Rebel1986 said:

The fact they put Liberty in the playoffs says everything about the projections. Oregon beat them 45-6 in there bowl game, and they have a schedule that is full of teams that couldn't win a single game in the MWC.
Campbell (5-6) Lower Division
NM State 10-5 (lost to liberty for conf winner - game was tied going into the 4th) lost to Hawaii, blown out by Fresno State, won a close game verse NM
UTEP (3-9) lost by 17 to UNLV at home
East Carolina (2-10)
App State (9-5)
FIU (4-8)
Kennesaw St (3-6) Lower division
Jax State (9-4)
Middle Tenn (4-8)
UMass (3-9)
WKU (8-5)
Sam Houston (3-9)

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I thought the same thing when I saw Liberty in there: With that weak-a$$ schedule, they could run the table and still be very much undeserving. The MW champ with one or two losses, would be more deserving.

LVRebel2000 said:

I think UNLV will be hard to scout for also though, since they don't have any video of our new QB's, and how they'll be incorporated into the system. I expect it to look quite a bit different than last year due to having a much bigger threat of the QB running.

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I agree, our offense could look very different with a mobile QB, but at least many of the formations will be the same.

I just think that we can't just write off Houston, they have a quality coach in a recruiting hotbed, one of the best in the country. They will be a question mark. Now they won't be challenging for a B12 title likely, but they could easily win more than 3-4 games as some were saying. It just hard to say. No one had us winning 9 games last year with a first year coach.

1Tripoda said:

2024 Bowl Predictions: Athlon releases national projections

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www.on3.com

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The fact they put Liberty in the playoffs says everything about the projections. Oregon beat them 45-6 in there bowl game, and they have a schedule that is full of teams that couldn't win a single game in the MWC.
Campbell (5-6) Lower Division
NM State 10-5 (lost to liberty for conf winner - game was tied going into the 4th) lost to Hawaii, blown out by Fresno State, won a close game verse NM
UTEP (3-9) lost by 17 to UNLV at home
East Carolina (2-10)
App State (9-5)
FIU (4-8)
Kennesaw St (3-6) Lower division
Jax State (9-4)
Middle Tenn (4-8)
UMass (3-9)
WKU (8-5)
Sam Houston (3-9)

dcut03 said:

It will be tough to know how good Houston is. First year head coach , but somone who has been very good throughout his career at several levels. Not sure about their recruiting/style of play/player retention.

I think it is probably to our favor that we play them first, given that it will probably take time for them to gel. But they will be hard to scout/prepare for.

I'll be there either way!

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I think UNLV will be hard to scout for also though, since they don't have any video of our new QB's, and how they'll be incorporated into the system. I expect it to look quite a bit different than last year due to having a much bigger threat of the QB running.

bcvegaspt said:

I didn't watch, since politics isn't my cup of tea, but I did see some clips on Twitter.

I know that both sides will claim victory but holy hell the clips I saw of Biden made him look really bad. Trump saying - I'm not sure what he said, he's not sure, either - or something to that effect, was the one that I kept seeing on Twitter. Maybe Biden did well otherwise, and maybe Trump insulted the masses in only the way Trump can, but I don't know how we move forward with Biden. But the same with Trump since he can piss people off (although I'm much happier with $2/gallon gas).

Who else can we have moving forward? This is like watching the first game of the Menzies era seeing the DRASTIC drop in talent and having no optimism for leadership for the upcoming season (4 years in politics).

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It was bad

bcvegaspt said:

I didn't watch, since politics isn't my cup of tea, but I did see some clips on Twitter.

I know that both sides will claim victory but holy hell the clips I saw of Biden made him look really bad. Trump saying - I'm not sure what he said, he's not sure, either - or something to that effect, was the one that I kept seeing on Twitter. Maybe Biden did well otherwise, and maybe Trump insulted the masses in only the way Trump can, but I don't know how we move forward with Biden. But the same with Trump since he can piss people off (although I'm much happier with $2/gallon gas).

Who else can we have moving forward? This is like watching the first game of the Menzies era seeing the DRASTIC drop in talent and having no optimism for leadership for the upcoming season (4 years in politics).

