In 2023, the Rebels had a solid season with a 9-5 record, tying for third in the Mountain West Conference. Despite having the same number of conference wins as Boise State and San Jose State, tiebreakers placed them just outside the top two in the standings.

The Cougars had a challenging year, finishing with a 4-8 record.

UNLV had an impressive offensive performance last season, averaging 34.4 points per game, placing them among the top 20 offenses in the country.

The Cougars face significant challenges this season after losing several key players in the offseason. Their top two receivers, Matthew Golden and Sam Brown, entered the transfer portal, which will undoubtedly impact their passing game. Additionally, the offensive line will see a major overhaul, with four of their five starters from last season, including all-conference left tackle Patrick Paul.

We actually like the Cougars here despite all this. We think it's a good opportunity to hit the ground running this season vs UNLV, and we will roll with the Cougars.