UNLV football vs Nevada: Rebels win 42–17 to keep Fremont Cannon red

UNLV football vs Nevada: Fast start sets the tone

Thomas opened the night with a 17-yard touchdown and finished with five scores. The total broke the single-game rushing touchdown record previously shared by Ickey Woods and Charles Williams. His 33-yard burst in the second quarter flipped the field after a Nevada fumble and sparked a 21-0 run that put UNLV in control.

Quarterback Anthony Colandrea continued his rise. He threw for 239 yards, added two total touchdowns and hit a pair of deep completions that stretched the Wolf Pack defense. He also entered the game after tying Randall Cunningham for the most career conference weekly honors in program history. The recognition strengthened his case for Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year.

At halftime, head coach Dan Mullen said the hot start came down to discipline and tempo.

“We played solid in all three phases,” Mullen told the broadcast. “We made a few mistakes, but a lot of that is on me. Defensively, we just had to stop jumping. That was the only way they were moving the ball.”

Defense answers every Nevada push

Nevada opened the second half with a 75-yard touchdown drive, but UNLV responded immediately. Colandrea found Daejon Reynolds for a 21-yard gain, then connected with Jaden Bradley deep to set up another Thomas score.

From that point forward the defense controlled the pace. Jaheem Joseph delivered a key sack and forced fumble in the third quarter. UNLV held Nevada to five yards per completion in the final 20 minutes.

Milestones that shaped UNLV football vs Nevada

The win secured back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in UNLV’s FBS history. The Rebels improved to 14–4 in true road games since 2023 after winning only eight such games in the previous six seasons. They are tied for the most road wins in the FBS since 2024.

UNLV also earned bowl eligibility for the third straight year, another program milestone. The offense extended its streak to 34 regular-season games with at least 20 points. The Rebels also collected a fourth straight victory in the Battle for the Fremont Cannon, one of the longest streaks in the rivalry’s 51-game history.

What comes next for UNLV football

UNLV ends the regular season with 10 wins for the second straight year and remains one of the toughest road teams in the country. Now the Rebels wait for the Mountain West computer rankings to determine whether they reach the championship game again.

Whatever the final numbers show, the message in Reno was clear.

UNLV did not just win a rivalry. It proved it still belongs on the biggest Mountain West stage.

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