No Comeback This Time For UNLV: Rebels Lose To Red-Hot San Jose State, 37-31, Saturday To Complete Regular Season With Nine Wins In Twelve Games

November 25, 2023November 25, 2023 Alan Snel Barry Odom, Jai'Den Thomas, Jayden Maiava, Ricky White

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Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne

Formula 1 finally was over. The Vegas Golden Knights were on the road. The Raiders are not in the hunt for a playoff spot.

It left the wonder team of Las Vegas — UNLV’s football team known for some heart-attack finishes this season — to headline Thanksgiving week in metro Vegas as the Rebels were in virgin territory chasing a league championship.

UNLV had the chance to clinch a Mountain West Conference regular season title and host the league’s championship game next week in its home stadium if the Rebs were able to defeat a very hot San Jose State squad that had won five of its seven MWC games. UNLV expected 30,000 fans to fill the bottom bowl at Allegiant Stadium, offering tickets for $36 Friday, a day before the big game.

Attendance was reported at 25,554 on UNLV’s Senior Day.

UNLV this season has showed an uncanny ability to take a punch and come back to win games like thrilling finishes against Vanderbilt, Colorado State and Air Force.

Not today. Final: San Jose State 37 UNLV 31.

“Haven’t been in this situations too many times this year,” UNLV coach Barry Odom said. “Now we have to leave it to chance to see what happens.”

Odom: “This one stings a lot and we’ll use it motivationally.”

UNLV, San Jose State and Boise State all finished with six wins in eight Mountain West Conference games and will have to wait to see what two teams play in the league title game and where next Saturday at 12 noon.

UNLV will either host Boise State or San Jose State at Allegiant Stadium next Saturday. Or San Jose State will host UNLV if San Jose State jumps Boise State in the computer polls.

We’ve got a locker room full of guys that are tired, they are hurt, they are upset, frustrated. They also understand, I hope, someday they will be able to look back and know that they went 9-3 and had a chance to compete for (an outright regular-season) championship in the last weekend in November, which is a huge step for this program in the right direction. — UNLV head coach Barry Odom

After the Rebels came out flat and yielded a 17-0 lead to San Jose State in the first quarter, UNLV was chasing the Spartans for the rest of the game.

The defense looked weak, reminding UNLV fans of defenses of yesteryear that yielded big chunks of yards to San Jose State.

UNLV did give its fans a tease when quarterback Jayden Maiava tossed a 73-yard pass to speedy receiver Ricky White, and that set up a Jai’-Den Thomas three-yard run. The lead was a mere three points and UNLV faithful were poised for another in-game turn around.

But the comeback never came.

San Jose State had gained 470 yards by the time a Spartans runner sprinted 40 yards around left end untouched into the end zone and UNLV trailed, 37-17.

No fourth quarter dramatics for UNLV this time.