There’s no easing into the final week of the regular season. Not in this rivalry. Not with the Cannon on the line. And not with UNLV sitting one win away from a second straight double-digit win season and potentially a third straight trip to the Mountain West Championship Game.

Saturday in Reno is the finish line of everything Dan Mullen has built over the last three months: a reshaped identity, a hardened road mentality, and a roster that, as Chief Borders put it this week, “plays ruthless and loves each other for real.”

The setting is simple: 51st Battle for the Fremont Cannon. Cold night in Reno. Red paint on the line. And for UNLV (9-2, 5-2), there is no disguising what’s at stake.

UNLV has received votes in 32 of the last 33 AP/Coaches polls. A win Saturday pushes the Rebels to:

But the Cannon is always the headline.

“This one sticks with you for a year,” Mullen said Monday. “Especially when it’s neighbor-to-neighbor. Everybody in the state cares about this one.”

UNLV has taken three straight in the rivalry, including the last trip to Mackay, and aims to make it four for just the third time ever (1974-77, 2000-04).

The Rebels arrive with momentum and an identity that’s tightening at the right time.

UNLV sits 16th nationally at 36.7 points per game, powered by:

Mullen praised Colandrea’s growth: “Everyone sees the highlight plays, but you don’t win these awards unless you execute and take care of the ball. He’s learned to take what the defense gives him.”

The Rebels are peaking:

Chief Borders summed it up best: “The mentality changed. We found our identity. We’re set on being ruthless, competing every snap, and letting opponents know exactly what they’re getting into.”

Over the last three weeks, UNLV’s defense has allowed just 46 total points, compared to 147 over the three games prior.

This matchup pits UNLV’s balance and efficiency against an aggressive, havoc-chasing Reno defensive front.

UNR’s best player, by far, is edge rusher Dylan LaBarbara, who enters with:

Mullen didn’t downplay the threat: “Their defensive ends wreak havoc. Our O-line played really well last week, but they’ll have to match that performance snap after snap.”

UNLV’s offensive line is coming off arguably its best game of the season. Left tackle Austin Boyd said the challenge is exactly what they want: “Our offense starts with our O-line. When we play well, the offense plays well. We were challenged last week and responded, we have to win our matchups again.”

The Rebels will lean heavily on tempo, spacing, and misdirection to keep LaBarbara and the Pack from dictating the line of scrimmage.

If Colandrea stays clean, the matchup shifts completely in UNLV’s favor.

Reno has relied on a two-quarterback system, mixing in run-heavy packages, misdirection and trick-play looks to compensate for a passing game that has struggled all season.

Mullen’s breakdown was blunt: “You’ve got to be sound. One of them is at QB, one at receiver, and you have to understand every trick, option and wrinkle that comes with that.”

Expect UNLV to:

Hawai‘i came into last week averaging 30+ per game, and UNLV held the Warriors to 10 points and smothered nearly every YAC opportunity.

If the defense replicates that level of tackling, Reno will have trouble sustaining drives.

Win early downs: UNR’s entire defensive model is built on creating chaos on 2nd/3rd and long. Staying ahead of the chains neutralizes their one advantage.

Don’t let emotions turn into penalties: Rivalry. Road. Cold. Chippy.
Austin Boyd said it directly: “It’ll get chippy for sure. We just have to play smart and not let our emotions get the best of us.” UNLV is 25-1 since 2023 when leading after the third quarter, but that only works if unnecessary flags don’t derail drives.

Keep Colandrea upright: If Colandrea gets time, he will distribute the ball to all levels of the field. Reno’s back end is vulnerable and overly aggressive.

Control the middle eight: UNLV has dominated games this season by closing first halves and opening second halves with scoring runs. A quick surge in the middle eight often breaks UNR’s script-heavy offense.

Start fast and silence Mackay: Mackay is tight, loud, and emotional in this rivalry, regardless of record. A quick UNLV punch can flip the atmosphere early.

Every Cannon game takes on its own identity. This one carries the added weight of what UNLV can accomplish beyond the rivalry: history, momentum, and the possibility of playing for another Mountain West title.

But in Mullen’s words, it really comes down to something simpler: “If you want to end the season the right way, you have to win this game. And that starts with the way we prepare today.”

UNLV is playing its best football of the season. Reno is going to throw the kitchen sink at opponents. The Rebels have been one of the nation’s strongest road teams for two years running. Saturday, they get their chance to keep the Cannon, and everything else, painted red.