Mountain West Showdown in the Desert: Lobos Look to Stun Rebels
UNLV vs. New Mexico: Battle of the Mountain West
Game: New Mexico Lobos (5–3, 2–2 MW) at UNLV Rebels (6–1, 3–1 MW) Date: Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM EST / 12:00 PM PST Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada TV/Stream: Mountain West Network / Altitude / Fubo Matt Neverett (play-by-play) and Caleb Herring (analyst) Radio: Lobo Radio Network (770 KKOB-AM, Albuquerque) Radio Play-by-Play: Robert Portnoy Analyst: DonTrell Moore
Line: UNLV -5.5 Over/Under: 62
Game Preview
UNLV and New Mexico face off Saturday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium in a crucial Mountain West game with important conference implications.
UNLV is at 6–1 after a 56–31 loss to Boise State, while New Mexico stands at 5–3 following an impressive 33–14 win over Utah State.
Jason Eck’s Lobos continue to show steady improvement each week and are emerging as one of the league’s most balanced teams.
For UNLV, quarterback Anthony Colandrea continues to be the key player in the Rebels’ explosive offense. Against Boise State, he threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns, added 87 rushing yards, and scored another touchdown on the ground.
Rebel Quarterback Anthony Colandra Photo courtesy of 8newsnow.com
Running back Jaylon Glover averaged an impressive 18.7 yards per carry last week. Meanwhile, wide receiver DeAngelo Irvin Jr. led the receiving core with 90 yards, demonstrating UNLV’s ability to attack from multiple angles.
photo courtesy of review journal.com
New Mexico, meanwhile, adopts a more methodical approach. Quarterback Jack Layne completed 77% of his passes for 183 yards and a touchdown against Utah State.
Lobo running back Damon Bankston rushed for 84 yards and scored a touchdown. Receiver Cade Keith was a dependable target, catching seven passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Lobo Running back D.J. McKinney Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics.
The Lobos depend on a balanced offense and ball control to set the tempo—an approach that could slow down UNLV’s quick, big-play offense.
Players to Watch – New Mexico Lobos
- QB Jack Layne – Calm under pressure and highly efficient, Layne went 17-for-22 for 183 yards and a touchdown vs. Utah State.
photo courtesy clutchpoints.com
- RB Damon Bankston – The engine of the Lobos’ ground game; 84 yards and a score on just 13 carries last week.
- WR Cade Keith – A consistent threat who can stretch defenses; 104 receiving yards and a TD vs. Utah State.
- Jaxton Eck – New Mexico’s defense has held opponents to 257 yards (Nevada) and 14 points (Utah State) in back-to-back games, fueling their recent surge.
Team Analysis
UNL head coach Dan Mullen Photo Courtesy of the Las Vegas Sun
UNLV Rebels (6–1, 3–1 MWC)
UNLV started the season on fire with six consecutive wins over Idaho State, Sam Houston, UCLA, Miami (OH), Wyoming, and Air Force.
The Rebels’ 51–48 victory over Air Force highlighted their explosive offense but also revealed defensive weaknesses.
In that game, UNLV totaled 597 yards and averaged 10 yards per play, but they allowed 603 yards—including 428 rushing yards.
Their defensive struggles reappeared in last week’s 56–31 loss at Boise State, where the Rebels allowed 49 points through three quarters.
Head coach Barry Odom has developed one of the most dynamic offenses in the conference. Still, UNLV needs to tighten its defensive gaps if it wants to stay in the Mountain West title race.
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
New Mexico Lobos (5–3, 2–2 MWC)
The Lobos have surpassed preseason expectations through a balanced, disciplined strategy. Under offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner, New Mexico has combined an effective passing game with a solid rushing attack.
After a season-opening loss to Michigan, the Lobos earned wins against Idaho State, UCLA, and New Mexico State.
They lost two straight games to San Jose State and Boise State before narrowly defeating Nevada 24–22 at home. In that game, New Mexico rushed for 210 yards but struggled on third down (5-of-13) and lost two fumbles.
Defensive Coordinator Spence Nowinsky’s unit limited Nevada to 257 total yards and held Utah State to just 14 points in last week’s win.
The Lobos have committed 16 turnovers and 45 penalties, but their discipline and resilience have kept them competitive.
UNM Lobo Keyshawn James Newby & Darren Agu in the picture against UCLA Courtesy msn.com
Linebacker Jaxton Eck leads the defense with 82 tackles (45 solo), as the group allows 364.4 yards and 24.8 points per game—including 119.6 rushing yards and only 11 passing touchdowns all season.
Suppose New Mexico can contain Colandrea and force UNLV into long, deliberate drives. In that case, they’ll have a real chance at an upset.
Players to Watch – UNLV Rebels
- QB Anthony Colandrea – A dual-threat quarterback who can hurt defenses with both his arm and legs.
- RB Jaylon Glover – explosive back who averaged 18.7 yards per carry last week; capable of breaking open a game.
- WR Ricky White – Deep-ball threat with elite speed; his chemistry with Colandrea remains key to UNLV’s success.
Keys to the Game
- Tempo Control: UNLV excels in a fast-paced, high-energy environment, while New Mexico favors a slower, deliberate style. The team that sets the tempo probably influences the result.
- Turnover Battle: UNLV’s defense aims to create chaos and capitalize on mistakes. For New Mexico, maintaining ball security will be vital to remain competitive.
- Third-Down Efficiency: Maintaining drives is key for the Lobos to keep UNLV’s explosive offense off the field.
- Discipline: The Rebels have been penalized 77 yards per game, and those penalties have hurt them. If New Mexico stays disciplined and takes advantage of Rebel mistakes, the upset window opens.
- Containing Colandrea: Limiting Colandrea’s scrambling ability and forcing him into quick decisions will be crucial for the Lobos’ defense.
UNM Lobo Tavian Combs on the tackle for UNM Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
Final Thoughts
This matchup pits UNLV’s explosive, quick-strike offense against New Mexico’s balanced, ball-control approach.
The Rebels have an edge in raw talent, speed, and home-field advantage, but the Lobos have quietly become one of the most resilient teams in the Mountain West.
UNLV’s defense was ineffective last week against a talented Boise State team, as they were out-gained 558 to 476 in total yardage.
Much of that was because of Boise State’s 294-yard rushing performance, which averaged over 9 yards per carry, while the Rebels allowed 21 first downs.
On offense, UNLV played effectively on both sides of the line of scrimmage, gaining a total of 476 yards; 261 of those yards were rushing, averaging 6.8 yards per run.
The problem was on third downs (only 4-for-13), which limited the Rebels’ ability to stay competitive on the scoreboard.
There is no indication that UNLV’s offense will fail to continue its trend of scoring 30 or more points per game, as they have done in each of its previous games this season.
New Mexico delivered a robust all-around performance against Utah State. The Lobos held the ball for over 38 minutes and gained 224 rushing yards thanks to a powerful running game.
New Mexico’s defense also played well, holding Utah State to just 306 total yards and 15 first downs.
Offensively, New Mexico has been consistent, scoring 24 or more points in its last seven games.
The main weakness in New Mexico’s game is its defense against explosive offenses.
If UNLV can force the Lobos’ defense to become the aggressor in this game, then UNLV might find itself in a shootout-like contest.
If New Mexico can control the pace, reduce turnovers, and capitalize on UNLV’s defensive mistakes, this game could stay close well into the fourth quarter.
Prediction: New Mexico 38– UNLV 31
