Rebels, Rams groping for hope

The talk this week was about how badly UNLV and Colorado State each need to win today, and for both football teams it is the game of the year.

Colorado State (3-4, 1-1 Mountain West Conference) might be playing for fourth-year coach Steve Fairchild's job after having lost three in a row to drop his career record to 16-28.

UNLV (1-5, 0-1) is trying to reverse a disastrous three-game stretch that has greatly damaged its season, and the Rebels are looking for any glimmer of hope.

Hope will come to one of these teams by the time today's 3 p.m. game at Sam Boyd Stadium concludes. For the loser, what will follow are serious questions about that program's future.

The Rebels, who have had two weeks to prepare, will find their most likely path to success on the ground.

Their quarterback situation is a mess, and the running game probably needs to carry the offense. The fact Sean Reilly and Caleb Herring will play -- Reilly will start -- is telling. Coaches hope one of them steps forward to settle a position that appeared to be in good hands with Herring after the first three games.

Colorado State is also vulnerable against the run, allowing 223.3 yards per game. The UNLV trio of Tim Cornett, Dionza Bradford and Bradley Randle have combined to average 130 yards per game and 4.5 per carry.

Cornett and Bradford have been banged up, but the bye week helped their recoveries. Bradford, though, is listed as questionable with a leg injury.

"I think this week we'll be a lot fresher," Cornett said.

Wyoming loaded the box two weeks ago and shut down UNLV's running game in a 41-14 victory, holding the Rebels to 35 yards in the second half after they gained 119 in the first 30 minutes.

Whether the Rams try that aggressive approach is uncertain, but Cornett said he sees an improving UNLV passing game in practices that should prevent Colorado State from crowding the line of scrimmage.

An effective passing attack would force the Rams to back off, but Herring and Reilly have struggled in the past month -- though at least three dropped passes hurt Reilly at Wyoming.

UNLV coach Bobby Hauck wouldn't divulge how the quarterbacks would split playing time but said much of it depends on how both perform. A hot quarterback is more apt to remain on the field.

"If (Herring) is in, I'll be fully supporting him," Reilly said. "I expect the same. We have a good relationship."

Reilly, who completed 7 of 16 passes for 79 yards in his one start at Wyoming, said having experience with the first unit is a benefit entering this game.

"I think it was big starting on the road and having to deal with the environment that we were in at Wyoming," he said.

Whoever is behind center knows this game against Colorado State is one UNLV needs to win. After this weekend, only the trip to New Mexico on Nov. 12 provides a reasonable shot at victory.

But the motivation to win goes beyond that for the Rebels. After their shocking 40-20 victory over Hawaii on Sept. 17, they have lost three in a row by a combined score of 119-30 that includes a one-sided defeat to lower-level Southern Utah.

UNLV, a 2½-point underdog today, needs to change the momentum. So does Colorado State.

"I'm sure Colorado State looks at us," Hauck said, "and thinks they've got a great chance to win the game."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.