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UNLV at Sam Houston College Football Preview: August 29, 2025
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The 2025 college football season is heating up, and on Friday, August 29, the UNLV Rebels travel to Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas, for a non-conference showdown against the Sam Houston Bearkats. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 PM EST, with national broadcast details available via local listings.
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This early-season tilt features two programs navigating major roster overhauls, setting the stage for an unpredictable matchup between rebuilding squads.
Team Overviews
Sam Houston Bearkats (Conference USA):
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Fresh off a solid 2024 season, the Bearkats posted a 10-3 overall record and went 6-2 in CUSA, culminating in a 31-26 New Orleans Bowl triumph over Georgia Southern. They clinched bowl eligibility with a hard-fought 10-7 road victory at FIU on October 22, 2024, underscoring their quick FBS adjustment in year two.
Fresh off a solid 2024 season, the Bearkats posted a 10-3 overall record and went 6-2 in CUSA, culminating in a 31-26 New Orleans Bowl triumph over Georgia Southern. They clinched bowl eligibility with a hard-fought 10-7 road victory at FIU on October 22, 2024, underscoring their quick FBS adjustment in year two.
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Their late-season form was particularly notable: a 5-2 mark in the final seven regular-season games, including wins over UTEP (42-24), FIU (10-7), Jacksonville State (35-28), Louisiana Tech (34-27), and Middle Tennessee (31-28), offset by setbacks against Western Kentucky (14-31) and Liberty (21-42).
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That closing stretch highlighted their resilience under pressure. For 2025, Sam Houston is dealing with extensive changes, including a slew of new players and a fresh head coach at the helm. However, they’ve already shaken off the rust with a Week 0 game, giving them valuable on-field reps to refine their approach heading into this matchup.
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UNLV Rebels (Mountain West Conference):
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UNLV turned heads in 2024 with an 11-3 record and a 6-1 MWC ledger, emerging as a Group of Five contender. Entering 2025, the Rebels are in transition mode under new head coach Dan Mullen, who brings SEC pedigree from stints at Florida and Mississippi State.
UNLV turned heads in 2024 with an 11-3 record and a 6-1 MWC ledger, emerging as a Group of Five contender. Entering 2025, the Rebels are in transition mode under new head coach Dan Mullen, who brings SEC pedigree from stints at Florida and Mississippi State.
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With only one returning starter on each side of the ball, Mullen has aggressively rebuilt via the transfer portal, landing a host of Power 4 talent to bolster the roster. Like Sam Houston, UNLV has a Week 0 contest in the books, providing early-season experience as they integrate their revamped lineup.
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Key Storylines and Betting Insights
Both teams enter this game with the advantage of having already played in Week 0, allowing them to work out kinks and gain real-game momentum. That levels the playing field in terms of preparation, but UNLV appears to hold the edge in overall talent, thanks to Mullen’s portal hauls and his offensive expertise.
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If modeled off last year’s rosters, this could have been a 28-17 UNLV win, though the massive turnover on both sides adds uncertainty.
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The Rebels are listed as -13.5 favorites, with an over/under of 56.5, implying expectations of a decisive, potentially high-scoring affair. While UNLV’s superior coaching and depth make them the likely winners, laying double digits in a game rife with new faces is risky.
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This write up was done prior to each teams previous weeks games. We’ll monitor how they do and will update this article if need be. For now, this game is a total pass for us!
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