Rebels roundup: UNLV-SDSU kickoff time set for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 on ESPNU

By Taylor Bern

Published Monday, Nov. 18, 2013 | 11:22 a.m.

Updated Monday, Nov. 18, 2013 | 10:37 p.m.

UNLV football’s season finale against San Diego State on Nov. 30 at Sam Boyd Stadium will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and air on ESPNU. The game was one of ESPN’s flex games and could have appeared on one of its premier family of networks.

If the game had been slated for ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC, the athletics department would have made $500,000, per the Mountain West’s new TV bonus system this season. Because it’s only on ESPNU, which doesn’t meet the established bonus qualifications, the Rebels won’t receive any bonus payout this season.

The game was scheduled to compete head-to-head with a home basketball game, but the university was able to move that game against Tennessee-Martin to 4 p.m.

That decision could be finalized as soon as this afternoon. Depending on how UNLV football does this Thursday at Air Force, next Saturday's game against the Aztecs could be for the Rebels' first bowl berth since 2000.

Okonoboh officially a Rebel

He had to wait through the weekend, but UNLV basketball coach Dave Rice finally got his second major signee for the class of 2014-15. Goodluck Okonoboh, a top-30 player from the Boston area, will enroll next fall.

“Goodluck is a fabulous addition to our program,” Rice said in a statement. “He impacts the game on both ends of court. He is a tremendous competitor as well as a high-level rebounder and shot blocker.”

Okonoboh, who committed to the Rebels in early October, held a signing event at his school on Thursday. However, sources said Okonoboh was waiting on a parent’s signature and by the time that came through, the conference office was closed for the weekend.

As soon as they opened this morning, the league approved the paperwork and UNLV got its second commitment from an elite recruit. Okonoboh joins Baltimore’s Dwayne Morgan in the Rebels’ signed class.

Those two fill the available scholarships from senior Carlos Lopez-Sosa and former Rebel Savon Goodman. However, UNLV coaches will continue to recruit for next year’s class because at this level of Division I basketball, it’s likely that at least one player will transfer.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.