UNLV could have one of its best recent football teams in coach Barry Odom’s first year

Is this the year for UNLV football? The Scarlet and Gray have a new head coach, an exciting new offense and a talented quarterback who appears poised for a breakout season. Add it all up, and this looks like the best squad UNLV has fielded in a long time … if everything goes right.

Here are five of the top storylines to follow as UNLV embarks on its 2023 season.

1. Quarterback stability

The last time UNLV went into a season with an undisputed No. 1 quarterback was 2019—two head coaches and five starting quarterbacks ago.

It appears the Scarlet and Gray has finally found an answer at the game’s most important position, however, as all signs point to junior Doug Brumfield being the man behind center.

Brumfield was close to stardom last year, when he led UNLV to a 4-1 start and looked like an All-Mountain West performer through the first half of the season. Injuries derailed his campaign, and he finished with a modest 1,898 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, but now, he’s ready to pick up where he left off.

The 6-foot-6 lefty has been consistently hitting big plays in training camp, looking comfortable in the new system installed by offensive coordinator Brennan Marion.

Marion says Brumfield is carrying himself like the leader of the program, and that counts for a lot—especially at a place like UNLV, where franchise-caliber quarterback play has been fleeting at best.

“The hardest part about being ‘the Guy’ is, you have to be the guy every single day,” Marion says. “He’s not a kid anymore, and he’s playing to win. It’s not just ‘I’m happy to be out here.’ Now we’re looking at you to go win the game.”

Brumfield added about eight pounds in the offseason, mostly by working out and incorporating steak into his diet (he prepares it himself, cooked medium, in a cast-iron skillet).

Now he’s focused on turning up the heat and bringing the UNLV offense to a sizzle. “I want to be able to make this offense go in any situation,” Brumfield says.

2. It’s Go-Go time

One of the biggest decisions made by new head coach Barry Odom was hiring Marion as offensive coordinator. That’s because Marion’s scheme is one of a kind.

The “Go-Go Offense” features heavy run blocking, multiple running backs (deployed in unusual, unbalanced formations), speedy wide receivers who can stretch the field and, most importantly, a blinding tempo.

UNLV isn’t going to huddle much this season. Marion wants his guys to rush to the line on every play, and snap the ball before 13 seconds have elapsed on the play clock. He figures that will add up to at least 73 offensive plays per game, which would put the Scarlet and Gray somewhere around the top 30 nationally.

Bottom line: UNLV’s offense is putting a premium on speed.

“If you look at my track record, I always get fast players,” Marion says. “We want fast people that can score in one play. We don’t want to have to call 12 perfect plays; we want to call four or five plays, because guys can take it to the house.”

3. Ballhawks

Odom is regarded as one of the top defensive strategists in the country, and he’s bringing his 3-3-5 alignment to UNLV. So far, so good.

The Scarlet and Gray will play with five and sometimes six defensive backs on the field, and the team has the depth in the backfield to pull it off. Junior cornerback Cameron Oliver has had a strong camp, and senior nickel Jerrae Williams has emerged as a core leader of the group.

Defensive coordinator Mike Scherer calls Williams the toughest, hardest-working player on the defense. And that’s saying something, considering how many interceptions the secondary has snagged in practice.

The feeling is mutual on Williams’ end. “I love Odom and coach Scherer,” he says. “The defense that they brought, I love it. It allows me to play my type of ball—fast, physical. If you want to go, go.”

4. Bowl hopes

Does UNLV have any hope of making it to a bowl game for the first time since 2013? The oddsmakers believe it will come down to the wire, as the Scarlet and Gray’s over/under win total is pegged at 5.5 wins (it takes six to qualify for a bowl).

The first four contests could prove pivotal. A road date at No. 2 Michigan on September 9 is probably a bridge too far, but the other three games—vs. Bryant (September 2), vs. Vanderbilt (September 16) and at UTEP (September 23)—all appear to be winnable.

With a good start, UNLV could put itself on track for an elusive postseason appearance.

5. Future of the MWC

With conference realignment throwing the basic structure of college football in flux, there’s a possibility that 2023 could be the final season of the Mountain West as we know it.

A rebuilt Pac-12 could entice UNLV to relocate to a new league, or a merger between the two conferences could make the MWC a thing of the past entirely. If UNLV stays and other teams leave, the Mountain West could be reshuffled to the point where it becomes unrecognizable. Anything is on the table.

UNLV has never won the Mountain West, or really even risen above being an afterthought. If the Scarlet and Gray is going to make a dark-horse play at contending, it might be now or never.

This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.