LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV (3-0) defeated a Big Ten Conference team for the first time in 22 years and
Dan Mullen became the first head coach to win his first three games at the school since 1976 as the Rebels downed
UCLA (0-2), 30-23, Saturday night before a crowd of 36,117 fans at Allegiant Stadium.
UNLV improved to 10-2 since the start of the 2023 season vs. non-conference opponents by building a huge lead and doing just enough late in the game to post the win.
Ramon Villela started off the scoring with a 50-yard field goal, and three different Rebels found the end zone as the home team raced to a 23-0 lead in the second quarter. The Bruins, who were playing at UNLV for just the second time and first time since 2015, added a field goal to make it 23-3 at halftime. The Bruins scored the first 10 points of the second half before the Rebels scored their only points after the break with
Anthony Colandrea's 17-yard scoring toss to tight end
Var'Keyes Gumms. UCLA pulled within a touchdown late and was driving for the potential game-tying score when senior linebacker
Marsel McDuffie tipped a pass attempt and safety
Aamaris Brown corralled the interception to secure the victory.
REBEL OF THE GAME:
Quarterback
Anthony Colandrea was efficient again, completing 71-percent of his passes (15 of 21) for 203 yards and three touchdown passes, which tied his career high (did it twice at Virginia). He added 59 net yards on 11 rushing attempts.
STAT OF THE GAME:
Aamaris Brown's game-sealing interception was his third pick in three games of 2025.
QUOTABLE:
"Our offense really showed up tonight. It was a really efficient, good first half. We got out of rhythm in the second half, but they did a good job with getting us out rhythm, holding onto the ball in the second half, and being able to stay on the field. But we did what we needed to do to finish the game out at the end. Couldn't be more proud of our guys.
One of the biggest factors (in the win), not just our guys, and the belief and effort they played with, but obviously the fans, the stadium. I think a couple of their penalties were caused by the fans and the noise that was created. Thank you to all the UNLV fans and the city of Las Vegas. That was a big-time college football atmosphere. That's what we are trying to bring here to the city and for everyone in this city. That was a huge win, not just for this team and for UNLV, but that was a huge win for the city of Las Vegas. And especially a West Coast win like that."
-UNLV Head Coach Dan Mullen
NOTABLE:
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Ramon Villela kicked the 23rd field goal in school history that went at least 50 yards
-Tight end
Nick Elksnis, a senior who previously played at Florida and South Carolina, came into the game with zero career catches and finished with two receptions for 32 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown
-Former Texas and ASU WR
Troy Omeire caught his first TD as a Rebel, making a highlight-reel catch from 21 yards out
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Keyvone Lee, who played at Mississippi State and Penn State, scored his first TD as a Rebel, running it in from 19 yards out to make the score 23-0 (PAT failed)
-Former Alabama and Georgia safety
Jake Pope led all tacklers with 11 total on the night
-Starting UNLV OL
Alani Makihele, who played his first three seasons for the Rebels before transferring to UCLA and then returning to UNLV for 2025, served as a game captain for the home team
-UCLA is the second-closest FBS school to Las Vegas with USC being just a handful of miles closer
-UNLV is scheduled to return this game at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 6, 2031
-Dan Mullen is the first UNLV coach to start his career in Las Vegas 3-0 since Tony Knap started 4-0 in 1976
-The 23 first-half points were the most ever scored by UNLV vs. a Big Ten opponent in a regulation half and the 30 total points were also the most vs. a team from the conference
-UNLV improved to 16-14 all-time at Allegiant Stadium after winning 12 of its last 16 outings in its new home
-UNLV has scored at least 20 points in each of its last 25 regular-season games. That's a school-record and the second-longest such streak in the FBS
-The Rebels secured a fumble to go with their INT to win the turnover battle 2-0
-UNLV came into the game with a 2-16 vs. teams that were members of the Big Ten with both of those victories coming vs. Wisconsin
UP NEXT: After the first of three bye weeks, UNLV will close out its non-conference schedule with a first-ever trip to Miami University in Ohio. The next Rebel home game is not until October 11 vs. Air Force at 12:30 pm.
