Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 22, 2022 43 GAME PREVIEW: UNLV 1. Ground-Based Offense UNLV has found much of its success on offense by running the ball. The Rebels had 13 rushing touchdowns entering Week 7, which tied for 30th nationally. Junior running back Aidan Robbins, a transfer from Louisville, ranked 15th in attempts per game (19.5) and had rushed for 561 yards (4.8 yards per carry) with 8 touchdowns heading into UNLV's game against Air Force Oct. 15. Robbins is the primary ground threat, but sophomore quarterback Doug Brumfield can also hurt defenses with his legs. Remove 12 sacks, and he rushed for 202 yards on 36 carries with 5 touchdowns in the first six games. Junior Courtney Reese, the No. 2 running back, is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. 2. Defensive Improvement UNLV's defense ranked 100th or worse nationally in yards per play every year from 2017-21 and all but four seasons between 2010-21. The Rebels' best finish in that category came back in 2013 — their only winning season since 2001 — at 79th. This season, though, they rank 68th at 5.51 yards per play. That's still an av- erage spot, all told, but it's respectable enough to take some pressure off an offense that averaged 32.7 points through the first half of the season. UNLV allowed more than 30 points once in its first six games — a 40-7 loss to San Jose State Oct. 7. It allowed just three more points to Cal in a 20-14 loss Sept. 10 than Notre Dame did against the Golden Bears in a 24-17 win Sept. 17. UNLV ranked 25th in sacks per game (2.67) and 27th in opponent third- down conversion rate (31.17) through six games. The Rebels were also 13th in turnovers forced (12) and second in interceptions (11). They had a plus-8 turnover margin at the midpoint of the season, which was tied for ninth best. Big plays have been one weakness, though. UNLV allowed 15 gains of at least 30 yards in its first six games, which ranked 112th. 3. Overall Resurgence UNLV has been one of the FBS' least successful programs this century and since moving to Division I in 1978. The Rebels have just one 10-win season, which came in 1984 as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association with quarterback Randall Cunningham at the helm. Cunningham went on to play 16 years in the NFL and was a first-team All-Pro in 1998. That season was later vacated as a result of NCAA penalties. As far as history, that's about it. UNLV has lost at least 10 games in five sea- sons since 2010. It has played in just four bowl games, with the most recent appearance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl after a 7-6 season in 2013. The Rebels lost that game to North Texas. They finished .500 or better just six times in the last 40 seasons entering 2022. Third-year head coach Marcus Arroyo, though, has the Rebels tracking toward a bowl game after a 2-10 season last year. They were 4-2 through six games and are in search of their fourth .500-or-better finish in conference play since joining the Mountain West in 1999. — Patrick Engel Junior running back Aidan Robbins has become UNLV's lead rusher in his first season after transferring from Louisville. PHOTO COURTESY UNLV Three Things To Know About UNLV