The UNLV Rebels have landed a spot in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll, marking a historic first for the school's football program, per a recent report. According to FOX5 Vegas, the Rebels clinched the No. 23 position, overtaking teams like Memphis and Colorado, concluding a season filled with notable firsts, including their debut in the College Football Playoffs.
Under the leadership of departing head coach Barry Odom, the Rebels achieved an 11-3 record, and though their journey was halted with a 7-21 loss in a Mountain West Championship rematch against Boise State, they bounced back, securing a win over the California Golden Bears in the LA Bowl, as News 3 Las Vegas reported; this season marked a turning point for the Rebels as they carved a place for themselves on the national stage with performances that garnered attention and praise from across the college football landscape.
UNLV's ascent to the final AP Top 25 is a leap forward from its previous high as a No. 2 ranked team in NCAA Division II, prior to their transition to Division 1 in 1978. The last game of their season, a victory against Cal in the LA Bowl, underscored a year of exceptional growth and gained momentum, signifying a shift in the program's trajectory, something UNLV’s athletic department and fans are likely looking forward to building upon with the arrival of new head coach Dan Mullen, whose previous 103-61 record with Florida and Mississippi State is a beacon of hope for a program on the upswing, as per FOX5 Vegas.
With the Rebels' first season-end ranking in school history, Dan Mullen is set to take the reins of a program buzzing with potential, UNLV announced last month following the departure of Odom, who accepted the head coaching position at Purdue after leading the Rebels through a transformative and record-setting season which has dramatically shifted the narrative of UNLV football from underdog to one with a sparked fan interest and a national reputation gaining momentum, looking ahead, the Rebels are now positioned to build on this year's successes under Mullen's guidance.
