Dan Mullen’s debut at UNLV couldn’t have opened better. Four games, four wins, a quarterback completing nearly three‑quarters of his passes, and a defense that leads the nation in interceptions.
But the calendar has flipped to conference play, and the altitude is about to rise.
Undefeated UNLV (4–0) visits Wyoming (2–2) on Saturday night in Laramie, a trip that has historically tripped up the Rebels. They haven’t won at War Memorial Stadium since 2003, and the Cowboys are quietly tough at home, especially on defense.
At 7,220 feet above sea level, the highest elevation in college football, the setting alone is a challenge. Add in Wyoming’s veteran secondary and ball‑control rushing attack, and it’s a classic “strength‑on‑strength” Mountain West opener.
UNLV: Balance and Breakouts
Offense: The Rebels average 450.5 yards and 36.8 points per game.
QB Anthony Colandrea has been lights‑out: 78‑for‑108 (72.9%), 940 yards, 8 TD, and just 3 INT. His 164.2 passer rating leads the conference. He adds 229 rushing yards, giving him 292 total yards per game.
RB Jai’Den Thomas is emerging as a star with 393 rushing yards, 8.7 YPC, 5 TD, with a long of 70. In some metrics, Thomas is top‑10 nationally in yards per carry.
WR Jaden Bradley has become a true WR1, with 20 catches, 355 yards, and 2 TDs. Behind him, Troy Omeire and tight end Var’Keyes Gumms give Colandrea plenty of possession outlets.
Defense: Opportunistic doesn’t begin to cover it. UNLV has 8 interceptions through four games, tied for first in the FBS.
CB Aamaris Brown has four by himself, returning two for touchdowns. His 117 return yards already outpace entire teams.
LB Marsel McDuffie leads with 29 tackles and a sack, while fellow LB Jaheem Joseph (22 tackles, 3.5 TFL) brings heat against the run.
On third down, opponents’ conversions: 10‑of‑46 (21.7%).
Trench Play: UNLV has allowed 10 sacks so far (2.5 per game). Could be tested against Wyoming’s pass rush (8 sacks).
Wyoming: Rugged but Limited
The Cowboys enter league play at 2–2, with low-scoring wins against Akron (10–0) and Northern Iowa (31–7), followed by clear struggles against Power 5 opponents Utah (L 31–6) and Colorado (L 37–20).
Offense: A grind‑it‑out unit averaging just 16.8 points per game.
QB Kaden Anderson: 59‑for‑107 (55.1%), 711 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT. His long is 49, but the passing game averages under 186 YPG.
Receivers: Chris Durr is the star (21‑290‑3 TD). Nobody else has more than 8 catches.
Ground game: Samuel Harris (256 yards, 6.9/carry, 1 TD), Sam Scott (219 yards, 4.5/carry, 1 TD), and Terron Kellman (136 yards, 5.9/carry, 1 TD). This committee averages 160 rush yards/game, but Wyoming hasn’t topped 200 yet.
Defense: Where Wyoming makes its mark.
Allowing just 18.8 PPG and 345 yards/game.
LB Brayden Johnson: 26 tackles, INT. Safety Evan Eller also has 23 stops and an interception.
Pass rush spread across multiple players, led by Ben Florentine (3 sacks), Lucas Samsula (1.5), and Brayden Wilson (1).
Red Zone D: Opponents just 6‑of‑10 (60%) in the red area, one of the best rates in the nation.
Special Teams:
Kicker Erik Sandvik is 4‑of‑5, long of 40.
Punter Bart Edmiston Jr. is averaging 43.0, with six 50‑yarders.
Hidden edge: Opponents are just 1‑for‑7 on FGs against Wyoming, though much of that was Utah/CU misses.
History Lesson
Wyoming leads the all‑time series 15–12.
Rebels’ last win at War Memorial: 48‑21 in 2003.
Previous meeting: UNLV routed Wyoming 45‑10 in Las Vegas (2023).
Key Matchups
Colandrea vs. Wyoming Secondary: Wyoming’s defense allows just 196 pass yards/game, but has faced mostly traditional offenses. UNLV likes tempo and deep shots.
Altitude Factor: Can UNLV’s fast offense (70+ plays per game) keep pace in the thin air?
Turnovers: Rebels (+7) vs. Cowboys (+0). If Wyoming can win the turnover battle at home, it changes the script.
Third Downs: UNLV converts 52%. Wyoming is only 38% offensively. Long drives may be rare for the Pokes.
Betting Snapshot
Line: UNLV ‑4.5
Over/Under: 52.5
UNLV ATS: 3–1
Wyoming ATS: 1–3
Wyoming will muddy the game with defense, altitude, and clock‑chewing runs. UNLV’s offensive line will get its stiffest test yet. But Colandrea’s efficiency, Thomas’s explosiveness, and Brown’s game‑wrecking turnover potential give the Rebels the difference‑making edge.