WEEK 8 GAME SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 18
Fresno State at Nevada*
CBSSN 7:30 p.m. PT
DEEP DIVE
• Fresno State and Nevada will be meeting for the 56th time in program history • The two teams have met in 24 straight seasons as conference rivals, with the ‘Dogs holding a 15-9 record in those contests. • When the two began sharing affiliation in the WAC in 2000, the Bulldogs owned a 7-5 mark (2000-11), and since moving to the Mountain West in 2012, the Bulldogs own a 8-4 advantage. • The first meeting in the series took place in 1923 in Reno with a 46-3 win by Nevada. • Fresno State leads Nevada 32-22-1 in the all-time series. • Fresno State has won the last three games against the Wolf Pack, dating back to the 2021 season. • Fresno State is 14-12-1 in games played in Reno. • The last time the Bulldogs traveled to Reno, Fresno State secured the West Division title with a 41-14 defeat over Nevada (Nov. 19, 2022). • In 2020, when Fresno State traveled to Reno and lost 37-26, the Bulldogs were hit by COVID and saw a depleted special teams unit without a true kicker, punter or long snapper. The Bulldogs used then-true freshman wide receiver Mac Dalena to kick, walk on receiver Grant Lake to snap and quarterback Jake Haener to punt. • Nevada offensive line coach Brian Armstrong was the Bulldogs’ offensive line coach in 2023 • Nevada offensive analyst Jordan Loeffler spent two seasons (2020-21) with the Bulldogs as a graduate assistant with the offensive line. • Nevada is currently sitting at 2-2 at home following victories against Eastern Washington and Oregon State and losses to Georgia Southern and #21 SMU • The Wolf Pack enter this contest with a 3-4 record overall record for the season • Nevada is coming off a victory against Oregon State at home on Oct. 12 • This is Nevada’s second conference game of the season, and they are currently 0-1 in conference play following their loss to San Jose State on Oct. 5
Fresno State Notes
SETTING THE STAGE
• Fresno State looks towards its second road Mountain West test of the season this Friday at Nevada. • The Bulldogs will play their only non-Saturday game of the season this week. • Fresno State has lost two games in-a-row, falling to then-No. 23 UNLV and Washington State in the last two games. Washington State was receiving votes in the AP poll when it came to Fresno. • Although falling to Washington State last weekend, the Bulldogs are still 1-1 in Mountain West play with their next test this Friday at Nevada. Fresno State has five conference games still to play with three of those to be played at home. • Fresno State has faced some of college football’s top squads this season. The Bulldogs opened the season at then-No. 9 Michigan and fell 30-10. The Bulldogs have also faced a ranked UNLV team on the road and hosted a Washington State team that was 4-1 and receiving votes in the AP poll at the time of the game. • Fresno State will travel to Nevada for the first time since 2022. In that 2022 matchup, the Bulldogs secured the West Division title to move on to the MW Championship Game. Fresno State would become the 2022 MW Champions with a win over Boise State on the road. • This season as a whole, the Bulldogs have seen 11 total players with their first starts in the program with four earning those first starts last weekend against Washington State. Eleven first-time starters are the ninth-most among FBS programs this season, and the fifth-most in the Mountain West. • Fresno State has had 33 different players start at one point this season, on both sides of the ball. • For the third time since 2020, Fresno State has a new head coach leading its football program. On July 15, 2024, Tim Skipper was named the interim head coach for the 2024 season as Jeff Tedford stepped down for health concerns. Skipper held the title of assistant head coach and linebackers coach for the Bulldogs in 2022 and 2023. • Senior running back Elijah Gilliam had his first career 100-yard rushing game last weekend, stepping back up into the starting role with the absence of Malik Sherrod. • In five games played this season, Korey Foreman has three forced fumbles. He has the most in a season by a Bulldog since Arron Mosby had a nation-leading six in 2021. Mosby set the program’s record for most forced fumbles in a season that year. Before that, David Perales had four in 2020 and Justin Rice had four in 2019. And even before that, no Bulldog had more than three in a season since 2012. • With an interception by Dean Clark and a fumble recovery by Jakari Embry off the force by Foreman, Fresno State had its first gained turnover since Sept. 21. The Bulldogs rank third in the Mountain West and 12th in the FBS with 12 total turnovers this season.
Nevada Notes
NEVADA RETURNS TO CONFERENCE PLAY FRIDAY AGAINST FRESNO STATE
Nevada can finally turn its full attention to Mountain West play for the rest of 2024 beginning with Friday’s home contest against Fresno State. Friday’s contest against the Bulldogs will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network with John Sadak (play-by-play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst) on the call. The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game on KOZZ 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada, online at www.thevarsitynetwork.com and on the Varsity Network app. John Ramey (play-by-play) and Mike Edwards (analyst) will be in the booth, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 6:30 p.m.
ABOUT FRESNO STATE
Fresno State comes into Reno having lost its past two contests, getting routed 59- 14 at UNLV on Sept. 28, and most recently dropping a 25-17 decision at home to Washington State Saturday. Tim Skipper is serving as Fresno State’s interim head coach after Jeff Tedford stepped down in late July, and is 4-3 in his role, a record which includes a 37-10 bowl win last year as acting head coach. Quarterback Mikey Keen has thrown for 1,576 yards and eight touchdowns this season, while running backs Malik Sherrod and Elijah Gilliam have combined for seven scores on the ground.
IT’S MOUNTAIN WEST SEASON—FINALLY
After playing its sixth(!) non-conference contest of the season this past Saturday, Nevada can finally settle into full-time focus on Mountain West play. The Pack’s final six contests will all be conference contests, as it looks to make a run and earn a spot in the Mountain West Football Championship Game.
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST IN THE RED ZONE
Nevada’s red-zone performance on offense has been a significant turnaround in 2024. On offense, the Wolf Pack has converted 24 of 25 red-zone trips into points, the 96.0 percent rate ranking ninth in the country and second in the Mountain West (Wyoming is 13-for-13). Of Nevada’s 25 trips, 21(!) have resulted in touchdowns, an 84.0-percent rate. That rate has, so far, well out-distanced the Pack’s 2023 rate in which it only scored 16 touchdowns on 35 red-zone trips (45.7 percent). On defense, the Pack snuffed out another opponent’s red-zone trip Saturday against Oregon State, thanks to Tori Daffin’s interception. Nevada ranks fourth in the Mountain West with opponents succeeding in scoring on a red-zone trip just 84.6 percent of the time (22-for-26). More impressively, Nevada has limited its opponents to just 15 touchdowns on those 26 trips (58.0 percent).
RUNNING THE BALL JUST WARMS THE HEART
Nevada ran for a season-high 353 yards in Saturday’s victory over Oregon State, a total that was the Wolf Pack’s highest since 2014, when it went for 408 yards in a game against UNLV. It was the Wolf Pack’s second 300-yard rushing game of the season (320 vs. Eastern Washington on Sept. 21) and fourth of at least 200 yards. Prior to this season, the last time Nevada had run for 200 yards in a game was Nov. 27, 2021, at Colorado State (226 yards). In fact, the four 200-yard rushing games this season alone matches the combined total achieved over the five-season span of 2019-2023. Another aspect of Nevada’s high-level running game is that the Pack leads the Mountain West and ranks 16th in the country in time of possession (32:36).
PICK YOUR POISON
Nevada’s run game isn’t just limited to one player–the Pack has three players with at least 200 rushing yards on the season, with that trio of Savion Red (593), quarterback Brendon Lewis (513) and Patrick Garwo III (230) combining for 1,336 yards. The three have also combined to rush for all 16 of Nevada’s touchdowns on the ground. Red (third) and Lewis (fifth) each rank in the Mountain West top-five in rushing yardage, while Nevada is one of just two teams (along with Colorado State) with two ball carriers in the conference’s top 10.
BALL-HAWKIN’ SECONDARY
Getting their hands on the ball nearly as much as Nevada’s rushing game is the Wolf Pack’s secondary after a four-interception performance in Saturday’s win over Oregon State. Nevada’s secondary has now accounted for all seven of the team’s takeaways (all interceptions) this season. Kitan Crawford made his first interception of the season, and in his Nevada career, returning it 52 yards for a score to cap a 21-0 run which put the Wolf Pack up 35-24 in the fourth quarter. Michael Coats Jr. made two picks, bringing his season total to three, while Tori Daffin intercepted a pass in the end zone to snuff out an Oregon State red-zone trip. Coats Jr. now ranks tied for sixth in the country in interceptions, with three, while as a team the Pack’s seven picks rank 19th in the country.
Saturday, Oct. 19
Hawai‘i at Washington State
The CW 12:30 p.m. PT
SERIES HISTORY
• UH leads the all-time series 3-2. • The first four match-ups (1926, ’30, ’99, ’08) were held in Honolulu while the most recent meeting (2009) was played in Seattle, Wash. • This week’s game marks the first meeting in Pullman, Wash. • UH has won the last two meetings by scores of 24-10 (2008) and 38-20 (2009). • The teams were scheduled to play in 2011 to conclude the three-game series but WSU cancelled the match-up due to changes in the thenPac-10 scheduling
Hawai‘i Notes
GAME STORYLINES
• This week’s match-up is the sixth all-time meeting between the schools and first since 2009. UH leads the series 3-2 and have won the last two meetings in 2008 & ’09. • The game marks the first for Hawai‘i in Pullman, Wash. The last time the teams met in 2009, the game was played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash., and UH won 38-20. • UH’s last road/neutral win against a Pac-12 opponent was the 2009 victory over WSU. Since then, UH has lost 12 straight. • UH (2-4, 0-2 MW) is coming off a hard-fought 28-7 loss to Boise State last week in Honolulu. The Rainbow Warriors trailed 13-7 heading into the fourth quarter and held the potent Bronco offense to 22 points below its season average. • The game marks UH’s first-ever appearance on The CW network. • Hawai‘i has dropped its last 13 games on national television and 16 of its last 17 dating back to the start of the 2021 season. • With the Mountain West’s scheduling agreement with Washington State and Oregon State, WSU replaced Air Force on UH’s schedule however this week’s game does not count toward the Mountain West standings. • WSU (5-1) defeated Fresno State, 25-17 last week in Fresno, Calif., improving to 5-1 for the first time since 2018 while recording its second fourth quarter comeback win this season. • The Cougars, who are receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls this week, are 3-0 at home this season. • UH is 1-13 on the road under head coach Timmy Chang, including 0-2 this season. • UH will look to snap a five-game non-conference road losing streak dating back to 2021. Hawai‘i’s last non-conference road win was at New Mexico State, 41-21, in Las Cruces, N.M. UH has lost five straight since then. • UH leads the Mountain West in scoring defense (20.5) and total defense (332.8) while WSU’s offense averages 39.0 points and 462.0 yards of total offense per game. • Under Chang, UH is 0-13 when scoring 17 points or fewer compared to 10-9 when scoring more than 17 points. UH is 0-3 this season with scoring 17 points or less.
BY THE NUMBERS
19 UH’s leading receiver Pofele Ashlock has caught a pass in all 19 games of his career dating back to last season.
28 Consecutive starts at quarterback by Brayden Schager, who has also made 32 career starts, which is tied for fourth most in program history.
32 Combined points Hawai‘i has won by during its current two-game win streak over Washington State (24-10, 2008; 38-20, 2009).
LAST MEETING vs. WSU
UH 38, WSU 20 — Sept. 12, 2009 Qwest Stadium; Seattle, Wash.
• UH picked up its first road win over a BCS school in seven tries. It was UH’s eighth win overall against a BCS school since 2003. • UH picked up its first Pac-10 road win since defeating California on Sept. 17, 1994. • The Warriors racked up 626 total yards of offense while QB Greg Alexander threw for a career-high 453 yards and three touchdowns. • Slotback Greg Salas had seven catches for a career-high 195 yards and a touchdown and receiver Rodney Bradley totaled seven catches for 150 yards and two TDs. • UH held a 35-6 lead at halftime. • Defensive backs Mana Silva (2) and Spencer Smith each record their first career interception. • The game marked UH’s first in Seattle since upsetting Washington 10-7 in the 1973 season opener, which was considered one of the biggest upsets in program history.
HAWAI‘I VS. THE PAC-12
• UH’s last road/neutral win against a Pac-12 opponent was a 38-20 victory over Washington State in 2009 in a game played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash. Since then, UH has lost 12 straight. • UH is 4-16 in its last 20 games versus Pac-12 opponents since 2010. The wins have come against Arizona (2019), Colorado (2011, ’15) and Oregon State (2019).
HAWAI‘I IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Hawai‘i is playing its 13th season in the Mountain West in 2024. • UH is 31-67 (.316) all-time in the MW — 18-32 (.360) at home and 13-35 (.271) on the road. • Hawai‘i has appeared in one Mountain West Championship game during the 2019 season.
ROAD SHOW
• Its no secret that UH has had its struggles on the road, given its 15-57 record since 2012. • Under head coach Timmy Chang, UH is 1-13 on the road (0-6 in 2022, 1-5 in ’23, 0-2 in ’24). • Chang’s lone victory snapped a 10-game road losing streak dating back to 2021 as UH defeated Nevada 27-14, Nov. 4, 2023. It was the first road win since a 38-14 victory at Wyoming in the 2021 regular-season finale.
ROAD WARRIORS
• UH’s five road games this season is its fewest since 2007 (not counting 2020 COVID season). • UH will total nearly 30,040 air miles with its longest trip (8,040) to Huntsville, Texas for a non-conference game at Sam Houston. • Over the last decade, UH played no less than six road games each year, including a program-high seven in 2021. • The most miles UH travelled in a season was 46,568 in 2016, that included trips to Sydney, Australia (vs. California) and Ann Arbor, Mich., in back-to-back weeks.
Washington State Notes
COUGARS HOST HAWAI’I SATURDAY AFTERNOON ON HOMECOMING
Washington State returns to Gesa Field to host Hawai’i Saturday afternoon on Homecoming weekend. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. on The CW.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State has opened the season 5-1 for the first time since 2018. The Cougars enter the week with the nation’s No. 19 scoring offense (39.0) and the defense is No. 19 in the country with 11 takeaways. Quarterback John Mateer is fourth in the country in total offense (350.0), No. 21 in passing touchdowns (13) and cornerback Ethan O’Connor is tied for sixth in the country with three interceptions. Head coach Jake Dickert owns a 20-17 career record and is in his third full season.
SERIES HISTORY
Washington State and Hawai’i will meet for the first time since 2009, a 38-20 Hawaii win played at CenturyLink Field in Seattle UH leads the all-time series 3-2 against WSU after claiming the last two matchups in 2008 and 2009. The Cougars two wins in the series came in 1930 and 1999, both played in Honolulu. Saturday will be the first meeting in Pullman between the two schools.
COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the 2003 season, ESPN College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The streak reached 310 last week in Eugene. The first appearance came in Austin, Texas (10/4/03) and the streak began two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). Two flags – Ol’ Crimson and Gray – have been flown in the background of the GameDay set. The Gray flag was added in 2014 after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason’s “No White Flags.” Appearance No. 217 was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon.
COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
• WSU’s 2024 roster features 49 newcomers including 15 transfers with 13 from four-year schools • WSU’s roster features 3 players from Hawaii; Kapena Gushiken, Tanner Moku, Hyrum-Benjamin Moors • WSU opened the year 4-0 for the 2nd straight season, 1st time starting 4-0 in back-to-back seasons since 1906-07 • WSU had two Gesa Field sellouts in 2023 (Wisconsin, Oregon State), 4th in the last 3 seasons • Jake Dickert and Bill Doba (2003-07) are the only WSU HC with 2 Apple Cup wins in 1st 4 seasons since 1960’s
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
• QB John Mateer set a WSU record with 300 pass yards and 100 rushing yards in the win over San Jose State • Mateer set a WSU record for rush yards by a QB with 197 rush yards in the week 2 win over Texas Tech • WR Kyle Williams named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List, owns a catch in all 43-career games played • RB Wayshawn Parker was the 1st Cougar true freshman with 1 rush TD and 1 rec TD in debut since 2018 • Parker’s 7 carries of 20+ yards are most among frosh RB nationally, 25 missed tackles forced are 2nd-most • LB Kyle Thornton was a Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist in 2023 (top former walk-on), led team w/ 87 tackles • P Nick Haberer was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List for the 3rd straight season, 44.4 avg/punt in 2023 • OL Fa’alili Fa’amoe, DB Jackson Lataimua, Edge Nusi Malani, OL Esa Pole; Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List • 2024 Reese’s Senior Watch List (Fa’amoe, DB Kapena Gushiken, Malani, Edge Syrus Webster, Williams) • RT Fa’alili Fa’amoe was named to watch lists for The Outland Trophy, Lombardi, Polynesian, Reese’s Senior Bowl
MATEER PUTTING UP BIG DUAL THREAT NUMBERS
Redshirt-sophomore John Mateer has posted some eye-popping numbers in his first five starts. • In 1st career start, threw for 352 yards and 5 TD, rushed for 55 yards including 40-yard TD run • Mateer’s 6 total TD vs. Portland State were most by a Cougar QB in 1st start in program history • Mateer’s 5 TD passes vs. Portland State matched the WSU record for TD passes in a first start – Luke Falk, 2014 at Oregon State; Anthony Gordon, 2019, New Mexico State • Mateer’s 197 rushing yards against Texas Tech week 2 was a WSU record for QB rushing yards – 1st 100-yard game by a Cougar QB since 1987 (105,Timm Rosenbach vs. Oregon) – 8th 100-yard rushing game by a Cougar quarterback in program history • Mateer had 2 rush TD and 1 pass TD in Apple Cup win, rushed for 62 yards, 245 pass yards • In the win over San Jose State, set career-highs with 26 completions and 390 pass yards – 1st Cougar QB in program history with 300 pass yards and 100 rushing yards in a game – 2nd 100-yard rushing game of the season (197, Texas Tech – 111, San Jose State) – Mateer’s 501 yards of total offense was the most by any player in the FBS this season • Mateer had a rush TD and pass TD in each of the 1st four games this season • Mateer’s 499 rush yards are the most by a Cougar QB in single-season history (482, Ty Paine, 1971) • Mateer’s 6 rush TD are tied for 6th-most rush TD by a quarterback in WSU single-season history • Mateer’s 13 TD passes are No. 21 nationally • Mateer’s 15.1 yards per completion is 7th-best nationally • Mateer’s 350.0 yards of total offense-per-game are 4th-most nationally • Mateer’s 6 rush TD are tied for 6th-most by a QB nationally • Mateer’s 22 rushes of 10+yards are 2nd-most by a QB nationally, 2nd-most 20+yard runs (8) by a QB • Mateer’s 33 missed tackles forced are the most by a QB nationally • Mateer owns the 3rd-best PFF rushing grade (85.9) by a QB nationally WHAT A START FOR WAYSHAWN True freshman running back Wayshawn Parker showed off his all-around game in his collegiate debut, the season-opening win over Portland State and has continued to produce big plays. • In week one against Portland State, 8 carries, 96 rush yards, 54-yard TD run, 52-yard TD rec – 1st WSU true frosh with a rush TD and rec TD in his debut since 2018 (Max Borghi at Wyoming) – Parker’s 54-yard rush TD is longest TD run since 2021 (Max Borghi, 2021, Utah State, 64 yds) • In week two win over Texas Tech, rushed for 69 yards including 43-yard TD run – 1st WSU true freshman with TD in back-to-back games since 2018 (Borghi, Arizona, at Colorado) • In win over San Jose State, made 1st career start, rushed 22 times for 76 yards, long of 20 • In win at Fresno State, started, carried 12 times for 63 yards, long of 22 • Owns 7 carries of 20+ yards, the most among all freshman nationally • Parker’s 388 rushing yards are 6th-most among all freshmen in the country • Parker’s 25 missed tackles forced are 2nd-most by a freshmen running back nationally • Parker enters the week with 74 carries for 388 yards and 2 TD, 6 receptions for 77 yards and 1 TD
WILLIAMS NAMED TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST
Cougar wideout Kyle Williams was named to the 2024 Biletnikoff Award Watch List prior to the season, the award annually recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver. The senior from Inglewood, Calif. has caught 28 passes for 503 yards and five touchdowns. • Williams had 4 catches for 141 yards and 2 TD (58, 59) in season-opening win over Portland State – 1st career multiple-TD game at WSU • Williams only catch in the win over Texas Tech was a 21-yard TD, had 3 catches in Apple Cup win • Williams had 8 catches for 138 yards and a TD in win over San Jose State • Williams set season-highs with 9 catches and 142 receiving yards at Boise State – 3rd 100-yard game of the season, 10th of his career and 5th as a Coug – 141-Portland State, 138-San Jose State, 142-at Boise State • Tied for 2nd nationally with 43 consecutive games catching a pass Owns a catch in all 43 career games (1st 25 games at UNLV (2020-22) • 5th among active FBS players with 67.7 career rec ypg • Tied for 6th among active FBS players with 2,909 career rec yards • 9th among active FBS players with 206 career receptions • Tied for 14th among active FBS players with 20 career TD rec, 11 career TD rec at WSU
New Mexico at Utah State*
truTV/Max 2 p.m. MT
AGGIES AND LOBOS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State holds a 17-13 advantage all-time in the series against New Mexico, which includes a 9-4 home record. USU has won each of the last seven games played between the two teams and 10 of the last 13 overall. The first game played in the series was in Albuquerque on Dec. 1, 1951, with UNM winning 17-13. USU won last year’s meeting in Albuquerque in double overtime, 44-41, and won the last meeting in Logan, 27-10, on Nov. 5, 2022. Overall, USU is 9-2 against the Lobos since joining the Mountain West in 2013.
