The UNLV Rebels defeated the California Golden Bears in the Art of Sport LA Bowl 24-13. It was the Rebels’ first bowl game victory in 24 years. Their last bowl win was in 2000 when they defeated Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl. The win gave UNLV an 11-3 record this season, one of its best records ever as a Division I football program. After a close first half, the Rebels pulled away for the victory. Their defense shut out California in the second half and they had many highlight plays on offense. From a fake punt to a 49-yard touchdown pass, UNLV made the big plays to secure their first bowl win since 2000, capping off a memorable season.
UNLV Defeats California
Despite the highlights, the Art of Sport LA Bowl got off to a slow start. The first three possessions of the game were all three-and-outs. UNLV and California struggled to move the ball, with penalties and general inefficiency causing both teams to trade punts. On the fourth drive of the game, California finally got a first down on a 48-yard run from Jaydn Ott. This set up the Golden Bears in Rebel territory, but the drive stalled after that. California kicked a 43-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
But the game took a turn from there, as the teams went from trading punts to trading touchdowns. Hajj-Malik Williams threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Kayden McGee on a 3rd and 10 to put the Rebels on the scoreboard. The Golden Bears responded with a nine-play drive down the field capped off with a 29-yard run from Josiah Martin. California looked ready to take control of the game, forcing the Rebels to punt. They would have been getting the ball back with a 10-7 lead. But UNLV ran one of the gutsiest plays of the entire college football season. A fake punt where punter Marshall Nichols threw a pass that went for 52 yards, setting up a UNLV touchdown.
At halftime, UNLV led 14-13. The first half started slow, but had many big highlight plays from both teams. But the second half resembled the former more than the latter. Neither offense could move the ball and traded punts for six consecutive possessions. This went on until an EJ Caminong fumble set up a UNLV touchdown. Kylin James got a 23-yard run, putting the Rebels ahead. The Golden Bears could not muster any offense in the second half, fumbling again and turning it over on downs to give the Rebels the 24-13 victory.
The Rebels’ Memorable Season
Before their bowl victory, UNLV’s season was one of the most interesting stories for a non-power four team in college football. The Rebels started the season 3-0 before multiple key players chose to exit the team and transfer. One of these players was the Rebels’ starting quarterback, Matthew Sluka. Sluka was replaced by Hajj-Malik Williams, who started for the rest of the season. It was a bizarre story, and one that many believed would cripple the Rebels’ promising season. But UNLV still won with Williams and the team did not miss a beat.
The Rebels finished the regular season with a 10-2 record and had a chance to make the College Football Playoff if they could win the Mountain West Conference. However, they ran into Boise State and Ashton Jeanty, who defeated UNLV in the Mountain West Championship. Still, given everything they went through this season with the transfer and NIL controversy, the Rebels had one of their best years in recent memory. They won their first bowl game since 2000, winning the Art of Sport LA Bowl 24-13, ending their memorable season on a high note.
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