UNLV entered Halloween night as a 24½-point favorite but needed a late defensive stand to put away Northern Illinois, 31-24, at Allegiant Stadium. The Rebels improved to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in Mountain West play, keeping pace with New Mexico and Wyoming atop the conference standings.
Coach Dan Mullen credited the Huskies’ intensity but criticized his own team’s performance, citing six second-half penalties for 75 yards and a lack of strain, particularly on defense in the first half. UNLV allowed a season-high 493 yards, including 253 rushing, but held Northern Illinois to seven second-half points.
Key defensive plays sealed the win: an interception by Mumu Bin-Wahad deep in UNLV territory and a fourth-down stop in the final minutes that allowed the Rebels to run out the clock. Mullen acknowledged the team may have underestimated the 0-8 Huskies, saying, “I don’t think we played real hard. That’s really disappointing. That’s on me.”
Quarterback Jackson Arnold accounted for 350 total yards, completing 19 of 29 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions, while adding 86 rushing yards on 13 carries. He opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Kayden McGee on the first snap. Mullen praised Arnold’s decision-making and ability to make needed plays despite a few missed throws.
The Rebels host Wyoming on Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in a matchup of teams with one or fewer conference losses. Mullen stressed the need to clean up mistakes, noting the slim margin for error in the Mountain West.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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