New Mexico Notes
Utah State Notes
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (1-5, 0-2 MW) continues Mountain West play this week as it hosts New Mexico (2-4, 1-1 MW) on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised on truTV (Xfinity Ch. 44, DISH Ch. 242, DirecTV Ch. 246) with Ari Wolfe (play-by-play), Darius Walker (analyst) and Bridget Howard (reporter) on the call. • Interim head coach Nate Dreiling, who was elevated from defensive coordinator on July 2, is the youngest head coach at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level as he is 33 years old. Dreiling is one of only two interim head coaches in the nation along with Fresno State’s Tim Skipper. • Utah State is 52-36 (.591) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 28-17 (.622) home record. USU has the third-best record against MW opponents since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (75-17) has the best record, while San Diego State (62-28) has the second-best record. Overall, USU is 50-24 (.676) in its last 74 home games. • Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 19th in the nation in total offense (463.8 yards per game) and second in the MW and 14th in the nation in passing offense (302.8 ypg). USU is also fifth in the MW and tied for 36th in the nation in yards per rush (5.1). • Senior WR Jalen Royals is second in the Mountain West and eighth in the nation in receiving (107.7 yards per game), second in the MW and ninth in the nation in receptions (7.3 pg), third in the MW and 18th in the nation in all-purpose yards (127.5 ypg), and third in the MW and 22nd in the nation in receiving touchdowns with five (0.80 pg). • For his career, senior WR Jalen Royals has caught 115 passes for 1,726 yards and 20 touchdowns and ranks fifth all-time in school history in touchdown receptions, 17th all-time in receiving yards and 20th all-time in receptions. He also has seven-career 100-yard receiving games, which is tied for the ninth-most in school history. • Utah State set a pair of school records in its game against UNLV last weekend as it marked the first time in school history that it had two players with 10-plus receptions and two players with 150- plus receiving yards in the same game as senior WR Jalen Royals had 10 catches for 155 yards and one touchdown and junior WR Jack Hestera had 10 catches for 152 yards and one touchdown. The last time USU had a pair of 100-receivers in the same game was against Fresno State in 2023 with Royals and Terrell Vaughn.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO
• New Mexico is 2-4 on the season and 1-1 in Mountain West play following its 52-37 Mountain West home win against Air Force last weekend. The Lobos are led by sophomore QB Devon Dampier, who is 124-of-212 (.585) passing for 1,488 yards (248.0 ypg) with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Dampier also leads the team in rushing with 382 yards on 51 carries (7.5 ypc/63.7 ypg) and eight touchdowns. Junior WR Luke Wysong has caught a team-best 40 passes for 507 yards (12.7 ypr/84.5 ypg) and one touchdown. Defensively, junior S Christian Ellis has a team-best 47 tackles, which includes 1.5 tackles for loss, while junior S Noah Avinger has 45 tackles, which includes 1.0 tackles for loss. As a team, New Mexico is averaging 35.3 points and 456.7 yards of total offense per game (208.7 rushing, 248.0 passing), and allowing 42.7 points and 498.3 yards of total offense (256.3 rushing, 242.0 passing). New Mexico returns eight starters (O-2, D-6) and 32 lettermen (O-11, D-18, S-3) from last year’s team that went 4-8 overall and 2-6 in MW play to finish tied for 10th. Bronco Mendenhall is 137-85 in his 18th season as a collegiate head coach, including a 2-4 record in his first season at New Mexico. Mendenhall is 7-2 all-time against Utah State.
UTAH STATE vs. NEW MEXICO SERIES 11TH-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and New Mexico will be meeting for the 31st time this weekend in what is the 11th-most played series in school history. • Utah State and New Mexico have spent 23 years as league foes as both schools were members of the Skyline Conference from 1951 to 1961, along with its current membership in the Mountain West. The Lobos have been members of the MW since its inception in 1999, while USU joined the league prior to the 2013 season.
Wyoming at San José State*
MWN/NBC Sports Bay Area 1 p.m. PT
Wyoming Notes
Harsh in the Backfield:
Defensive end Sabastian Harsh was all over the backfield for the Cowboys against San Diego State. He recorded a career-high four tackles for loss. The four tackles for loss tied a school record done seven times with the last coming from Youhanna Ghaifan against Texas State in 2017. It also tied for the most by a MW player this season and tied for the second most by a player in the nation this season. He leads Wyoming with eight tackles for loss this season. That number ranks second in the MW and No. 22 in the nation.
Offense Gets Going Again:
The Cowboys offense once again recorded a season-high on Saturday. After recording a season-best against Air Force Wyoming rushed for a season-high 190 yards and passed for 191 yards for 381 yards of total offense. UW also ran a season best 72 total plays in the game against SDSU. Wyoming had 361 yards in the win over Air Force.
Svoboda Makes Plays with Arm and Legs:
Quarterback Evan Svoboda threw for a career-high 191 yards against SDSU. He threw a season long 70-yard strike for a touchdown for the longest pass of the season. He also recorded a 51-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter for the longest run by a Cowboy this season. Sargent Scores First Touchdown: Wide receiver Jaylen Sargent recorded a 70-yard touchdown reception against SDSU. It was the first of his career and the longest reception of his career. He added two catches, tying a career-high and recorded a career-high 84 yards receiving in the contest. The 70-yard strike was the longest since John Michael Gyllenborg had a 89 yard reception against Hawai’i last season in Laramie.
Defense In the Backfield:
Wyoming’s defense was in the backfield all night against SDSU. Wyoming tied a season-high with 10 tackles for loss in the contest. UW had nine tackles for loss against Idaho earlier this season. UW has 36 this season averaging 6.0 per game for the season. Harsh led the team with four and Dante Drake recorded 1.5 for a career-high along with linebacker Shae Suiaunoa. Another Strong Third Quarter: The cowboy defense had another strong third quarter. UW allowed only 21 yards of total offense in the quarter. UW allowed only 21 yards to Air Force in the third quarter the previous game.
Rushing Defense Stands Out:
The Cowboy defense was solid against one of the nation’s top backs against SDSU. Marquez Cooper averaged nearly 116 yards per game but was held to 87 yards on 27 carries. UW allowed only 102 yards on the ground for a season low.
The Veterans on the Defensive Line:
The Wyoming defense line has a great mix of both veterans and newcomers. The group of defensive ends Sabastian Harsh, Braden Siders, DeVonne Harris, Tyce Westland and Jordan Bertagnole have combined for 89.5 tackles for loss in their careers. Bertagnole leads the group with 24.5 with Siders adding 22 in his career. DeVonne Harris has recorded 19 in the Brown and Gold with Harsh having 17. Westland recorded seven in his young career.
About San Jose State
The Spartans (4-2 overall, 2-1 Mountain West), coming off a 31-24 loss at Colorado State, are 3-0 at home this season, including a thrilling 35-31 victory over Nevada on Oct. 5 at CEFCU Stadium. SJSU has been using a two-quarterback system this season. Sophomore starter Emmett Brown has completed 59% of his passes this season for 1,551 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions while junior Walker Eget has completed 71.1% of his passes for 397 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. The Spartans have a Biletnikoff Award candidate in quarterback turned wide receiver Nick Nash who leads the Mountain West with 62 receptions for 806 yards and 10 touchdowns. During SJSU’s 27-21 win over Wyoming in 2021, Nash started at QB and finished with 150 yards passing and a touchdown and rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, junior linebacker Jordan Pollard leads the MW with 60 tackles and junior defensive back DJ Harvey returned a fumble for an 85-yard touchdown and also had an interception, a sack and seven tackles against the Rams. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 7-6 but are looking to stop a two-game losing streak to the Spartans. UW’s last win in San Jose was a 45-22 romp in 1996 on the way to a 10-2 overall finish. The first meeting between the programs was in 1959 when Bob Davaney’s Pokes prevailed 28-7 in San Jose.
