(Photo Credit - UNLV Athletics)
For the second time in six days, UNLV delivered a win. This one, a 38–21 road victory at Sam Houston, came not just from talent but from composure, the exact cultural test Dan Mullen said his program needed.
The Rebels leave Texas at 2–0.
Offensive Precision
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea wasn’t just efficient; he was nearly perfect. His 19-for-23 passing line (82.6%) marked UNLV’s 3rd highest single-game completion rate (min. 20 attempts) in UNLV history behind Doug Brumfield / Hajj Malik Williams (84%) and Caleb Herring (85.7%).
Early down success: On 1st and 2nd down, Colandrea went 12-for-13 for 171 yards (13.2 YPA). That efficiency consistently kept the offense ahead of schedule.
Explosives: The 43-yard opening touchdown to Jaden Bradley and a 49-yard strike in the third highlighted a passing game averaging 13.1 yards per completion.
Drive finishing: UNLV was 4-for-4 in the red zone, with Colandrea accounting for three scores (2 pass, 1 rush).
Running back Jai’Den Thomas complemented the aerial attack, averaging 7.2 yards per carry and punching in a 3-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 31–7. Depth backs Keyvone Lee and Jaylon Glover added steady touches as UNLV rotated six ball carriers.
Defensive Swing Plays
Sam Houston moved the ball, 20 first downs, 145 rushing yards, and two late explosive touchdowns, but UNLV’s defense thrived in the leverage situations.
3rd down: Sam Houston went 1-for-12 on third down, a suffocating conversion rate of 8%.
Red zone: The Bearkats were held to 1-for-3 inside the 20.
Havoc: UNLV recorded four sacks and one takeaway, capped by Aamaris Brown’s 52-yard interception return that flipped momentum permanently in the second quarter.
Linebacker Marsel McDuffie (8 tackles, 2 TFL) was active downhill, while Tunmise Adeleye’s fourth-quarter sack effectively sealed it. Corner Quandarius Keyes was targeted six times and allowed just two completions, per initial charting.
Things to Clean Up
The final margin narrowed after UNLV let up in the fourth, and Mullen was quick to note areas that can’t carry into UCLA week:
Penalties: 8 flags for 92 yards, including multiple pass interferences that extended drives.
Tackling: Missed fits allowed Landan Brown’s 53-yard touchdown run.
Health: Two games in six days left the roster dinged; rotation depth helped, but starters like Jaheem Joseph left banged up.
The Culture Win
This wasn’t a flawless performance, but it was the kind of road win that builds credibility. UNLV controlled the game state from the first drive, stayed efficient on offense, and punished mistakes defensively.
For a program still trying to prove it belongs at the Mountain West’s top tier, that matters as much as the 2–0 start.
Looking Ahead
The step up arrives quickly: UCLA at Allegiant Stadium next Saturday. The Bruins bring Power Five talent, tempo, and a front seven that will test whether UNLV’s offensive line efficiency (0 sacks allowed vs. Sam Houston) can hold under greater pressure.
Through two weeks, though, Mullen’s Rebels are exactly where they wanted to be: undefeated, efficient, and growing into the culture he promised.