By Ray Brewer (contact)
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 | 9:13 p.m.
The likelihood were stacked against UNLV football.
The Rebels trailed No. 23 New Mexico 14-0 successful the 2nd 4th Saturday night, and they could person folded with a valid excuse. Their travel to Albuquerque, N.M., was delayed astir 5 hours Friday by the Federal Aviation Administration’s nationwide crushed stop, cutting into the team’s mentation schedule.
It’s not casual to get disconnected a formation and play connected abbreviated notice.
Instead, UNLV’s much-maligned defence held New Mexico to 3 points the remainder of the way, and the Rebels pulled disconnected a 21-17 upset.
It’s harmless to telephone it the program’s champion triumph of the season.
New Mexico was a 17.5-point favorite, and UNLV won outright. That’s a important accomplishment considering the Rebels’ mediocre play past week successful a nonaccomplishment to Wyoming.
Jackson Arnold’s 44-yard touchdown tally with 7:26 remaining provided the winning points. The triumph lifted UNLV to 6-4 and made the Rebels bowl-eligible for a 4th consecutive year. The Rebels had ne'er played successful 2 consecutive bowls until accomplishing the feat successful 2024.
UNLV’s antiaircraft enactment brought the unit successful the 2nd fractional and finished with 3 sacks. Tony-Louis Nkuba’s interception successful the last minutes sealed it.
One week aft being benched against Wyoming, Arnold led the comeback, passing for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kayden McGee and Keyan Burnett caught the scoring passes.
The triumph moved UNLV to 4-2 successful a crowded Mountain West race, and the Rebels are inactive live for a 4th consecutive league title crippled appearance.
New Mexico and Wyoming are some 5-1, and they conscionable Friday successful Wyoming. New Mexico besides inactive has to play Air Force, which is 4-2 successful league play. North Dakota State, whose league losses came against UNLV and New Mexico, is besides 4-2.
UNLV has 2 games left: Nov. 21 astatine San Jose State and Nov. 28 astatine location against UNR.
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