UNLV football cannot afford to overlook Mountain West newcomer North Dakota State

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026 | 2 a.m. Editor's note: Este artículo está traducido al español. UNLV will have its hands full Saturday when North Dakota State visits Allegiant Stadium, according to head coach Dan Mullen. “You look statistically, I deliberation they’re close astatine the apical of the scoring discourtesy and scoring defense,” Mullen said. He added that the Bison are ranked No. 1 in the nation for scoring defense, surrendering just 9.8 points per game, while their offense sits in the top 30 nationally with an average of 33.6 points per game. The unit also ranks third in the country for yards allowed per game. “I don’t cognize however they’re not ranked,” helium continued. “They are undefeated, truthful you know, we’re looking astatine it similar a Top-25 squad coming to town.” North Dakota State is making its first appearance in the Mountain West after moving up from the Football Championship Subdivision, where it captured ten national titles between 2011 and 2024. At Mountain West Media Days in July the program’s swagger was unmistakable; winning breeds confidence, and the Bison possess plenty of both. The squad has backed that up: North Dakota State is 5-0 with a pair of shutouts, including a 28-0 victory over Wyoming on Oct. 3 that pushed its conference record to 2-0. Consequently, they enter the contest as 3.5-point favorites at UNLV. “They’re a programme that’s utilized to winning, utilized to winning astatine an highly precocious level, utilized to winning championships,” Mullen said. “They person a batch of homegrown talent, truthful there’s guys that person travel up wrong the program. When you person that, you spot the accordant programme that wins championships twelvemonth successful and twelvemonth out, and that’s what makes them specified a bully shot programme and specified a bully squad this year.” UNLV is no slouch either. The Rebels have appeared in the past three Mountain West championship games and have won 16 of their last 22 contests at Allegiant Stadium. The stadium is likely to show more green and gold than usual, with roughly 10,000 North Dakota State supporters expected. Mullen has repeatedly urged fans to back his team on game day; attendance has topped 30,000 for the first two home contests, and a ticket priced near $50 remains a bargain. Yet the significance of the matchup may not register with some observers because North Dakota State competed in the lower‑tier FCS until this season. Over the past few seasons the Bison have been comparable to the former league champion Boise State. At this juncture they should be regarded as the favorite to claim the Mountain West title and are among a handful of non‑Power Four programs mentioned in the conversation for an at‑large berth in the 12‑team College Football Playoff. UNLV squandered a chance at a playoff spot on Sept. 12 with a dismal performance at North Texas. The blowout loss was likened to the program’s down years, though it was attributed to travel fatigue and brutal game‑day heat. The Rebels had returned from Hawaii just six days earlier and opened the season with four games across four time zones—a rarity in college football. Since then the Rebels have looked as good as advertised. Quarterback Jackson Arnold has found his rhythm, accounting for eight touchdowns in a dual‑ threat attack that will pose a stern test for North Dakota State or any remaining opponent. The defense, much criticized during Mullen’s two‑season tenure, has produced touchdowns and forced turnovers. In the Oct. 3 triumph over Cal it recorded several fourth‑down stops, giving UNLV seven wins in its last nine outings against power‑conference foes. Thus, while North Dakota State has earned Mullen’s praise, it is worth remembering that his squad will be the sternest test on the Bison’s schedule. Mullen lauds the Bison’s defense but omits mention of the opposition they have faced: Jacksonville State, Fordham, Sacramento State and a mediocre Wyoming team; their sole victory over Air Force came by a margin of six points. UNLV has never captured a Mountain West football championship. With Boise State now departed from the