NFL
By: Brock Vierra
A little over thirteen months ago, I simply posed the question, UNLV: America’s Next Football Powerhouse? Excited by the hire of Barry Odom at that time, I felt that UNLV football was on the come up due to a new coaching staff, an NFL-caliber stadium, and a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art training facility. Over a year later, Odom guided UNLV to one of its best seasons in school history. Year one was capped with a 9-5 record, an appearance in the Mountain West Championship Game (the first in school history), and the program’s first bowl birth in over a decade.
Now that UNLV has established themselves, they’ve put themselves in a prime position to make major splashes in college football. With a new 12-team expanded college football playoff with an automatic birth for a G5 program, UNLV could be competing for a National Title in 2024. Here’s why UNLV is America’s Next Football Powerhouse.
UNLV Begins 2024 With Some Much-Needed Acquisitions
Now with the coaching carousel continuing to send coaches from one place to another, there’s no guarantee this will remain true but keeping Brennan Marion on the UNLV staff was a huge victory for the Rebels. Marion, the offensive genius that helped Jayden Maiava go from backup QB to MWC Freshman of the Year was heavily rumored for a coordinator job in the P5 as well as being targeted for the head coaching vacancies at New Mexico State, Nevada, and SDSU. Somehow UNLV held on to Marion and the results have shown.
Now Maiava left UNLV for a financially beneficial situation at USC, leaving the Rebels in need of a quarterback. The Rebels and Marion secured not one but two high-quality FCS quarterbacks. Matthew Sluka from Holy Cross and Hajj-Malik Williams from Campbell have found themselves in a position to leap from FCS competition to potential NFL Draft pick. Both are insanely talented quarterbacks with Sluka being a true duel threat QB while Williams is a true pocket passer with the ability to run if needed.
However, the QB position wasn’t the only position that got upgrades. Barry Odom’s defense acquired some serious talent to take them to the next level. Tony Grimes from Texas A&M, Jalen Catalon from Texas, and LaDarrius Bishop and Malik Chavis from Arkansas bring four new DBs into the program with P5 exposure. The additions of Antonio Doyle from Jackson State and Mani Powell from Arkansas bring some much-needed depth to the defense.
Odom’s SEC connections continue to pay off for UNLV. As G5 programs across the country watch their richer P5 program counterparts pluck the talent from them left and right via NIL and the transfer portal, UNLV only seems to load up with more talent.
Odom Adapts Flawlessly
Barry Odom has proven time and time again that he can handle the curveballs. He hired Bobby Petrino and when Petrino left for Texas A&M, Odom made an even better hire with Brennan Marion. Jayden Maiava leaves, and Odom acquires Sluka and Williams. Odom’s team needs fresh talent, they attack the portal. Odom wants to create long-term success, they reach out and establish relationships with the high school programs in Las Vegas. Odom has been at the forefront of the changing trends in college football and it shows.
UNLV and the CFP
Now making the CFP is a long shot and UNLV would have to come out the gates swinging. UNLV has two tough road tests in their first three games. A season opener at Houston who just hired Willie Fritz and at Kansas, a team that defeated UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl 49-36. UNLV also ends the year with four straight road games including a season finale against Oregon State up in Corvallis.
It’s going to be hard to make the CFP, especially as a G5 program. At most, UNLV could probably lose one game and there are a lot of challenges ahead for the program but look at the optics. If UNLV gets in and if they’re ranked eight or better, they would be hosting a playoff game. I’m sure the committee would love the one G5 team outside of USF to play at an NFL stadium to be a host. It would at least be a lot to consider.
With all that being said, UNLV football is on the rise and Barry Odom is here. A successful 2024 could spell out a beautiful future for the Scarlett and Grey.
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