with a 1‑2 record after three contests, highlighted by a 44‑6 setback at North Texas. Although the Rebels remain unbeaten in Mountain West play, head coach Dan Mullen’s squad faces several issues before hosting the Akron Zips on Saturday. Quarterback stability continues to be a concern. Jackson Arnold, the team’s primary signal‑caller, completed 67 percent of his passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns in the season‑opening win over Memphis. His production has since waned. Against Hawaii, Arnold managed only eight completions on 18 attempts for 116 yards, with the ground game carrying the offense. In the loss to North Texas, he threw for fewer than 200 yards and failed to record a passing touchdown. Despite avoiding interceptions, Arnold has not tossed a touchdown pass in over nine quarters of action. Backup Alex Orji, who competed with Arnold for the starting role, saw limited duty in the final drive versus North Texas, completing one of five passes and throwing an interception. The offensive line has also struggled. The departure of starting center Austin Boyd during Week 0 left a void that the unit has yet to fill. Arnold has been sacked 11 times through three games, six of those sacks coming against Memphis after Boyd’s exit. The run game has suffered as well; Jai’Den Thomas and Jaylon Glover have found it difficult to create lanes outside of Thomas’s 50‑yard touchdown scamper versus Hawaii. Consequently, Arnold averages roughly three more yards per carry than the team’s leading rushers, a product of designed quarterback runs and pressure forcing him out of the pocket. With no clear timetable for Boyd’s return, the Rebels must develop greater consistency up front using the current roster. Defensively, UNLV has shown flashes of promise but lacks steadiness. The Rebels surrendered seven points in the first half and 20 in the second half against Memphis, falling 27‑21. A trip to Hawaii yielded a stout performance, yielding only six points and no touchdowns. However, the defense unraveled versus North Texas, giving up a season‑high 44 points on 444 total yards. In 2025, the unit allowed an average of 419 yards and 28 points per game, ranking 89th among 136 FBS programs. This season, those figures have improved to 385 yards and 25.7 points per game. Still, last year’s team opened 6‑0, whereas the 2026 squad has stumbled out of the gate. As the bulk of Mountain West competition looms, UNLV will need to forge greater defensive consistency if it hopes to contend for the conference’s inaugural championship title.