Lofty goals are still attainable after UNLV’s first loss of the season

UNLV is not going to have a perfect season.

The undefeated dream came to an end on October 4 when the Syracuse Orange edged the Scarlet and Gray 44-41 in overtime. The loss dropped UNLV to 4-1 on the year and caused it to tumble out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

UNLV had earned its first placement ever at No. 25 but now re-enters the realm of the unranked.

But the season is far from over. The team can still achieve all of its loftiest goals.

Stakes remain high as the season rounds into the midway point. UNLV coach Barry Odom said as much after the Syracuse defeat, even as he had admitted his players were “gutted” by the failure to beat a third Power Five conference opponent.

“This game won’t define us, but how we respond will,” Odom said. “We will work, we’ll get back at it and we’ll make sure that we find a way to go play our best ball next Friday night.”

Here are six reasons to stay aboard the UNLV hype train.

Big games ahead

Sure, it won’t be as glitzy without a Top 25 ranking or an unblemished record, but UNLV’s clash with Boise State on October 25 is still going to carry major Mountain West implications.

To a lesser extent, the same could go for the team’s November 22 trip to San Jose State, and then there’s always the finale against in-state rival UNR looming on November 30.

Whether it’s about the conference standings or a good old-fashioned battle for the Fremont Cannon, UNLV still has a bushel of meaningful games remaining.

Offense comes alive

UNLV’s “go-go offense” was decidedly stop-and-start through the first three weeks of the season, but a quarterback change from Matthew Sluka to current starter Hajj-Malik Williams appears to have jolted life back into coordinator Brennan Marion’s high-powered system.

In two games with Williams at the helm, UNLV has scored 100 combined points (with the offense scoring 79 of those points). Williams has been fantastic, accounting for six passing touchdowns and two rushing scores while completing 82.9% of his throws.

The go-go is fast-paced, frenetic, and, once again, fun to watch.

First title?

UNLV has never won the Mountain West championship despite being a founding member of the conference back in 1999. The Scarlet and Gray came close last year, when they not only made it to the title game but hosted it after running up a 9-3 record (6-2 MWC). A resurgent Boise State squad beat them, however, to keep the UNLV football trophy case empty.

Odom and his crew have a great shot to rectify that this season. A non-conference loss to Syracuse doesn’t change the fact that UNLV is 1-0 in the Mountain West and may be the most league’s most talented team.

Don’t be shocked if UNLV is right back in the title game when December rolls around.

Star power

Simply put, when’s the next time UNLV is going to have a duo like Ricky White and Jackson Woodard?

White is one of the most electrifying offensive players in the nation, with 388 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and few can touch his special-teams exploits, where he’s got two punt blocks and another touchdown.

Woodard is the defensive star, flying sideline to sideline and stuffing the stat sheet (45 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions).

The two seniors are never more than a few snaps away from doing something spectacular, and that’s worth attention alone.

Stronger support

UNLV announced an attendance of 31,329 fans for the Syracuse game, the second-highest mark for a regular-season contest since the team moved to Allegiant Stadium. And given that the record holder (35,193 vs. Iowa State in 2021) was mostly due to fans of the visiting team, it’s fair to say support for UNLV football has never been more enthusiastic.

After seeing the fans turn Friday’s game into a legitimate homefield environment, Odom said one loss shouldn’t dampen that excitement.

“The city of Las Vegas has been wonderful to us,” he said. “The energy helped us, and I was very thankful for what we have done in 21 months to turn this into that. We will only grow (the fan support) from here.”

Playoff picture?

Though it may not feel like it right now, with the Syracuse setback still fresh, UNLV’s playoff hopes are not entirely dead.

One loss doesn’t necessarily eliminate a Group of Five team from the College Football Playoff picture. Boise State also has a non-conference loss, and the Broncos are still operating as though they’re in the mix, so UNLV should, too.

What the loss does is erase UNLV’s margin for error. The Scarlet and Gray will have to win every remaining game, including potentially having to beat Boise State twice (once in the regular season and again in the Mountain West championship) if they want to reestablish themselves as playoff contenders.

One Group of Five conference representative is guaranteed to make the new 12-team playoff, and no one would have a resume as strong as UNLV’s if it can beat Boise twice.

It’s not going to be easy, but there’s a lot of season left to play and UNLV is still positioned to make it a memorable one.