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UNLV Leads Early, But Memphis Strikes In The Second Half For A Tigers Win On The Road

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Football

(BCSNN) — UNLV opened its season with promise, energy and a third‑quarter touchdown lead, but Memphis had the final answer. The Tigers scored the last 13 points Saturday night to beat the Rebels 27-21 in a nationally televised Week Zero matchup at Allegiant Stadium.

A crowd of 31,384, the third‑largest home opening‑night audience in school history, watched UNLV (0-1) jump ahead by seven points three different times in a back‑and‑forth game that showcased both the Rebels’ offensive potential and their missed opportunities.

Quarterback Jackson Arnold, making his UNLV debut after transferring from Auburn, delivered a scintillating first half. He completed 17 of 21 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown, added 40 rushing yards, and scored on the ground to give the Rebels a 14-7 halftime lead despite a missed field goal.

Arnold finished 25 of 37 for 291 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Tavian McNair on a 38‑yard strike and Kayden McGee on a 22‑yard score.

UNLV outgained Memphis 460-418 and produced three more first downs, with much of that production coming from star running back Jet Thomas, who totaled 44 rushing yards and 54 receiving yards on a team‑high six catches.

Defensively, senior safety Jake Pope posted 13 tackles, and cornerback Denver Harris forced and recovered the game’s lone turnover with a second‑quarter fumble.

But the difference came in the red zone. Memphis (1-0) converted all three of its trips inside the 20, while UNLV managed points on only two of four, a margin that loomed large in a six‑point loss.

Charles Huff is now the first Memphis head coach to win his season-opening debut on the road.

What's On Tap For These Two
The Rebels take to the road with an early Mountain West game at Hawaii next Saturday, with UNLV and the Warriros slated to get started at 7 p.m. PT. The game will be shown nationally on The CW. As for the victorious Tigers, Memphis is set for its home opener at the newly-renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium next Saturday, hosting Arkansas State, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.