5 games to watch on a sneaky tough UNLV football schedule

UNLV’s 2024 football slate has been described as “sneaky tough,” a phrase that captures the thin margin for error if the Rebels hope to stay in the College Football Playoff conversation. The Mountain West race could hinge on a handful of road games, each presenting its own set of challenges. **At New Mexico – Nov. 14** Should preseason projections hold, this matchup may decide the Mountain West championship. The Lobos and the Rebels rank as the league’s two strongest teams on paper and are set to meet in Albuquerque late in the season. Last year New Mexico jumped out to a 21‑0 lead at Allegiant Stadium before holding on for a 40‑35 victory. The Lobos’ defense is anchored by linebacker Jaxton Eck, the conference’s top defensive player and son of head coach Jason Eck. **At Hawaii – Sept. 5** UNLV dispatched the Rainbow Warriors 38‑10 in Las Vegas a season ago, but the trip to Honolulu often yields a different outcome. Hawaii’s offense is spearheaded by former Bishop Gorman standout Micah Alejado, whose play will test a Rebel secondary that surrendered too many coverages in 2023. **vs. Memphis – Aug. 29 (Week 0)** The season opener could carry more weight than a typical Week 0 contest. Memphis is viewed by many as a middle‑of‑the‑pack squad in the American Athletic Conference, yet a loss here would instantly damage UNLV’s playoff aspirations. Recall that the Rebels struggled early last year against Idaho State before escaping with a 38‑31 win. **at Air Force – Oct. 17** Air Force’s ability to move the ball will demand a strong defensive showing from UNLV. In the previous meeting the Falcons amassed 603 total yards, 428 of them on the ground, in a wild 51‑48 Rebel triumph. This year’s game shifts to the altitude of Colorado Springs, where Air Force returns running back Liam Szarka. Szarka became the first player in school history to record five straight 100‑yard rushing games; last season he logged 136 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while adding 175 yards through the air and another score versus UNLV. **vs. North Dakota State – Oct. 10** The Rebels have invited the FCS powerhouse Bison and their fervent fan base to Las Vegas. North Dakota State has won ten of the last fifteen FCS championships and is far from a guaranteed win for any Mountain West opponent. The Bison hold a 9‑5 record against FBS teams in fourteen such meetings, a fact that adds another layer of difficulty to UNLV’s pursuit of a College Football Playoff berth.