San José State Notes
OPENING DRIVE
• The defending co-regular season Mountain West champions look for their fourth bowl game in the last five years and a third bowl game in a row. • The Spartans are 10-3 in their last 13 games overall and are 8-1 in their last nine conference games. • At 4-2, the Spartans have the best record out of every California FBS school. • The Spartans have won seven bowl games ever; new head coach Ken Niumatalolo has six bowl wins as a head coach. • The Spartans had 11 first-time FBS starters in their game vs. Sac State (8/29/24), which was the fifth most in the country. The Spartans have started 19 first-time FBS starters through six games, the country’s third-most. • The Spartans have seven home games for the first time since 2006 and are 13-2 in their last 15 games at CEFCU Stadium and 19-5 at CEFCU Stadium since 2020. • The Spartans had five takeaways against Sac State (8/29/24), which was the most takeaways for SJSU since having six against New Mexico on Oct. 4, 2019. • SJSU has forced 15 turnovers this season, which is good for third in the nation. The Spartans’ 10 interceptions are good for third in the nation and second in the Mountain West. • The Spartans’ +4 turnover margin is good for third in the conference and 25th in the nation. • Against Nevada (10/5/24), the Spartans had no turnovers for the first time this season. • This season, Nick Nash leads all FBS players outright in receptions (62), receptions per game (10.3) and receiving touchdowns (10). Nash is the third FBS player since 1996 to have 50+ receptions and 8+ touchdown receptions through the team’s first four games of the season (Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree in 2007 and Louisiana Tech’s Troy Edwards in 1998). • Nash is second in FBS in receiving yards per game (134.3) and second in the country with 806 receiving yards. • Nash was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week (9/16/24) following his career-high17 receptions for a career-best 225 yards with three touchdown catches in the game. It was the second time in his career Nash has caught three touchdown passes in a game (8/26/23 at No. 6 USC). • Nash is second in SJSU history with 19 receiving touchdowns and has only been a true wide receiver for 20 games. • Nash has a touchdown reception in six consecutive games, which ties the SJSU record with Bailey Gaither, who set the record in 2019. • Nash broke the SJSU regular-season reception record of 15 against Kennesaw State with 17 receptions (9/14/24) set by Tuati Wooden (vs. Tulsa, 2003), Steven Pulley (vs. Stanford, 1999), and Guy Liggins (vs. Fresno State, 1986). • Nash had 17 (9/14/24 vs. Kennesaw State) and 16 receptions (9/20/24 at WSU). The 17 receptions are tied for the most for an FBS wide receiver in a single game this season. • Pro Football Focus (PFF) has Nash ranked as the third-best wide receiver in the country with a grade of 89.2. • Nash also threw his first touchdown pass since Oct. 30, 2021, and the 11th of his career when he found Jacob Stewart for a 26-yard score (8/29/24 vs. Sac State). Nash is the first non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass for the Spartans since Tre Walker threw a 54-yard touchdown pass in 2017 against San Diego State. • Nash is only the third FBS player in the last three years to throw a passing touchdown and have two receiving touchdowns in the same game (KJ Concepcion of NC State in 2023 and Xavier Worthy of Texas in 2022). • Nash threw his second touchdown pass of the season against Nevada (10/5/24). • According to Stats Perform, Nash is the first Mountain West player to have at least 10 receiving touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in a season. The last FBS player to have such a season was North Carolina’s Quinshad Davis in 2013.
• The Spartans have the best passing offense in the Mountain West and are eighth in the country with 1990 yards, which is 331.7 yards per game. • Only one game this season the Spartans haven’t hit 324 or more yards passing. • The Spartans’ most passing yards in a game last year was 325. • Emmett Brown started for the first time in his SJSU career (Sac State 8/29/24) and threw for 298 yards which is the most since Clint Carlson in 2001, who threw for 366 yards against Texas-El Paso in his first SJSU start. • Brown is at the top of the Mountain West, eighth in the country with 16 passing touchdowns, and third in the MW, and 28th in the country with 1,551 passing yards. He is also second in the conference with a 146.5 passing efficiency which is good for 44th in the nation. • Brown threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns against Kennesaw State (9/14/24). The 355 yards passing were the most for the Spartans since Dec. 20, 2022, when Chevan Cordeiro threw for 366 yards, and the four touchdown passes were the most for the Spartans since Cordeiro against Utah State (11/19/22). • Jordan Pollard led the Spartans with a career-high 17 tackles against Air Force (9/7/24) on his way to winning his first Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week award (9/9/24). • Pollard’s 17 tackles in the game are the seventh most in a game this season. • Pollard has 60 total tackles this season to lead the Mountain West and 11th in the country. • Pollard also had his first career carry at Wash. State (9/20/24) thanks to a fake punt as he ran nine yards for the first down. • Niumatalolo won his first game at SJSU with a 42-24 win over Sac. State (8/29/24), and he is the first SJSU head coach to win his SJSU debut since Ron Caragher in 2013, also against Sac State and one of three to win their first game at SJSU this century. • Niumatalolo’s 42 points scored in the win over Sac. State (8/29/24) were the most for an SJSU head coach in their debut since Jack Elway had 48 in a tie against Utah State on Sept. 8, 1979. • Soane Toia continues to be one of the top-graded defensive tackles in the country by PFF with a 79.5 and he was named to their week two college football team of the week. • DJ Harvey had an 85-yard fumble return for his first career touchdown, his first ever fumble recovery, his first career sack, plus his second career interception with seven tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss against Colorado St. (10/12/24). • Harvey is the 19th-ranked cornerback in the country according to PFF with an 82.5 grade. • Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Derrick Odum is one of two coaches to stay on staff (Wide Receivers Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Kevin McGiven). Odum is going into his eighth season as defensive coordinator at SJSU which is the fourth longest stint for an FBS defensive coordinator currently in the country behind Iowa’s Phil Parker (13), Iowa State’s Jon Heacock (9), and Utah’s Morgan Scalley (9). Odum is the only one with two different head coaches. • Odum was named the MW coordinator of the week by 247 Sports following the Spartans first ever win at Air Force (9/7/24) while holding the Falcons offense to 197 yards, one touchdown; and only 54 passing yards. • The Spartans have 41 tackles for loss which is good for third in the Mountain West and 25th in the nation. • Kicker Kyler Halvorsen has made 63 extra points in a row which is an SJSU record. • The Spartans recovered a successful onside kick at Washington State (9/20/24). Last season the Spartans recovered three onside kicks. • SJSU’s tight ends have combined for 29 catches and three touchdowns this season to lead the conference. SJSU’s 296 yards receiving from their tight ends this season is good for tops in the conference. • The Spartans have three Friday games this season, which is the most for the Spartans since 2013, ironically they also ended the regular season with Friday home games on Nov. 22 and Nov. 29. On 11/22/13 the Spartans hosted Ken Niumatalolo and Navy at CEFCU Stadium. • Eleven of the Spartans’ 12 regular season games will be on national television including their second season in a row hosting a CBS nationally televised game. It’s the most nationally televised regular season games for the Spartans since 2021. • The last time the Spartans had three home games to finish the season was in 1979. • Redshirt senior wide receiver Justin Lockhart was named to the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list earlier this offseason. Lockhart didn’t play in 2023 due to an injury and in 2022 he had 36 receptions for 578 yards and a touchdown in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl which was the top play on SportCenter that evening. Lockhart scored his first touchdown of the 2024 season against Sac State (8/29/24). • SJSU is the only school in the Mountain West Conference playing both Oregon State and Washington State on the road. Boise State is playing both but at home. • From the 2023 season, only two players who scored offensive touchdowns last season (Nash, Malikhi Miller). SJSU also returns two players who scored special teams touchdowns a season ago (Matthew Coleman, Justin Stearns). Defensively, the Spartans return one player who scored a touchdown last season (Michael Dansby). Miller hasn’t played in a game this season for the Spartans. • The Spartans have 49 new players this season, which ranks 30th in FBS football. Included in the 49 new players are 30 transfers which ranks 14th most in FBS football. • The Spartans have 52 returning players which puts them only behind North Texas (46) and Colorado (51) for the fewest returning players in FBS football. • SJSU has only 14 players in their final year of eligibility which is tied for third with Iowa State in the country behind Troy (12) and Illinois (12). • Out of the 14 players in their final year of eligibility, only four played their entire career at SJSU. Only Troy (0), SDSU (1), Colorado (1), ODU (3), and Colorado (3) have less. • The Spartans have 101 players on the roster this season which is near the lowest in FBS, last season it was 106. • SJSU had 28 players jump in the transfer portal with half of them ending up at FBS schools and eight going to power four schools. • The Spartans played a very competitive MW schedule last season by playing the teams who finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th & 8th in the conference. The Spartans finished second. This season the Spartans play the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 12th place ranked teams in the MW preseason poll plus Washington State and Oregon State on the road. • SJSU rushed for 200 plus yards in four straight games for the first time since 2000 prior to SDSU (11/18/23) and ran for 200 or more yards six times in 2023 which was the most since 2000 as well. The Spartans have gone 13-0 when rushing over 200 yards since 2017.
