Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021 | 2 a.m.
The future of UNLV football is now. Stop us if you’ve heard that before. It seems like every few years, UNLV ushers in some “new era,” by way of a new coach, a new practice facility or a new stadium. And through it all, the one constant has been the losing.
The program went 0-6 in a mishmash of a 2020 season truncated by COVID-19. They were outscored by double digits in every contest, allowing for very few bright spots for first-year head coach Marcus Arroyo.
But that was the past, and this is the future. So, how will UNLV fare in 2021? Here’s a look at some of the most important storylines …
Who’ll win the quarterback battle?
Two weeks before the start of the season, Arroyo had yet to settle on a No. 1 quarterback. That means through two-plus weeks of training camp and a pair of intrasquad scrimmages, none of the contenders did enough to earn the head coach’s full endorsement.
Tate Martell is the biggest name in the mix. The former Bishop Gorman star transferred to hometown UNLV after unproductive stints at Ohio State and Miami. A hand injury kept him from practicing for most of training camp, however, which has left incumbents Doug Brumfield and Justin Rogers to fight for the top spot.
Arroyo has said nice things about both, mostly praising their intangibles (work ethic, competitiveness, etc.). What we haven’t heard is the coach touting their ability to read defenses, find the open man and deliver accurate passes.
Arroyo wants a clear-cut starter at the position. His goal is to name one in advance of the season opener against Eastern Washington on September 2.
The worst-case scenario would be if none of the quarterbacks claims the job—something Arroyo has hinted might be a possibility.
“The [final week of camp] is going to be pivotal, because we’re going to start getting into some prep stuff,” Arroyo said. “That’s where we’re going to hone in and put a lot tighter scope on things and see if we can get to a point where we can get one guy and get some chemistry. If that presents itself, that would be optimal. That’s the objective.”
A crucial season for Arroyo
Things change fast in college football. A year ago, Arroyo was the apple of then-UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois’s eye—an up-and-coming coach with Pac-12 credentials and a plan for turning around the program. Now he’s got a winless season on his résumé, Reed-Francois has moved to Missouri and a new athletic director is on the way in, meaning 2021 will be a crucial campaign when it comes to Arroyo’s future at UNLV.
It’s not unheard of for new ADs to install their own head coaches in football and men’s basketball; Reed-Francois herself wasted little time in doing so after she was hired at UNLV. So as unlikely as it might have sounded 20 months ago, there’s suddenly pressure on Arroyo to show that his impressive recruiting efforts can translate to on-field success.
A must-win opener
The biggest game of the season for UNLV will come in Week 1, against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent.
How has it come to this? Well, after going 0-6 last season, UNLV will likely be a betting underdog in every game this year—except possibly the season opener against FBS Eastern Washington. So, there’s a possible scenario in which the only thing standing between UNLV and back-to-back winless seasons is a victory on September 2.
That makes the very first game of the season a must-win. Unfortunately for UNLV, Eastern Washington is no pushover.
The Eagles went 5-1 in 2020 and played a spring 2021 season, so they could be sharper than a UNLV squad that hasn’t seen live game action since November. And if the Rebels come out a step slow, Eastern Washington has enough offensive firepower to torch them; returning quarterback Eric Barriere is the Big Sky Preseason Player of the Year, and he’s at the controls of a passing attack that averaged 40.7 points last season.
It’s not going to be easy, but UNLV has to figure out a way to win the opener. If not, there’s a chance the season could get away from it in a hurry.
Showing defensive progress
If UNLV is going to win a game this season, the defense will have to show up. It was a mess last year, when the scarlet and gray were torn apart to the tune of 38.0 points allowed per game, but there’s reason for optimism on that side of the ball.
Some units have a new look. The defensive line has a new edge-setter in 6-foot-7 USC transfer Connor Murphy, and the linebacking corps has been reshuffled, with sacks leader Jacoby Windmon (5.0 last year) moving to inside linebacker and Arizona State transfer Kylan Wilborn taking over at strongside linebacker.
In contrast, the secondary will rely on experienced veterans like cornerback Nohl Williams and safety Bryce Jackson to provide some resistance in the passing game.
Welcome back, fans
With distancing restrictions in place last year, UNLV was only able to allow 2,000 spectators per home game—not exactly the way they wanted to break in its new home, Allegiant Stadium.
The scarlet and gray will at least have the benefit of some home-field advantage this year, as there are currently no capacity restrictions in place for the 2021 season. Fans will have to wear masks, but they can fill every seat in the house—provided UNLV gives them reason to show up.
UNLV 2021 Home Schedule
- September 2 - Eastern Washington
- September 18 - Iowa State
- October 16 - Utah State
- October 21 - San Jose State
- November 13 - Hawaii
- November 19 - San Diego State
This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.
