In Dan Mullen's debut as head coach of UNLV football, the Rebels narrowly defeated Idaho State 38-31 in a closely contested game. Idaho State, a 30.5-point underdog entering the matchup, took an early 10-0 lead and maintained competitiveness throughout, even retaking the lead late in the first half and again in the fourth quarter. UNLV, favored by over 25 points, struggled to pull away and had to rally multiple times to secure the win at Allegiant Stadium. Idaho State's performance under head coach Cody Hawkins was notable, demonstrating resilience against a heavily favored opponent in what was described as a wobbly start to the Dan Mullen era at UNLV.