KANSAS CITY — The Rebels traveled to Kansas City, Kansas, to take on the Kansas Jayhawks, looking for their third consecutive win to open the season. They were eventually victorious by a final score of 23-20 over the Jayhawks.
When asked about the win, UNLV head coach Barry Odom said, “I’m proud of our team, and I’m proud of our assistant coaches for putting together a great plan in all three phases. I think Kansas is a good football team, and we had to continue to stay in the fight.”
The Jayhawks were ranked in the AP Top-25 poll for the first two weeks of the college football season, entering the year as the #22 team in the country and moving up to #19 before losing to the Illinois Illini in week two.
When the team captains met at the center of the field for the coin toss, it was decided via the coin toss that the Rebel go-go offense would get its first look during the opening drive of the game.
Jacob De Jesus would get the ball on the game’s first play and pick up a gain of eight yards out of the backfield, but the Rebels could not pick up the first down and were forced to punt after a three and out.
Daniels and the Kansas offense would take the field after the punt was recovered at their 20-yard line and quickly pick up back-to-back first downs after completions to receiver Lawrence Arnold for a net gain of 20 yards.
The UNLV defense would then set up a third and long, but a completion to receiver Luke Grimm and a long run out of the pocket by Daniels would set the Jayhawks up in the red zone.
After a false start by the Kansas offensive line, the Jayhawks could still push forward into the end zone after another run by Daniels for 11 yards and a 7-0 Jayhawk lead.
The Rebel’s second drive would result in a first down for the Rebels off the back of an 11-yard run out of the backfield by Jai’den Thomas for his first carry of the night.
On the new set of downs, Sluka would connect with receiver Jacob de Jesus for a long gain of 31 yards to set the Rebels up in the red zone for the first time on Friday night.
However, after a delay of the game penalty called on UNLV, they had to settle for a field goal try from 38 yards, which Rebel kicker Caden Chittenden would knock through the uprights to get UNLV on the board but still trailing the Jayhawks 7-3.
The Jayhawks would start their next drive deep in their territory, but after a 13-yard rush for Devin Neal and a 10-yard catch completed to Arnold, the Jayhawks set themselves up with better field position at their 35-yard line to end the first quarter.
On the fresh set of downs for the Jayhawks, it was defensive back Jonathan Baldwin, who would find a tackle for loss off of an option play by Jalon Daniels, but two strong runs from Neal would set Kansas up at the 50-yard line and a first down.
Following the conversion on third down, an 18-yard pass completion to receiver Trevor Kardell, followed by a 33-yard run by Daniels for his second touchdown of the night, would result in a 14-3 Jayhawks lead.
The third drive of the day for the Rebels would find more success on the ground as Suka would break free for a seven-yard run, and a holding call on the defense would result in a net gain of 17 total yards.
After missing Ricky White on a deep route, Sluka would find the Texas transfer Casey Cain for an 18-yard pickup and a first down.
On the following snaps of the game, Sluka would provide more tough running behind the offensive line, picking up thirteen yards and entering the red zone for the second time.
However, following a rush by Jaiden Thomas that lost four yards on first down, the Rebels would again be held to a 27-yard field goal attempt that Chittenden would convert to make the score 14-6 with six minutes remaining in the half.
While the Rebels needed a big stop on defense during the next Jayhawk drive, Neal would continue to impose his will on the UNLV defense with a 33-yard reception followed by a 20-yard run into the red zone.
Although the Jayhawks entered the red zone quickly, the Rebel defense denied another end zone trip and forced a Kansas field goal try that would be converted by kicker Grayden Addison, extending the Jayhawk lead, 17-6.
On the ensuing drive for the Rebels, they faced a third and long, but Sluka once again created something out of nothing with a 46-yard run down to the Kansas 24-yard line, setting up an opportunity to score at the two-minute warning.
While the Rebels had set themselves up with a scoring opportunity, a sack for a nine-yard loss by defensive linemen, Jereme Robinson would force another field goal attempt for Chittenden from 51 yards out to go wide, keeping the score 17-6.
After the missed field goal attempt, the Jayhawks would receive possession of the football again with an opportunity to extend their lead, and Neal would set Kansas up on the UNLV side of the field with a 24-yard run.
In the following play, as Daniels looked to the end zone, his pass attempt was picked off by Jalen Catalon and returned for 46 yards to the Kansas 33-yard line.
The Rebels did not take long to capitalize on the momentum as Sluka would find Thomas in the end zone for a touchdown, making the score 17-13 entering halftime.
As the second half began, it was clear that the defense would be the star of the half as teams exchanged the ball back and forth, resulting in six punts across the quarter.
The only points that scored came from Chittenden’s boot, who sailed a 23-yard field goal through the uprights, making the score 17-16.
During the first drive of the final frame, the Jayhawks finally found success on this drive, moving the ball efficiently down the field, including a 29-yard completion from Daniels to Arnold into the red zone.
However, a tackle for loss by Jackson Woodard would help set up a defensive hold as the Jayhawks were forced to settle for a field goal completion from Addison to extend their lead 20-16.
With possession back in the Rebel’s hands, a third and long on their first set of downs, a 21-yard run by Sluka would put UNLV in Jayhawk territory.
With another crucial down, a defensive pass interference call would allow the Rebels into the red zone and eventually down to the five-yard line after another productive run by Sluka.
During the following downs, multiple penalties were exchanged between both teams, leading to a fourth and one opportunity from inside the one-yard line for the Rebels to take the lead.
On the ensuing play, running back Kylin James pushed the football into the end zone, giving the Rebels a 23-20 lead with just under two minutes remaining on the clock.
The Kansas Jayhawks began their final drive with only two timeouts remaining as the Rebels looked to pull away with their second road win over a Big-12 opponent.
In the game’s closing moments, after a chop block call on the Kansas offense during fourth down, they were set back 15 yards, and Daniels was eventually sacked, resulting in a 23-20 UNLV win.
Sluka spoke about the win postgame, stating, “It was a great environment, and the win is huge. We set out to win every single game and keep adding to our win column. It was a hard-fought game, and I really enjoyed it.”
With the win, the Rebels moved to 3-0 in the season for the first time since Randall Cunningham was under center in 1984.
Up next, the Rebels will have a bye week before playing in Allegiant Stadium again on Sept. 28.
