The first game of the Dan Mullen era wasn’t polished, but it was plenty entertaining. In a back-and-forth Week 0 battle at Allegiant Stadium, UNLV overcame turnovers, coverage busts, and red-zone failures to beat Idaho State 38–31.
“In the words of Maximus: are you not entertained?” Mullen said postgame, half-smiling after his first win as UNLV’s head coach. “That was pretty entertaining, it was fun. Great job by these guys, great way to come out and get a win. It’s so hard to win, and our team found a way.”
A Chaotic First Half
The opener was a rollercoaster. Alex Orji led the Rebels deep into Bengal territory on the first drive, but his fumble at the goal line cost UNLV points. Idaho State capitalized, and behind quarterback Jordan Cooke, raced to a 10–0 lead.
Momentum swung after a Jaheem Joseph hit and an Amaris Brown interception. One play later, junior running back Jett Thomas scored from short range. Then, with Allegiant rocking, Thomas bolted 70 yards down the sideline to give UNLV its first lead, 14–10.
“That one was emotional,” Thomas said, wiping away a tear as he described honoring his late father. “Just knowing he was always there on the sidelines with me. That run was for him.”
Still, Cooke and the Bengals struck again before halftime. Idaho State carried a 17–14 lead into the break, outgaining UNLV through the air 166–56 in the first 30 minutes.
Colandrea and Thomas Take Control
Out of halftime, Anthony Colandrea took command. He ripped off a 37-yard run and then delivered a poised series of throws that set up Thomas’ third touchdown of the day. “Colandrea looked great: poised, confident, in control,” Mullen said.
UNLV’s defense followed with a goal-line stand sealed by Laterrance Welch’s end-zone interception. A field goal made it 24–17, but Cooke responded once again. A 64-yard strike to Isaac Duarte tied the game and reminded everyone why Mullen called Cooke “one hell of a quarterback, an unbelievable football player.”
When Idaho State pushed ahead 31–24 late in the third, UNLV answered. Colandrea hit junior receiver DaeDae Reynolds for a nine-yard touchdown, tying things at 31 and electrifying the Rebel sideline.
Defense Delivers the Difference
The biggest swing came midway through the fourth quarter. With Idaho State driving, linebacker Marsel McDuffie jumped a route and picked off Cooke.
“It was a back-and-forth game, and we weren’t playing the way we wanted,” McDuffie said. “But we kept telling each other, somebody’s got to make a play. Why not me? That flipped the momentum for everybody.”
Moments later, Orji powered in from 11 yards out on a designed QB draw. Welch added his second interception on the next Bengal series, and the Rebels had the cushion they needed.
“Our defense finished that game unbelievable,” Mullen said. “They needed to slam the door, and they did.”
Mullen’s Message
Mullen acknowledged the mistakes, UNLV went just 4-of-7 in the red zone and allowed 555 total yards, but he emphasized the importance of sticking together.
“It would’ve been very easy for us to find a way to lose today,” he said. “But this team stuck together and found a way to win when it mattered. That’s what I’ll celebrate tonight.”
He also stressed the balance between Orji and Colandrea:
“With the exception of the fumble in the end zone, I thought both quarterbacks played exceptionally well in their first game in this system. They feed off each other and their personalities are different, which makes them a dangerous combination.”
And he pointed to Thomas and McDuffie as the backbone of the roster:
“There’s a reason those two are our captains. They’ve given more to this program than I have. To see them make the plays that won us the game? That says it all.”
By the Numbers
Total Yards: Idaho State 555 | UNLV 536
Passing: Cooke 380 yards, 4 INT | Colandrea/Orji combined 232 yards, 1 TD
Rushing: UNLV 304 | Idaho State 160
Turnovers: Idaho State 4 | UNLV 1
Key Rebels:
Thomas – 10 carries, 147 yards, 3 TD
Colandrea – 288 total yards, 1 pass TD
Orji – 71 total yards, rushing TD
Bradley – 6 catches, 131 yards
McDuffie, Brown, Welch (2) – 4 combined INT
Bottom Line
It wasn’t clean. It wasn’t easy. But the Mullen era began with a win, and for a program still learning its new identity, that mattered most.
“If you ain’t celebrating after a win,” Mullen said, “you’re playing the wrong game.”