UNLV vs. Air Force 2025 Recap: Rebels Sneak By In Shootout, Win 51-48 in Week 7

With 1200 yards, 99 points, and 11 lead changes, this was Mountain West madness in Las Vegas between the UNLV Rebels and the Air Force Falcons in Week 7. UNLV held on to defeat Air Force 51-48. Moving to 6-0 under head coach Dan Mullen, the Rebels are now bowl eligible for the third straight season and have their sights set on the Mountain West title.

Here is how this thriller played out and how UNLV held off Air Force to get their first home win over the Falcons since 2012.

UNLV vs. Air Force 2025: Week 7 Football Recap

Welcome Home Rebels

It was UNLV’s homecoming, and after not playing at home in over a month, the Rebels’ offense took some time to find its groove. The offense went three-and-out on the opening drive, and even though Anthony Colandrea uncorked a deep ball that should’ve been a chunk play, it hit Daejon Reynolds in stride and got dropped. 

Air Force took over and immediately tested UNLV’s defense with a fourth-and-three attempt. They nearly converted on their own deep shot, but it fell incomplete, and the Rebels got off the field.

UNLV’s second drive wasn’t any cleaner. They found the end zone, but the touchdown got wiped out thanks to offsetting penalties, and they were forced to punt again. 

Air Force couldn’t capitalize, the Rebels stuffed the run and forced another punt, setting the stage for the first real momentum swing of the game.

On UNLV’s third possession, things finally clicked. Colandrea hit Jayden Bradley on a 56-yard catch-and-run that instantly lit the crowd and flipped the field. A few snaps later, he kept the ball on a read option and ran it in himself, giving UNLV the 7–0 lead.

Air Force answered with their best sequence of the quarter. Szarka ripped off a couple of big gains out of the option and then found tight end Jonah Dawson streaking wide open down to the UNLV 13. A few plays later, an unnecessary roughness call on UNLV helped them finish the drive, as Cade Harris scored on a toss to the left to tie the game at seven. 

UNLV grabbed the lead early in the second with a Ramon Villea 45-yard field goal after the offense stalled out, making it 10–7 Rebels. But that momentum didn’t last long.

UNLV’s worst enemy wasn’t the option early on but it was the flags. A roughing-the-passer call gave Air Force life yet again, and on the next play, Owen Allen punched in a 21-yard touchdown to flip the lead.

Then came one of the bigger gambles of the half. UNLV went for it on their own side of the field and turned it over on downs, handing Air Force a short field. The Falcons answered by converting a fourth down of their own, and once again Allen made the Rebels pay, going 28 yards for a touchdown.

Jai’Den Thomas gave the Rebels a pulse on the next drive, catching a swing pass and shaking loose a couple of defenders to extend the possession. UNLV desperately needed points before halftime, and they had to settle for another Villea field goal, trimming the deficit to 21–13 at the break.

Let The Madness Unfold

Air Force started the second half with a 21-13 lead, but on the first play of the half, a fumble on the option transfer gave UNLV the ball at the 16-yard line. 

The Rebels would run a trick play, where Colandrea threw a screen pass to Jayden Bradley, who tossed it to Var’Keyes Gumms for a touchdown. UNLV wanted the two-point conversion, but a false start made them take the extra point, cutting the Air Force lead to one point. 

Air Force went three-and-out, and you could feel the momentum finally lean UNLV’s way. Colandrea made them pay fast. Daejon Reynolds got loose and was completely uncovered for an 89-yard touchdown. The two-point try failed again, but the Rebels were back on top 26-21 two minutes into the third quarter.

Owen Allen answered with a big run to get Air Force deep into UNLV territory. Then Szarka tossed a 50/50 ball to tight end Bruin Fleischmann, and he came down with it to grab the lead back at 28-26. All of this happened in the first five minutes of the half.

UNLV responded with another strong drive and punched down to the Air Force 1-yard line. The Falcons stood them up, and Dan Mullen took the points. Villea drilled his third field goal of the day to put the Rebels back in front 29-28.

Liam Szarka and the Air Force offense refused to disappear. The triple option was rolling, and they kept hitting just enough through the air to keep UNLV off balance. They drove to the Rebel one-yard line, and Szarka finished it to put the Falcons back in front.

Colandrea tried to answer with a deep ball down the left sideline to Jayden Bradley, but Bradley dropped it. Instead of letting that kill the drive, Colandrea escaped a sack on the next play, tight-roped the sideline, and dove into the end zone on what looked like a 51-yard touchdown. The replay showed he barely stepped out at the 27, so the score came off the board.

UNLV stayed in rhythm and kept the drive alive, working back into the red zone. Keyvone Lee punched in a two-yard touchdown, and the Rebels finally converted a two-point try to go up 37-34.

Just Hold On We’re Going Home

Air Force answered with their best drive of the game. The triple option was in full rhythm, every read was clean, and Cade Harris scored again on another toss play to take a 41-37 lead with six minutes left.

Down four, UNLV turned to its best offensive player. Jai’Den Thomas broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown, showing off his burst and power, and the Rebels took back the lead 44-41.

Air Force drove again with a tying field goal, but came up short on a third-and-seven. And then, once again, an untimely personal foul on UNLV bailed them out and gave the Falcons a first-and-goal at the five. Szarka scored on the next play to flip the lead back yet again.

It didn’t last. Colandrea needed less than a minute, just 37 seconds, to respond. He led the Rebels back down the field and finished it on a 19-yard scramble, putting UNLV on top 51-48.

Air Force still had their shot. They moved the ball with the option and reached the UNLV 23, setting up a tying field goal attempt. Jacob Medina came out to push the game into overtime and missed.

What Is Next For UNLV?

This was one of the most thrilling games UNLV has played inside Allegiant Stadium in recent memory. It also needs to be noted that the Air Force Falcons truly played every down with an incredible effort, and if Medina makes the tying field goal, who knows how this game ends, or should I say how many more points would have been scored?

But as for UNLV, this is a squad that lost 60 players to the transfer portal, and really have asked the program to invest on head coach Dan Mullen. So far? That investment is another bowl eligible season, the best start in program history and a very realistic shot at playing in the Mountain West title game.

Next week, UNLV will be looking for, in what I would say their biggest win in program history. As they head off to Boise State to take on the Broncos, a win there would bring a true turning of the guard of where and who the Mountain West runs through.