5 things to watch as UNLV football opens 2026 season against Memphis

UNLV football opens its 2026 season Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in a Week 0 matchup against the Memphis Tigers. The game marks the start of the Rebels’ pursuit of a fourth consecutive bowl berth and their first Mountain West Conference championship under head coach Dan Mullen. The quarterback competition will be a focal point entering the contest. Mullen has indicated that both Alex Orji and Jackson Arnold will see playing time, but one player is expected to receive a larger share of snaps. In the 2025 season opener versus Idaho State, Anthony Colandrea and Alex Orji shared duties, with Orji taking the initial drive before Colandrea assumed control for the remainder of the game. It remains uncertain whether Mullen will employ a similar rotation against Memphis, an American Athletic Conference opponent, or move closer to a 50/50 split. Junior running back Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas is poised for an expanded role after a 2025 season in which he appeared in all but one contest. Thomas recorded more than 15 carries only once—a snow‑impacted game against Wyoming—and finished three games with 10 or fewer rushing attempts. Despite the limited workload, he surpassed 1,000 rushing yards on 148 carries and added 237 receiving yards on 39 receptions. With the graduation of Keyvone Lee, Thomas’s primary competition for carries will be Jaylon Glover, potentially creating additional opportunities for “The Jet” in the Rebels’ offense. The wide receiver picture lacks a clear answer following the departures of Ricky White and Jaden Bradley. No wide‑receiver replacement has entered the season, leaving several targets available for the new quarterback under center. Returning players Jayden McGee, DeAngelo Irvin and Taeshaun Lyons bring familiarity after a year in Mullen’s system, while transfer Taz Reddicks (Oregon State) aims to help fill the void. Among the returnees, Lyons led UNLV in receptions last season with 16 catches for 241 yards and three touchdowns, trailing only DaeDae Reynolds, Troy Omeire and the departed Bradley. Defensive improvement will be critical if UNLV hopes to contend for a Mountain West title in the reconfigured league. In 2025 the Rebels ranked 89th out of 136 FBS programs in total defense, allowing an average of 28 points and 419 yards per game after Paul Guenther stepped in late to fill the defensive coordinator vacancy. Despite finishing 10‑4 and reaching the Mountain West championship game for the third straight year, four of UNLV’s victories came by a single score. A different outcome in a few of those contests could have altered the final record. If the defense limits the need for high‑scoring affairs, Mullen believes the Rebels have a chance to surpass 10 wins for a third consecutive season. Special teams are expected to receive added emphasis this spring. Mullen said he wants a greater focus on that phase after the departure of Adam Scheier to Florida State. He contends that an advantage in kickoff and punt returns, as well as field‑goal accuracy, can generate extra offensive opportunities and help sustain momentum. Starting kicker Ramon Villela returns after converting 15 of 20 field‑goal attempts last season. Freshman Australian punter Matt Choules will assume punting duties following Cam Brown’s exit.