Part 4: From Arroyo to Odom to Mullen: The Offense, Reimagined

When Dan Mullen arrived in Las Vegas, he inherited more than a program; he inherited a decade-long identity crisis. The 2025 Rebels will be Mullen’s canvas, a chance to reset the narrative of what UNLV football looks like with the ball in its hands. To understand what’s changing, we first have to understand what came before.

Marcus Arroyo came to UNLV with a reputation as an offensive mind, but his three-year tenure never saw the system come together. Between 2021 and 2022, when UNLV finally saw modest improvement in the win column, the passing attack was disjointed, and explosive plays were rare.

In 2021, UNLV averaged just 176.2 passing yards per game and 5.7 yards per attempt, numbers that ranked among the lowest in the Mountain West. Even in 2022, as Doug Brumfield began to emerge, the offense only slightly improved to 214.5 passing yards per game and 6.8 yards per attempt, still well below national averages.

Despite Arroyo’s background as Justin Herbert’s play-caller at Oregon, the offense often felt stuck between identities: too spread to be physical, too disorganized to be efficient. Conceptually, there were flashes of modernity, RPOs, tempo, and some 11 personnel spread looks, but the execution rarely matched the ambition.

Barry Odom’s arrival brought a much-needed cultural reset. The Rebels won nine games in 2023, made the Mountain West title game, and did it with an unapologetically physical approach. Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense emphasized a downhill run game and vertical shots off play-action, and it worked to a point.

In 2023, UNLV still ranked just 94th nationally in passing yards per game (204.2). The efficiency improved slightly, 7.3 yards per attempt, but the passing game was clearly the secondary option. The offense thrived on matchups and motion, but it lacked consistency from play to play through the air.

By 2024, the Rebels had developed a true run-first identity, finishing outside the top 100 in passing yards per game and in the bottom 30 for pass attempts. It was an effective situationally, and dominant on the ground, but limited in scope. In short, it was built to win the Mountain West, not challenge the Power Five.

This is where the story turns. Dan Mullen is not just another offensive mind; he’s a system builder. His offenses at Florida were conceptually driven, relentlessly adaptive, and quarterback-friendly in design. From 2018–2021, Florida averaged 314.8 passing yards per game, 8.5 yards per attempt, and 32.8 passing touchdowns per season, all with different quarterbacks and shifting personnel.

Compare that to UNLV’s averages under Arroyo and Odom combined from 2021–2024:

That’s not just a gap, it’s a gulf.

Mullen’s offense is designed to be matchup-proof. Whether it’s inside zone with a quarterback read key or a four-verticals concept out of a 3x1 set, every decision is predicated on numbers, leverage, and space. The quarterback knows where the ball should go based on the structure. There’s no waiting for receivers to "get open." The reads are defined pre- and post-snap.

That clarity is what UNLV has lacked for years. It’s what makes 2025 such a fascinating turning point.

If Part 1 of this series was about the math of Mullen’s offense, Part 2 broke down the core run game concepts, and Part 3 examined how Mullen uses width and vertical stress, then Part 4 is the reckoning. This is where we trace the arc of an evolving program and measure the gap between what UNLV has been and what it might become.

Because for the first time in a decade, the Rebels don’t just have a scheme. They have a system. And with a roster that returns speed at receiver, depth at tight end, and a quarterback room tailored for RPOs and option elements, Mullen’s philosophy isn’t just theoretical. It’s operational.

Up Next: Part 5 — Tempo, Tags, and the Art of AdaptationHow Mullen’s offense evolves in real-time — and why play design is only half the story.