The UNLV Rebels football team recently participated in the Art of Sport LA Bowl, held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, marking a significant moment after a transformative season. Notably absent was their former head coach, Barry Odom, who moved on to Purdue, along with offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, who is poised to take on a head coaching role at Sacramento State.
Despite these changes, the Rebels highlighted their progress this year. Under Odom’s leadership, UNLV broke free from a long history of mediocrity, achieving a successful campaign that led them to the Mountain West Conference Championship. Key players like linebacker Jackson Woodard and defensive back Jalen Catalon, formerly from Arkansas, contributed to this resurgence.
In the LA Bowl, UNLV faced a 6-6 California team, previously part of the Pac-12 and now competing in the ACC. Following Odom’s departure, Assistant Coach Del Alexander stepped in as the interim coach. New head coach Dan Mullen, who has previous experience at Florida and Mississippi State, expressed confidence in the team’s potential to become a consistent powerhouse. He emphasized the team’s close proximity to competing in college football’s inaugural 12-team playoff.
The game unfolded dramatically, with UNLV leading at halftime 14-13, thanks to quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams’ touchdown passes to Kayden McGee and Jacob DeJesus.
This season serves as a hopeful turning point for UNLV football, as the team establishes a stronger foundation for its future. The addition of Mullen could pave the way for further development, helping the Rebels reach new heights in the sport going forward.
In summary, despite coaching changes, UNLV’s football program demonstrated remarkable growth this season with a promising future ahead under new leadership.