The UNLV Rebels will look to bounce back from their season-opening loss to the Memphis Tigers when they travel to face the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in the next installment of the “Ninth Island Showdown.”
Hawaii was another Mountain West program that came up short in Week 0, falling to Stanford 37-27 on the road after struggling offensively early and trailing 23-7 entering the fourth quarter. The Cardinal was driving for the winning score when sack/fumble/return in the final minute created the 10-point spread.
The Rebels got the better of their conference rivals last season with a 38-10 victory at Allegiant Stadium, but traveling to the islands has historically been a different story for UNLV. The Rebels are 3-9 on the road against Hawaii dating to 1969.
Here’s how Las Vegas-area fans can watch and listen to the game.
UNLV at Hawaii
Records:
UNLV 0-1, 0-0 (MW); Hawaii 0-1, 0-0 (MW)
When:
Saturday
Time:
7 p.m. PT
Where:
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex
TV:
The CW, KVCW (Channel 33) Las Vegas
Radio:
ESPN 1100 AM & 100.9 FM
What’s at stake?
UNLV
Dimming spotlight: An 0-2 start would be a disastrous opening for a UNLV program that was initially picked to be one of the favorites to represent the Group of Six in the College Football Playoff.
Following a loss Saturday, the Rebels likely would no longer receive votes in the weekly AP Top 25, potentially costing them some of the national attention the program worked so hard to build over the past three seasons.
Conference contention: Beyond the Rebels’ CFP hopes, a loss would put UNLV behind the eight ball in the Mountain West race and give the Rebels an early conference loss against a team projected to contend for the championship.
A win, however, would put UNLV in the driver’s seat in the conference race early in the season and help erase some of the disappointment from its loss to Memphis.
Hawaii
A chance to reset: Hawaii will have little time to dwell on its Week 0 loss with conference play beginning Saturday.
The Rainbow Warriors now have an opportunity to turn their attention toward the areas that need improvement and build on the late-game success they showed against Stanford, when they scored 20 points in the final 15 minutes.
A stronger opening could be more important against a UNLV team looking to avoid an 0-2 start. Hawaii will have the advantage of playing at home, but it will need to put together a more complete performance to take advantage of it.
Making a statement: A win over UNLV would give Hawaii an early opportunity to make a statement in the Mountain West.
The Rebels entered the season with expectations of competing for a conference championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Knocking off UNLV would give the Rainbow Warriors an early victory over one of the league’s projected contenders and provide momentum for the remainder of conference play.
