For UNLV football, bowl is the goal

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 | 2 a.m.

As the calendar officially turns to fall, it’s time for UNLV football fans to start thinking about bowl destinations.

Wait, what?

That’s right, for the second straight year the Scarlet and Gray are off to a scorching start, with Saturday’s 45-28 win at UTEP moving them to 3-1 and halfway to the six victories required to qualify for postseason play.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed at this point. UNLV started 4-1 a year ago before imploding down the stretch and finishing one win shy of a bowl, so maybe don’t book your travel just yet. But there are signs indicating that this year’s version is not going to falter.

In 2022, UNLV was non-competitive when backup quarterbacks Cameron Friel and Harrison Bailey were forced into action. Once starter Doug Brumfield went down with an injury at midseason, the rest was written. That’s not the case this season; Brumfield is currently injured again, but UNLV has already won two games with redshirt freshman Maiava playing most of the way, including his first career start at UTEP.

This squad is also more well-rounded than last year’s team, which relied on outscoring opponents with an offense powered by Brumfield’s dual-threat abilities. The 2023 version isn’t so reliant on any one unit; they’ve been excellent on special teams, recording another blocked punt on Saturday, and the defense has made big plays, forcing nine turnovers through four contests.

The schedule is another point in favor of the 2023 team. They are likely to be favored by significant margins in each of the next three games: Saturday vs. Hawaii, Oct. 14 at UNR and Oct. 21 vs. Colorado State. Those three opponents currently have a combined record of 3-9.

It’s all pointing to an eventual bowl berth, which would be the program’s first since 2013. That’s the goal the players set for themselves before the season, and so far they’re playing up to that standard.

After tying a school record with four touchdowns against UTEP, freshman running back Jai’Den Thomas said the entire team is on the same page when it comes to their expectations for the season.

“Everybody’s happy,” Thomas said. “Ever since fall camp, we’ve all been hungry for this. This is something we’ve all been eager to have. UNLV has been in a drought, and we want to be the ones to break it up and win a bowl game for this team.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.