• Nash led the Spartans last season with 48 receptions for 728 yards and eight touchdowns. No other wide receiver had more than one touchdown last season and the closest to catches was 26 with 347 yards. • Nash is going into his sixth season at SJSU as he started his career as a quarterback here. Even though he was part of the 2019 class, Nash is 25 years old and isn’t even in the top 18 oldest players in college football. The oldest player in college football is Luke Larsen at ECU who is 32 yards old and born on 7/18/92. Last season was the first time since 1986-87 the Spartans had been to back-to-back bowl games. • Nash earned his first Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week honors following his three touchdown performance against No. 6 USC (8/26/23) and his second touchdown was the No. 2 play on SportsCenter. • The Spartans’ worst loss last season was to Boise State who went 8-6 (.571). Four of the Spartans’ six losses a year ago were either to teams who won their conference championship game or were in the Pac-12. • In January of 2024, Beca Perez became the first female Director of Player Personnel in SJSU history. She is one of two female DPP’s currently in FBS college football (Zaire Turner – Notre Dame). • Perez started her football career at SJSU as student assistant in 2018 and graduated from SJSU in 2020. Perez also spent time at Army (2022) and most recently at Stanford (2023), where she worked for a year as the Assistant Director of Recruiting for Stanford football. • In 2021, Perez was the recipient of the Women’s Sports Foundation Scott Pioli & Family Fund for Women Football Coaches and Scouts. This is given annually to female football coaches and scouts to defy the gender gap and support their development, education, and training. • Last season, the Spartans had the 14th best pass defense in the nation and best pass defense in the MW averaging just 183.0 yards per game. Against Sac State (8/29/24) the Spartans had six pass breakups. • Last season was the first time the Spartans had ever hosted two ranked teams in the same season and the first since 2018 they had played three ranked teams in the same season. • Redshirt sophomore Matthew Coleman returned his first career punt for a 75-yard touchdown against Cal Poly (9/9/23). Coleman was named MW Freshman of the Week and it was the first punt return TD for the Spartans since Tre Jenkins took one back against Utah State on Nov. 10, 2018. • In 2023, it was the first time the Spartans have had seven or more wins in back-to-back seasons since 1987 and in three of four seasons since 1982. • Since 2020, the Spartans have gone 30-21 (23-11 in conference). From 2020-23, it was the best four year span for the Spartans since winning 26 games from 2012-15. • The Spartans have five Polynesian coaches on their 2024 staff. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann, offensive line coach John Estes, inside linebackers coach Bojay Filimoeatu, defensive line coach Al Lapuaho and senior offensive analyst Billy Ray Stutzmann. • Estes, Filimoeatu and Lapuaho all spent time in the NFL as players. Craig Stutzmann played in the CFL. • Estes played with Hawai’i great Colt Brennan during his collegiate career. Niumatalolo and both Stutzmann brothers also played at Hawai’i. • Offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Craig Stutzmann comes from Texas State where he was one of six finalists for FootballScoop’s National Wide Receivers Coach of the Year last season running his “Spread-and-Shred” offense. Stutzmann also served as a member of the Green Bay Packers Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program in the summer of 2022. • Tight ends coach/run game coordinator Mike Judge comes from the Miami Dolphins where he was an offensive assistant since 2019. Judge started his career under Bill Belichick in 2005 with the New England Patriots. • Cornerbacks coach Greg Burns joins the Spartans from UCLA where he was on the coaching staff since 2021 as a defensive analyst. Burns has been a defensive backs coach for over 20 years, including recent duties on staff at not only UCLA, but Oregon State in 2018, USC in 2019 and in 2020 at Arizona. Burns’ brother, Dexter, played football at SJSU in the 1990’s.
Colorado State at Air Force*
CBSSN 6 p.m. MT
THE SERIES
• Air Force leads the overall series, 39-21-1, including a 28-15 mark in conference games. • The Falcons are 22-11-1 at home and 17-10 at Colorado State. • Air Force has won seven straight and 15 of the last 17 in the series. • Air Force has won nine straight at Falcon Stadium dating back to 2002. • Air Force and Colorado State did not play in 2020 due to COVID, snapping a streak of 42 consecutive years of games dating back to 1978. • Air Force defeated Colorado State, 30-13, last season in Fort Collins. • Air Force defeated Colorado State, 24-12, in 2022 in the last game in Falcon Stadium. • The teams first played in 1957 in Colorado Springs, resulting in a 20-7 Colorado State win.
Colorado State Notes
NOTING THE RAMS
• The Rams are in year three under head coach Jay Norvell who was named the program’s 24th head coach on Dec. 6, 2021. Norvell led his former program, Nevada, onto Sonny Lubick Field in the 2021 finale on Nov. 27 and returned to Fort Collins nine days later as the Rams’ new head coach. • The Rams are seeking their first bowl game since 2017, and first under Norvell. Over his five years in Reno (2017-21), Norvell compiled four-straight seven-plus win seasons and led the Wolf Pack to four bowl games. • Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton is on the brink of breaking the Mountain West’s all-time record for receiving yards. Horton – who racked up 995 yards in two seasons at Nevada before transferring to CSU – needs just 34 yards to pass former Ram Rashard Higgins’ record of 3,649 set in 2015. • Colorado State set a Canvas Stadium – and program – record with 40,099 fans in attendance for the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sept. 14. It also marked back-to-back sellouts after Ram Nation turned out for the home opener against Northern Colorado on Sept. 7. • CSU’s offensive line is full of experience, including the Mountain West’s most seasoned player in center Jacob Gardner (51 starts in 51 career games). Gardner and the Rams’ front unit allowed just 14 sacks last season – tied for 11th in the nation – and have allowed just eight through six games in 2024 (tied for 40th). • The Rams will play seven games at home for the first time in program history in 2024, highlighted by a pair of rivalry matchups in the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado (Sept. 14) and The Border War against Wyoming (Nov. 15). The last time both rivals were in Fort Collins the same season was in 1996.