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The job done not personalities is what is important. Easy choice in regards to who the economy worked better under.

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At least the New Mexico Bowl is an ESPN property (isn't it?) and there shouldn't be any issue like the old Barstool thing (AZ Bowl). Definitely hoping for better, though.

rebel5280 said:

I am hoping it will be 2 years in a row going to a bowl game, for UNLV football!

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No doubt. I am expecting a better bowl game than the New Mexico Bowl

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I am hoping it will be 2 years in a row going to a bowl game, for UNLV football!

It will be tough to know how good Houston is. First year head coach , but somone who has been very good throughout his career at several levels. Not sure about their recruiting/style of play/player retention.

I think it is probably to our favor that we play them first, given that it will probably take time for them to gel. But they will be hard to scout/prepare for.

I'll be there either way!

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

I didn't watch, since politics isn't my cup of tea, but I did see some clips on Twitter.

I know that both sides will claim victory but holy hell the clips I saw of Biden made him look really bad. Trump saying - I'm not sure what he said, he's not sure, either - or something to that effect, was the one that I kept seeing on Twitter. Maybe Biden did well otherwise, and maybe Trump insulted the masses in only the way Trump can, but I don't know how we move forward with Biden. But the same with Trump since he can piss people off (although I'm much happier with $2/gallon gas).

Who else can we have moving forward? This is like watching the first game of the Menzies era seeing the DRASTIC drop in talent and having no optimism for leadership for the upcoming season (4 years in politics).

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reblife702 said:

If the team loses this game, that will speak volumes

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I’m only concerned with our QB play. Will be the first game for Sluka or Williams, in this offense. If either one can reliably move the ball downfield, then I feel good about us taking this one. However, QB play is unknown’s at this point and this will make or break our season, IMO.

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I’d love a win. But who knows?

unlove said:

To put a bow on this thread, I bought my season tickets today. Sure hope the team surprises me.
…but I’m f’n amped for football season!!! 🏈

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Equally pumped for football as well. Never been more excited.

I have been on the fence for basketball season tickets and decided I'm not renewing for the first time in years. I am a student once again so I will just use that option. I don't believe there will be a significant revitalization or massive influx of fans if by some small miracle we make the NCAAs or get a new coach. Plenty of great lower level seats will still be available in the coming years regardless. UNLV basketball is now too far down the local sports consumers' pecking order. It cannot be healed. It cannot be resuscitated. It would need a resurrection. To make this happen the program would need an 8-figure infusion of capital. You need a LOT of money and/or a LOT of luck to get a really good coach. You can ONLY get really good players with a lot of money AND a really good coach. Harsh reality for a department not dripping in cash.

Thankfully we have an AD that understands how important football is to the current and future health of our athletic programs. Most of the working capital will be allocated there. By far our best ROI.

Presidential debate: it’s the same talking points on the news..

This country is f’d no matter who the president is..

rebelzzz said:

Hoping we can keep these recruits. A year is a long ways away.

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Yep..It's nice to see the shear number of quality recruits, but I try and not get overly attached to the idea that we will land more than a handful.

Recruiting is more volatile now than ever before.

reblife702 said:

If the team loses this game, that will speak volumes

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OR Both teams tried to get better in the off season

Edit: to be clear, I think we should at minimum be "in" this game. I have no idea what Houston lost or brought in. I have no idea what changes were made to the staff other than Willie Fritz coming in.

I assume that Houston has a leg up in recruiting, haven't looked at numbers. Losing this game doesn't have to be indicative of anything, other than they lost this game.

More edit: just looked at Houston schedule... we would be dogs in all but 3-4 of their games, I'm guessing

If the team loses this game, that will speak volumes

Masked_rebel said:

Larry Brown Ring a bell? But honestly having 3 coaches in past 40 years is one reason there is such a sustained success. Yes history really helps and favors them... but Imagine going from Larry Brown with 2 F4s and a Natty in 5 years to Roy Williams to Bill Self....

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Imagine the NCAA office being in your backyard as well..