By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
The new-and-improved UNLV football team has a lot to play for this season.
After winning five of its first six games, UNLV is a contender to win the Mountain West Conference championship.
And that would punch a ticket to the newly-named LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk game at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 16.
The LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk game used to be known as the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.
Gronk, of course, is Rob Gronkowski, the fun-loving former Super Bowl winning tight end for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In true Gronk fashion, Gronkowski will present the game’s winning team with a LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk championship belt. No trophy, but UNLV — if it would win the Gronk Bowl — already has the Fremont Cannon and Pineapple trophies from wins over Nevada and Hawaii this season.
The LA Bowl is the former Las Vegas Bowl, which used to host the champion of UNLV’s conference, the Mountain West Conference.
The Mountain West champ used to play another team in the bowl game. That was until the Las Vegas Bowl moved from Sam Boyd Stadium to Allegiant Stadium and switched conference alliances, matching a Pac-12 team against a team from either a Big Ten or Southeastern Conference.
UNLV plays Colorado State later today at Allegiant Stadium. The game is 4 PM and LVSportsBiz.com will be there for coverage.
Today’s game transportation info for students: