No. 19 San Diego State (5-0, 1-0 Mountain West) at UNLV (2-2, 1-0), Saturday, 10:45 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Line: San Diego State by 10. Series Record: San Diego State leads 17-9. WHAT’S AT STAKE This is UNLV’s first game since
No. 19 San Diego State (5-0, 1-0 Mountain West) at UNLV (2-2, 1-0), Saturday, 10:45 p.m. ET (ESPN2).
Line: San Diego State by 10.
Series Record: San Diego State leads 17-9.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
This is UNLV’s first game since last weekend’s deadly mass shooting on the Strip. UNLV will hold a pregame tribute to honor victims and first responders that will include the unfurling of a full-field American flag. UNLV players will wear black helmets with a large red ribbon decal with the words “Las Vegas” on them. SDSU players will wear red ribbon decals on their helmets.
KEY MATCHUP
The game will feature the top two running backs in the league, SDSU senior Rashaad Penny, who ranks second nationally at 164.6 yards per game, and UNLV junior Lexington Thomas, who ranks fourth at 142.8. Penny was held to a season-low 107 yards in a 34-28 victory against Northern Illinois. He had his right eye gouged by Huskies LB Antonio Jones-Davis and finished the game wearing a visor in his facemask. Penny said his eye is OK and he won’t wear the visor against the Runnin’ Rebels. Penny’s output was hurt by the absence of senior RG Antonio Rosales, who could miss his second straight game with an ankle injury.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
San Diego State: RB-KR Juwan Washington won the MWC Special Teams Player of the Week after returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown vs. NIU, his second career return for a TD.
UNLV: WR Devonte Boyd has a school-record 14 career 100-yard receiving games, including three this fall, and comes in ranked fourth in the nation in yards per reception with 25.8.
FACTS & FIGURES
San Diego State will be the first ranked MWC opponent to play at Sam Boyd since No. 5 Boise State on Nov. 5, 2011. … The Aztecs are 5-0 for the first time since 1975, when they won their first eight games. … SDSU has won 11 straight games against MWC West Division opponents and 19 of its last 21 games against conference foes. … Third-year Aztecs special teams coordinator Bobby Hauck spent the previous five seasons as UNLV’s head coach.
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