The Rebels will play the Ohio Bobcats in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 23, in Frisco, Texas.
UNLV, which finished 10-2 in the regular season, lost to Boise State, 38-21, in the Mountain West Conference championship on Dec. 5.
Ohio finished its campaign 8-4, including non-conference losses to Big 10 foes Rutgers and Ohio State. The Bobcats defeated Big 12-foe West Virginia, 17-10, in Week 2 of the season.
Here are five immediate takeaways from the upcoming game:
OFFENSE: The Rebels should have the edge in this department, as they ranked 17th with 459.1 yards per game and 16th in scoring with 35.9 points per game. UNLV boasts the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Anthony Colandrea, and his No. 1 target Jaden Bradley, who turned in 869 yards receiving and an average of 16.1 yards per reception. The Bobcats dominated with their rushing attack, which was 9th in the country (228.8 ypg.), but relied on it heavily considering they have the 104th-ranked pass attack. UNLV's balanced attack gives it the edge.
DEFENSE: The Bobcats certainly get the nod over the Rebels in this department. Ohio held six of its 12 opponents to 20 or fewer points and another two foes to 21 or less. The 'Cats came into the bowl season with the 58th stingiest defense in holding teams to 358 yards per game. Conversely, the Rebels finished 120th nationally after allowing 424.5 yards per game and 93rd after being torched for 28.8 ppg. UNLV also ranks 120th with its red zone defense (89.5%).
SUSPENDED BOBCAT: Ohio first-year coach Brian Smith was put on leave for undisclosed reasons on Dec. 1. Defensive coordinator Jon Hauser has taken over on an interim basis. The university didn't give a reason as to why, releasing only a statement that Smith would be "on leave for an undetermined period of time." Smith was promoted from offensive coordinator in 2024 to replace Tim Albin, who left to take the head job at Charlotte. Smith has been on staff at Ohio since before the 2022 season and became offensive coordinator in 2024.
ALL CONFERENCE: While Colandrea won the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year award, he was joined by Jai'Den Thomas on the first team. Four other Rebels were named to the second team. Highlighted by two first-team nods, Ohio was recognized with nine players to the All-Mid-American Conference teams, and marked the fourth consecutive season Ohio landed two or more Bobcats on All-MAC First Team. Graduate student offensive lineman Davion Weatherspoon and redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura both earned first-team offensive honors.
BETTING PERSPECTIVE: The Rebels were 7-6 ATS during the regular season and the Mountain West championship. UNLV was 1-2 ATS as an underdog and 6-4 ATS when laying points. Four of UNLV's last five games stayed under. Ohio opened the season 6-3 ATS but failed to cover its last three games. The 'Cats were 3-1 as an underdog, while they failed to cover five of eight as the favorite. Ohio closed the season going over in its last two games.