Memphis 27, UNLV 21 — Sportsinator

Memphis TigersvsUNLV Rebels

MEM 27/UNLV 21

FOXAllegiant Stadium

Things to say

Memphis beat UNLV 27-21 on the road at Allegiant Stadium.

opener

Memphis went into Vegas and stole one, 27-21. Came down to two Laforge field goals at the end. UNLV had chances and just couldn't punch it in late.

key player

Jackson Arnold put up 291 and two scores and even ran one in for UNLV, and they still lost. That's a stat line that gets you nothing.

hot take

Memphis won that with defense, not offense. When it mattered they bailed the offense out and made UNLV kick nothing but zeros in the red zone.

deep cut

Elijah Kinsler had two and a half sacks by himself. Memphis lived in the backfield on third-and-long all night.

exit

Anyway, 1-0 to start for Memphis. We'll see if that travels once the schedule gets real.

The recap

This one came down to the leg of Philippe Laforge, who booted a pair of field goals to flip a 21-21 slugfest into a 27-21 Memphis win in Vegas. UNLV's Jackson Arnold did everything he could in his debut, throwing for 291 and two scores plus a rushing touchdown, but the Rebels couldn't punch it in when it mattered and settled for a field goal to Memphis's two.

The turning point was Jaylin Carter's 36-yard house call that knotted it at 21, because from there Memphis leaned on Elijah Kinsler's 2.5 sacks and let the defense choke off UNLV's comeback. Marcus Stokes stayed efficient with two touchdown throws, and the Tigers walk out 1-0 while the Rebels are left kicking themselves.