NOTING THE GAME
• Colorado State travels to face Air Force for the 62nd edition of the in-state rivalry. The Rams have been bested in each of the last seven meetings and have not won at Falcon stadium since 2002. The Falcons own a 38-22-1 lead in the series all-time and have won 15 of the last 17 meetings. • A Colorado State victory would do several things in addition to snapping the seven-game losing streak against Air Force. A Rams win would give the team a winning record for the first time since the 2017 season and would also improve the Green and Gold to 2-0 in conference play for the first time under Norvell. • Expect the ground game to be established early in Saturday’s clash as both teams carry with them a top-55 rushing offense entering the game. The Falcons have long been known for their rushing attack, which is averaging a solid 198.3 yards per game this season, but the Rams have surprised with a 176.5 clip of their own despite their Air Raid offensive scheme.
Air Force Notes
THE GAME
• Air Force leads the overall series vs. Colorado State, 39-21-1, including a 28-15 mark in conference games. The Falcons are 22-11-1 at home and 17-10 at Colorado State. Air Force has won seven straight and 15 of the last 17 in the series. • Air Force and Colorado State compete each year for the Ram-Falcon Trophy. The 2024 season marks 44th year of the trophy competition with Air Force holding a 28-15 lead following a 30-13 win in Fort Collins last season. The Falcons have won seven straight trophy titles. • Air Force is 77-27 in Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun.
LAST TIME IN FALCON STADIUM (Nov. 19, 2022)
• Air Force defeated Colorado State, 24-12, to win for the sixth straight time in the series and ninth straight time at home. The Falcons jumped to a 17-0 halftime lead behind touchdown runs from DeAndre Hughes and Brad Roberts and a 44-yard field goal by Matthew Dapore. John Lee Eldridge III added a touchdown run in the third quarter to make it 24-0, before Colorado State quarterback Clay Millen threw two touchdown passes to make up the final margin. Air Force rolled up 359 total yards, all rushing, and held the ball for 37:29. Roberts led the way, recording career highs of 37 carries for 184 yards and a score. Hughes added a season-high 72 yards and a score while Eldridge added 50 and a score. The Air Force defense was led by Vince Sanford, who had seven tackles and a career-high five tackles for loss, including four sacks. TD Blackmon added eight tackles. The Falcons held Colorado State to 244 total yards and just 22:31 in time of possession. Millen hit 19-of-24 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
THE RAM-FALCON TROPHY
• Air Force and Colorado State compete each year for the Ram-Falcon Trophy. The 2024 season marks 44th year of the trophy competition with Air Force holding a 28-15 lead following a 30-13 win in Fort Collins last season. The Falcons have won seven straight trophy titles. The trophy’s origin is tracked back to Shelly Godkin, a former ROTC commander at Colorado State. He watched the teams play in 1978 and sought to translate his impressions into a trophy symbolic of an annual game. The first Ram-Falcon trophy game was in 1980.
AIR IS RARE
• Falcon Stadium has the second-highest elevation (6,621 ft) among FBS programs, trailing only Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium, which is at 7,220 ft. • Four of the top five elevations belong to Mountain West schools. The MW also has the largest gap among FBS programs, as Hawaii’s T.C. Ching Complex sets at just 18 ft. San Diego State’s Snapdragon Stadium is just 46 ft, and San Jose State’s CEFCU Stadium is at 82 ft
AIR FORCE AT HOME
• Air Force is 77-27 in Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun. • Air Force had a school-record 15-game winning streak from 2014 to Oct. 22, 2016. • Air Force went 20-4 at home from 2014-17, posting the most wins in a four-year span, breaking the record of 19 set from 1982-85 and 1998-2001 when the program went 19-4. • Air Force set a record for the best three-year run from 2014-16 with a 17-1 record, breaking the mark of 15-2 from 1983-85. • The Falcons have finished undefeated at home six times overall in school history, four coming under Calhoun.
UNLV at Oregon State
The CW 7 p.m. PT
REBELS vs. BEAVERS NOTES…
The Rebels are 3-2 all-time vs. Oregon State but meet the Beavers for the first time since 2009 and for the first time in Corvallis since John Robinson’s UNLV squad traveled to face Dennis Erickson’s team in 2002 … The Rebels are playing a Pac-12 Conference team for the first time since going to then-member California in 2022 … Because of the one-year scheduling agreement between the two leagues, UNLV is the fourth of a total of seven Mountain West teams the Beavers will face this fall … UNLV WR coach Del Alexander coached the same position at OSU from 2003-04 … OSU DC Keith Heyward filled the same position at UNLV in 2022 … OSU STC Jamie Christian coached the Rebel RBs from 2015-16 … OSU ILB coach AJ Cooper, who was an all-state player at Canyon Springs HS, is the son of UNLV Dir. of Player Development & Community Engagement and UNLV Athletics Hall of Famer Hunkie Cooper
UNLV Notes
SATURDAY’S PREVIEW…
Finishing its only back-to-back road trips of the season, first-place No. RV/RV UNLV (5-1/2-0) closes out its non-conference schedule by traveling to Oregon State (4-2/0-0) for the first time in 22 years … The game will be televised nationally on The CW Network … The Rebels have won their first three road games in a season for the first time ever and set a school record last week with their fifth-straight road victory, 50-34, at Utah State to stay unbeaten in MW play while the Beavers, who will face opponents from the Silver State in back-to-back weeks, fell at UNR 42-37 … UNLV, which made its first-ever appearance in the Coaches Poll on Sept. 15 (reaching as high as No. 23) and then joined the AP version for the first time one week later, is receiving votes in both polls this week … UNLV, which is 5-1 for the second straight season, won its first four games this fall for the first time since 1984 when Randall Cunningham was playing QB … With a win at Houston and a victory at Kansas, UNLV became the first non-conference team ever to have multiple road wins against Big 12 competition in the same season … The 14 wins in 20 games under head coach Barry Odom represent the most victories over any two-season span since the Rebels went a combined 16-7-1 in 1984 and ‘85 … The Rebels are 13-0 under Odom when leading after the third quarter … UNLV is tied with James Madison for the national lead in turnover margin at plus-12 as the Rebel defense has forced at least one turnover in 19 of 20 games under DC Michael Scherer … This week’s MW Defensive Player of the Week, LB Jackson Woodard, leads the nation with 1.8 passes defended per game after posting a total of five at USU on Friday (2 INT, 3 PBU) … The Rebels have scored an eye-popping 67 total points off turnovers while allowing just seven such points from opponents.
