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UNLV's MW Conference Championship Game Hopes Are Alive After Beating Hawai'i, 38-10

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Football

(BCSNN) — UNLV kept its Mountain West Championship hopes alive Friday night, rolling past Hawai’i 38–10 before a season-high crowd of 37,106 at Allegiant Stadium. The Rebels improved to 9–2 overall and 5–2 in conference play, while the Rainbow Warriors fell to 7–4 and 4–3.

The Rebels struck first with a 44-yard field goal from Ramon Villela, improving to 5–0 this season when scoring first. Hawai’i briefly grabbed the lead on a 72-yard touchdown pass, but UNLV answered immediately. Anthony Colandrea connected with Jaden Bradley for an eight-yard score, the team’s first touchdown in five games, and the Rebels never trailed again.

Head coach Dan Mullen’s squad reached the 30-point mark for a school-record 10th time in 2025, continuing a season defined by offensive consistency. Colandrea spread the ball around, throwing three touchdowns to three different receivers while completing 81 percent of his passes.

The Rebel defense dominated after halftime, shutting out Hawai’i completely. Senior linebacker Marsel McDuffie led the charge with eight tackles, while defensive back Aamaris Brown added five stops and 1.5 sacks. Safety Jake Pope recorded his first career interception, which UNLV converted into points.

The victory marked UNLV’s third straight over Hawai’i and gave the Rebels a 5–4 edge in the Ninth Island Showdown series since its naming in 2017. The Rainbow Warriors still lead the overall series 19–16, but the golden pineapple Island Showdown Trophy remains in Las Vegas.

Colandrea’s performance earned him “Rebel of the Game” honors. His 253 passing yards pushed his season total to 2,780, sixth-most in program history, while his 21 touchdown passes rank fifth on the single-season list.

UNLV outgained Hawai’i 470–231 in total yards, holding the Rainbow Warriors without a red-zone appearance. The Rebels’ defensive effort underscored their ability to stifle one of the league’s most explosive offenses.

With the win, UNLV remains in contention for a spot in the Mountain West title game. The Rebels close the regular season next Saturday against in-state rival Nevada in the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network.