UNLV football wilts in Texas heat in blowout loss to Mean Green

UNLV football suffered a 44-6 defeat at the hands of North Texas Mean Green on Saturday at DATCU Stadium in Denton, Texas. The loss drops the Rebels to 1-2 as they head into their first bye week of the season. North Texas seized control early in the second half, taking the opening kickoff and marching 75 yards in six plays for a touchdown that extended the lead to 27-3. UNLV’s defense, which had held firm in the first half, began to miss tackles and failed to contain the Mean Green offense. The Rebels’ offensive woes were evident before halftime. Two fumbles gifted North Texas ten points, and a dropped potential touchdown further hampered UNLV. A holding penalty nullified a Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas run to the North Texas three-yard line, forcing UNLV to settle for a field goal. By the end of the second quarter, UNLV trailed 20-3. The team had previously scored at least twenty points in each of its last thirty-six games. In the final moments of the half, UNLV drove to the North Texas seven-yard line. After spiking the ball on first down, Jackson Arnold gained three yards on the ground, followed by a completed pass to Keyan Burnett that approached the end zone. Jaylon Glover was stopped for no gain as the clock expired. North Texas quarterback Tayven Jackson finished the game 15-of-26 passing for 233 yards with two touchdowns and added a rushing score.