UNLV on track to do something for first time since 1974

With a win over Syracuse on Friday, UNLV would begin its season with a 5-0 record for the very first time since 1974, when it was still a Division II football program.

In addition to beginning the 2024 campaign with a 5-0 record by getting a victory on Friday, the Rebels would also be halfway to finishing a season with at least 10 wins for the first time since 1984, when it went 11-2. UNLV had to forfeit its wins from that season and 1983 due to using ineligible players.

UNLV is in the middle of its second year with Barry Odom as the school’s head coach, and after leading the team to a 9-5 record last season, he’s got the Rebels on track to have another successful year.

Now, some might look at a 9-5 record as not very impressive. But for a UNLV team that has had more seasons in its history with two or fewer wins than ones with at least seven victories, Odom coming in and leading the school to a 9-5 record in his first year is nothing short of outstanding.

The Rebels have been in the headlines recently, but it hasn’t had anything to do with their performance on the actual field.

Before UNLV took on Fresno State last week, starting quarterback Matthew Sluka left the program after alleging that he didn’t receive a payment of $100,000 that he was promised by the school before transferring from Holy Cross.

With Sluka gone, the Rebels turned to FCS transfer Hajj-Malik Williams to take over as the team’s starting quarterback for their matchup against Fresno State.

Williams performed well in his starting debut, throwing for 182 yards and three touchdowns in addition to running for 119 yards and another score in UNLV’s 59-14 win over the Bulldogs.

This week, the Rebels and their 24-year-old quarterback will host an underrated Syracuse team that’s off to a 3-1 start, thanks in part to the performance of former Ohio State signal-caller Kyle McCord.

In each of his four games this season, McCord has thrown for at least 335 yards and two touchdowns. It should be an interesting matchup for UNLV, which has held three of its four opponents this year under 230 passing yards.

If the Rebels are going to leave the field with a win on Friday, it’s likely going to be due to the performance of their rushing offense and their run defense. UNLV currently ranks sixth in the nation in rushing yards per game and 14th in the country in rushing yards allowed per contest.

Can the Rebels improve to 5-0 on Friday for the first time in more than 50 years, or will Syracuse send them home with their first loss of the season?