UNLV's football team secured a spot in the Mountain West Championship with a 38-14 win over Nevada. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams threw three touchdowns in the game. The victory has also raised the possibility of a College Football Playoff berth for the Rebels. Barry Odom, who was dismissed from Missouri five years ago, has led the team to success, putting UNLV in a strong position for national recognition, as reported by News 3 Las Vegas.
Five years after being fired by Missouri, Odom has turned UNLV into a playoff contender. The team is aiming for its second straight postseason appearance with a key game against Boise State on Friday. If UNLV wins and Tulane loses, they’ll have a chance at the College Football Playoff, as stated by KSTP.
Williams stepped in as UNLV’s quarterback after Matthew Sluka left the team, leading the offense with 168 passing yards and 104 rushing yards in a win over Nevada. Linebacker Jackson Woodard added to the victory with a fumble recovery for a touchdown, according to News 3 Las Vegas. Nevada struggled to establish their usual run game, and coach Jeff Choate commented, "That’s a fast team. You could see their team speed really in all three phases, and that’s an area where we’ve got to get better at." With Nevada's season ending, UNLV now focuses on Boise State, hoping to avenge an earlier loss and secure a playoff spot.