MORE REBELATIONS…
UNLV is posting a historic season on the scoreboard as its 45.3 points-per-game average represents the highest number during any six-game stretch in program history … The school record for points per game during a season is 34.9 in 1980 … Under the current coaching staff, the Rebels have scored at least 40 points 12 times in 20 games and their three games scoring at least 50 points this season is only matched by the 1974 and 1980 squads … The Rebels rank second in the Mountain West in scoring defense at 22.7 points allowed per game (55th nationally) and second in offensive scoring with an average of 45.3 PPG (fourth nationally) … The 41 points UNLV scored in the first half at USU last week were the most scored in any half by the Rebels vs. an FBS opponent … The 59 points scored vs. Fresno State represented the most UNLV has ever scored against a conference opponent in a regulation game. The Rebels finished with 69 vs. Wyoming in a triple-overtime affair in 2016 at Sam Boyd Stadium … After limiting half of its six opponents to less than 70 yards rushing, UNLV sits first in the MW and 20th nationally with 99.0 yards allowed per outing … UNLV also leads the league in pass efficiency and sits third in pass efficiency defense … UNLV WR Ricky White III has 27 receptions for 400 yards and five TDs in the last three games and has gone for at least 100 yards in nine of his last 11 regular-season games … After bringing in eight in the last three games, the Rebs are tied with Minnesota and Cal for the national lead with 13 team interceptions. In fact, since the beginning of 2022, UNLV’s defense has 45 interceptions, which is the most in the FBS during that span (Oklahoma is second with 43) … In his first game after transferring from Texas, UNLV safety Jalen Catalon brought in two interceptions at UH, including one he tipped to himself and returned 36 yards for a touchdown. He is now tied for second in the nation with four picks on the year (coincidentally, the only player with more is former Rebel Nohl Williams of Cal who has six) … One of the three players Catalon is tied with is UNLV LB Jackson Woodard, who has four this year and five in his 21 games as a Rebel … Cameron Oliver had one of the four interceptions vs. Fresno State, which was the 11th of his career and tied him for fourth place in UNLV history … The Rebels earned two victories over “P4” opponents in the same season for the first time since winning at Arizona State and vs. Iowa State — both in overtime — in back-to-back weeks in September 2008 … The Rebels are 7-2 in true road games under head coach Barry Odom after only winning five total road games in the previous five seasons (5-22) … Odom also has a 6-2 record in non-conference games during the regular season at UNLV after the Rebels only had a combined six such wins from 2018-22 (6-10) … The Rebels listed a school-record 111 players on the Week One roster and 53 of them were not on the team a year ago. That’s actually down from 55 new faces last season. The numbers include incoming high school and JC signees, walk-ons and portal additions … The Rebels had made 156 straight extra points dating back to 2020 before Caden Chittenden’s miss at USU on a play that saw the freshman suffer an injury. In that same game, Chittenden broke the school record for field goals in a season by a freshman as his 13-of-15 numbers bested the 11 three-pointers by Sergio Aguayo in 2004. Chittenden sits tied for second in the nation with 2.17 field goals per game … Barry Odom’s second UNLV coaching staff includes just one new assistant coach — and even he is not new to the program as first-year safeties coach Nicco Fertitta served as UNLV’s defensive analyst in 2023 … Not counting blocks, UNLV has not returned a punt for a touchdown in 23 years — the longest drought in the nation. The last Rebel to do it was Troy Mason, who went 52 yards vs. San Diego State on Oct. 13, 2001, at Sam Boyd Stadium … However, when Jai’Den Thomas went 90 yards into the end zone vs. Fresno State, UNLV snapped a 13-year drought by returning a kickoff for a score for the first time since Deante “Never Nervous” Purvis sprinted 98 yards to the end zone vs. Colorado State on Oct. 29, 2011 … Ray Guy Award candidate Marshall Nichols finished with the second-highest season punting average in school history last fall as his 47.1 yards per attempt ranked sixth in the nation and sat only slightly behind 1984 All-American Randall Cunningham’s 47.5 rate. Nichols is averaging a robust 42.9 this season, which would rank 42nd in the nation if he had enough attempts to qualify for the NCAA stats. Nichols’ career average of 43.9 ranks fifth in Mountain West career history.
Oregon State Notes
Game Notes
• Oregon State returns to Corvallis for a homecoming game under the lights when the Beavers host UNLV Saturday at Reser Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. PT. • The game will air live on The CW. Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst) and Heidi Watney (sideline) will call the action. • The game will air live on the Beaver Sports Radio Network. For a list of affiliates, turn to page two of these notes. • Every game this season can be heard live on the Varsity Network, a free application available via computer browsers, smartphones and tablets. After downloading the application, search for Oregon State. • The matchup marks just the sixth all-time between the teams and first since a 23-21 win by the Beavers in Las Vegas in 2009. It’s the first meeting in Corvallis since 2002 when Oregon State won, 47-17.
Oregon State By The Numbers
8 – Catches for 136 yards by Jermaine Terry II the last two games after going without a catch over the first four games of the season.
12 – Rushing scores for Anthony Hankerson, which ranks fourth nationally and is one shy of the top-eight for a single-season at Oregon State.
21 – Rushing touchdowns overall, tied for sixth nationally.
35 – First downs gained against Nevada, the most since tallying 42 in 2012 versus Nicholls State. 36:10 – National-best time of possession on average, more than a minute ahead of No. 2 Utah’s 34:58.
50 – Career starts by Joshua Gray, now tied with Roy Schuening (2004-07) for the most ever by a Beaver.
55.6 – OSU success rate on third down, fourth-best nationally. 348 – Passing yards by Gevani McCoy at Nevada, the first Beaver QB over 300 since 2021.
Against UNLV
• Oregon State and UNLV are meeting for the sixth time, but the first since 2009 when OSU won, 23-21, in Las Vegas. • Saturday’s game marks the first meeting in Corvallis since the Beavers won, 47-17. • UNLV won the first three games in the series, in 1983, 1990 and 1991 to hold a 3-2 all-time lead. UNLV is also 2-1 in games played in Corvallis. • Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 166 yards and a score in the 2009 matchup. • Derek Anderson passed for 356 yards and five touchdowns in the 2002 game. James Newson accounted for seven catches, 167 yards and a touchdown in the win. All five of Anderson’s touchdown passes went to different receivers. • The Beaver defense limited UNLV to 236 yards, including 76 passing, in the 2022 victory.
MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ASHTON JEANTY, BOISE STATE
Junior, Running Back Jacksonville, Fla./Lone Star (Texas) HS
Ran for 217 yards and a touchdown and matched his career high with 31 carries in Boise State’s 28-7 win at Hawai‘i. Also had his first receiving TD of the year, a 5-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Unleashed a 54-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, his eighth of 50 yards or more this season. Accumulated 156 yards after contact and forced eight missed tackles. Turned in his third 200-yard rushing game of the season and fifth of his career, both good for fourth in MW history.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JACKSON WOODARD, UNLV
Senior, Linebacker Little Rock, Ark./ Little Rock Christian HS/Arkansas
Recorded 12 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in UNLV’s 50-34 win over Utah State. Accounted for five passes defended, adding three breakups to his two INTs. Recovered a Utah State fumble in the second quarter for his first takeaway of the day, leading to a Rebel touchdown. On UNLV’s next possession, he grabbed his first INT of the day and returned it 25 yards, setting up another Rebel TD. Ended another USU drive in the second half, intercepting a pass at the UNLV 34- yard line, leading to a field goal.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JORDAN NOYES, COLORADO STATE
Graduate, Kicker Dartford, Kent, England/ Gad’s Hill/Utah
Scored seven points in Colorado State’s 31-24 win over San José State, connecting on a field goal and four extra-point attempts. Converted a career-long 58-yard field goal with 8:35 left in the fourth quarter to put the Rams up 24-14. The field goal was the third-longest in MW history and the fourth-longest in CSU history.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
DANNY O’NEIL, SAN DIEGO STATE
Freshman, Quarterback Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS
Led San Diego State to a 27-24 win at Wyoming, completing 16 of his 27 passes for a career-best 254 yards and a touchdown. Threw for 146 yards and the TD in the second half. Had consecutive big plays early in the fourth quarter to help the Aztecs tie the score at 24, completing a 53-yard pass on a third-and-10 play before connecting on a 27-yard scoring pass. Led SDSU to a field goal on the ensuing drive, which proved to be the winning margin.
