Week 5 will see the Bulldogs face their second ranked opponent on the road this season.
Fresno State (3-1) will face an early Mountain West test against UNLV (3-0) on Saturday, heading into Las Vegas to face a Rebels team that is ranked for the first time in its history.
The big picture: UNLV opened the season with a 27-7 road win over Big 12 opponent Houston.
- Following a blowout 72-14 win against Utah Tech at home, the Rebels went on the road to Big 12 country once again and took out Kansas 23-20.
- The Rebels will come into Saturday’s game with plenty of rest, coming off their first bye week of the season.
- But the Bulldogs may be without some key contributors when they head to Las Vegas, after opening the season with four straight games.
- Fresno State was already without center Mose Vavao and defensive end Korey Foreman in the 38-21 win over New Mexico last week.
- Fresno State Head Coach Tim Skipper said Monday that he hopes to get both of them back for Saturday, but their availability will be determined later in the week.
- Safety Camryn Bracha is dealing with a long-term injury that he suffered last week, Skipper said. Senior Kosi Agina will step up in Bracha’s absence.
- Fresno State may also be without running back Malik Sherrod for the second straight game. Skipper said Sherrod got injured in practice last week and is unsure if he’ll be good to go against UNLV.
Zoom out: Not only is this early season matchup going to crown an early-season favorite to contend for the Mountain West title in December, but Saturday’s game could have playoff implications as well.
- UNLV is ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press poll – the first time the team has been nationally ranked in program history – and is also the highest-ranked Group of 5 team in the nation. The highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champion will earn one of the automatic qualifying spots in the new 12-team playoff.
- “They’re a good team, and I just like that the matchup is two good teams that are in the same conference,” Skipper said. “And we have a lot to play for. Whether it’s the biggest game between us, I don’t know all that stuff, but I know it’s going to be a highly competitive game once we get here on Saturday. And I’m looking forward to it and excited for it.”
Scouting report: UNLV is a run-heavy team on offense, averaging 293.33 yards per game on the ground so far this year.
- A large part of that success comes from quarterback Matthew Sluka, who leads the rebels with 84.33 rushing yards per game.
- “They’re going to give you some formations you don’t normally see,” Skipper said. “So that’s where it all starts. And then they’re going to try to manipulate ways in the run game to get yards. They’re going to do whatever they have to do with motions and formations and things like that. They’re a very good run team. Their quarterback who transferred in from Holy Cross is doing a great job with them in a short amount of time of learning that offense and executing it.”
- The Rebels also boast the Mountain West’s top defense, only allowing 13.7 points per game.
- That’s led by a conference-best rush defense, which is only giving up 101.33 yards on the ground per game to opponents.
