UNLV (0-0 overall, 0-0 Mountain West) at Minnesota (0-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)
Minneapolis, Minnesota – TCF Bank Stadium
Thursday 6:06 p.m. CT – Big Ten Network
Spread: Minnesota -14
PREGAME NOTES
Last Meeting
Last season, Jordan Wettstein nailed a 32-yard field goal in the third overtime session to lift Minnesota over UNLV, 30-27, in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. Minnesota outgained UNLV 478-275 in total offense, including 354 yards and two touchdowns from MarQueis Gray. UNLV’s Tim Cornett had 127 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Derrick Wells recorded two interceptions and eight tackles for the Gophers.
Weather to Play a Factor
With a heat wave overtaking the Twin Cities, both teams will have to be mindful of the extreme temperature at kickoff. Depth will be the biggest issue, but an area where Kill and the Gophers feel comfortable.
“If its 91-92 [degrees] depth will be important in our first game,” Jerry Kill said at his weekly press conference. “I don’t think there is any doubt about it. You don’t want tired players out there. What’d Vince Lombardi say? ‘Fatigue makes cowards out of all of us.’ We have to make sure we got players ready to play…We’ve worked through camp to prepare for that.”
Coaching Preview
Bobby Hauck enters his fourth season on the sidelines for the Rebels. He has compiled a record of 6-32 in his first three seasons but the return of 18 starters has Hauck and the Rebels hoping for big things in year-four.
“They have, pretty much, all their personnel back so they’ll be a better football team than they were a year ago,” Jerry Kill explained. “I don’t think there is any doubt about that. And we should be a better team than we were a year ago. I think we’re both building programs.”
Offensive Change?
With Timm Rosenbach taking over in his first season as offensive coordinator, the Gophers are unsure of what the Rebels will be running on Thursday. Because of the change, Minnesota’s defensive coaches and players have been preparing for a variety of different looks for the opener.
“UNLV has a new coaching staff, so it’s somewhat of a guessing game,” safety Brock Vereen said, “but coach [Tracy] Claeys has done a great job just getting us prepared for anything…We’re getting so many looks in practice that hopefully whatever we see come Thursday we’ve seen before.”
Matchup to Watch
UNLV fans have their sights set on a breakout year for sophomore quarterback Nick Sherry. On Thursday evening, the 6-foot-5, 235-pounder will be facing a number of relatively-inexperienced Minnesota cornerbacks. With Derrick Wells listed as questionable for the opener with a hamstring injury, Minnesota will likely look to a combination of Eric Murray, Martez Shabazz, Jeremy Baltazar, and Briean Boddy-Calhoun to shut down a talented group of Rebel receivers.
UNLV’s wide receivers are led by junior standouts Devante Davis and Marcus Sullivan. The tandem combined for 116 receptions for 1,513 yards and eight touchdowns last season. If Minnesota’s corners can rise to the occasion and stifle the UNLV passing attack, the Gophers’ defense will be in great shape for the opener.
Players to Watch
Tim Cornett – The 6-foot, 210-pound running back had an outstanding junior campaign in 2012. He totaled 1232 yards on the ground with seven touchdowns while averaging over five yards per carry. After running for 127 yards and two scores against the Gophers last year, Tracy Claeys and the Minnesota defense knows they will have their hands full with Cornett.
Devante Davis – As a 6-foot-3 receiver, Davis poses an incredible physical threat for the Gophers. During a breakout sophomore season, the Texas native led the Rebels with 61 receptions, 854 yards, and four touchdowns.
Nolan Kohorst – UNLV returns one of their top players, kicker Nolan Kohorst. Last season, Kohorst hit 12 of 14 field goals and 32 of 33 extra point attempts, en route to being named First Team All-Mountain West. Against the Gophers in 2012, he was perfect, tallying nine points in the Rebels’ loss.
Background
Location: Paradise, Nevada
Enrollment: 22,432
Conference: Mountain West
Mascot: Rebels
Colors: Scarlet and Gray
Coach: Bobby Hauck (4th Season)