UNLV Rebels Seek Bowl Berth and Conference Title in Final Stretch

UNLV football enters the final stretch of the 2026 season with both a bowl game and the Mountain West Conference title within reach. The Rebels host the Wyoming Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. A victory would make the team bowl eligible for the fourth straight year.

The current standings place UNLV at 3-1 in conference play. To reach the league championship game, the Rebels must win their next two games. After facing Wyoming, the team travels to Albuquerque, N.M., to play New Mexico on Nov. 14. New Mexico is currently undefeated in conference play and ranked No. 22.

Coach Dan Mullen acknowledged the team's inconsistent performance following the recent win over Northern Illinois. "I don't know if we played real hard. And that's really disappointing," Mullen said after the game. The Rebels trailed in the first half of that contest and managed only seven points in the second half.

Despite the rough stretch, the program is on pace for a historic run. UNLV has never won a Mountain West football championship. The team reached the conference title game three times previously. A win over Wyoming or New Mexico would send the Rebels to a bowl game, marking their fourth appearance in four seasons.

Prior to 2020, when the program moved into Allegiant Stadium, UNLV qualified for a bowl game just four times in its history. Those appearances were the 1984 California Bowl, the 1994 Las Vegas Bowl, the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl, and the Heart of Dallas Bowl following the 2013 season. The current streak represents a significant shift in the program's trajectory.

Mullen is also a candidate for other head coaching positions, including openings at North Carolina State, Maryland, and Florida State. His reputation for developing quarterbacks and recruiting talent keeps his name in contention for major conference jobs. He helped guide Alex Smith, Tim Tebow, Dak Prescott, and Anthony Colandrea to professional success.

The Rebels face a challenging schedule over the next two weeks. Wyoming is 4-1 in league play. New Mexico holds the No. 22 ranking. The outcome of these two games will determine whether UNLV advances to the Mountain West championship game. The team controls its own destiny in the race for the conference title.

Supporters have high expectations for the program after years of improvement. The transition from two-win seasons to 10-win campaigns has raised the standard for success. The next two weeks will test the team's ability to deliver results in high-stakes games. The season concludes with a rivalry matchup against the UNR Runnin' Rebels.