By Colin McGuigan
GAME 14: No. 24 Rebels In LA Looking For First Bowl Win Since 2000
UNLV GAME NOTES
https://unlvrebels.com/documents/2024/12/15/UNLV_FB_Game_14_LA_Bowl_vs._Cal.pdf
GAME 14: Art of Sport LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk
#24 UNLV REBELS (10-3/6-1 MW)
vs.
California (6-6/2-6 ACC)
DATE: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024
KICKOFF: 6:05 pm PT
SITE: SoFi Stadium (70,240/Artificial) Inglewood, CA
TV: ESPN (Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick & Kris Budden)
LV RADIO: ESPN 1100 AM & 100.9 FM (Matt Neverett, Caleb Herring & Steve Cofield)
NATIONAL RADIO: ESPN Radio (Roxy Bernstein & Max Starks)
WEDNESDAY’S PREVIEW…
No. 24 UNLV (10-3/6-1), which has reached double-digit wins for only the third time in program history (1974, 1984), heads a few hours west to face Cal (6-6/2-6) in the 2024 Art of Sport LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk … With the departure of Barry Odom to Purdue, the Rebels will be led in the game by Interim Head Coach Del Alexander, who moved from coaching WRs on Dec. 8 … UNLV announced Odom’s full-time replacement on Dec. 12 with the hiring of new head coach Dan Mullen … The Rebels are ranked No. 24 in all three polls (AP/Coaches/CFP) after earning their first-ever national ranking earlier this season, rising as high as No. 19 in the AP and Coaches list on Dec. 1 … The Rebels, who come in with a 3-2 all-time bowl record, look for their first postseason victory since John Robinson’s squad downed Arkansas in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl … UNLV AD Erick Harper headed football operations at Arizona during the career of LA Bowl Host Rob Gronkowski’s career with the Wildcats … Although it has a long history with Los Angeles-area opponents, beginning with playing at Azusa Pacific for the second game in Rebel Football history on Sept. 21, 1968, UNLV will be taking the field in LA County for the first time since facing San Diego State in 2020 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson when the Aztecs were displaced while building a new stadium … UNLV is 0-1 in games played on a Wednesday, losing to North Texas on Jan. 1, 2014, in the Heart of Dallas Bowl at Cotton Bowl Stadium.
REBELS vs. GOLDEN BEARS NOTES..
Cal and UNLV have only faced each other one time as the Golden Bears won 20-14 in Berkeley on Sept. 10, 2022 … These programs were supposed to originally meet in 2020 in what was slated to be the first game at Allegiant Stadium but the matchup was postponed because of the pandemic. Cal is now scheduled to make the return trip to Las Vegas on Oct. 3, 2026 … UNLV fourth-year TE coach Nate Longshore was a starting QB at Cal (2005-08), including helping win a share of the 2006 Pac-12 title … Cal DB/PR Nohl Williams transferred to Cal after starting 23 games at UNLV from 2020-22 … Cal DB coach Tre Watson served the same role for the Rebels in 2020 … Cal Defensive Analyst Michael Bruno coached ILBs at UNLV in 2022.
COURTESY UNLV ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Cal Squares Off With No. 24 UNLV At LA Bowl
Golden Bears, Rebels Kick Off December 18 At SoFi Stadium
GAME NOTES
https://calbears.com/documents/2024/12/14/24FB-Cal-GameNotes_LA_Bowl_vs_UNLV.pdf
The California football team takes the field for a final time in 2024 with a 6 p.m. PT kickoff on Wednesday vs. No. 24 UNLV in the Art of Sport LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk at SoFi Stadium. The Golden Bears (6-6) and Rebels (10-3) will meet for the second time in history.
WEDNESDAY LINEUP
Venue: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
Time: 6 p.m. PT
Television (ESPN): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline)
National Radio: ESPN Radio – Roxy Bernstein (play-by-play), Max Starks (analyst)
Cal Bears Sports Network Powered By Northern California Toyota Dealers: 810 AM
Justin Allegri (play-by-play), Mike Pawlawski (analyst), Kevin Danna (sideline); SiriusXM Ch. 371 SXM App 371, The Varsity App
BOWL BITS …
– Cal is in a bowl game for the second straight season after playing in the 2023 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. The Bears are making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl and 2019 Redbox Bowl.
– Cal clinched a bowl berth for the second straight campaign by recording its sixth win of the season with a 24-21 victory over Stanford in the 127th Big Game on November 23.
– Cal is making its 26th bowl appearance and is 12-12-1 all-time.
CAL …
– Is playing UNLV for the second time ever with the Bears winning 20-14 in Berkeley on Sept. 10, 2022.
– Has outscored 2024 opponents 313-266. Cal’s six wins have been by an average of 16 points per game and its six losses by an average of 8.2.
– Lost only a single game by more than one score (38-6 in regular-season finale at then-No. 9 SMU).
– Features a defense that is allowing 10.6 points fewer per contest (22.2) than the 32.8 it gave up in 2023.
– Ranks in top 20 nationally in five categories related to turnovers, including passes intercepted (T4th, 17); in which the Bears also lead the ACC; as well as fumbles lost (T6th, 3), turnover margin (T9th, +1.00 per game, +12), turnovers lost (T15th, 10) and turnovers gained (T16th, 22).
– Did not force a takeaway during its final three games after a previous string of 11 straight with at least one takeaway dating back to the final two games of 2023.
– Features two members of the program with ties to UNLV in DB Nohl Williams and defensive backs coach Tre Watson. Williams played for the Rebels from 2020-22 while Watson was UNLV’s defensive backs coach in 2020.
– Has 31 players on its roster who went through senior ceremonies prior to the team’s final home game against Stanford and could potentially be playing in their final game at Cal.
– Has 25 players with hometowns in Southern California.
NATIONALLY NOTABLE INDIVIDUALS …
– DB Nohl Williams leads the nation with seven interceptions, is tied for third with 16 passes defended, tied for third with one kickoff return touchdown, and tied for fourth with one interception return TD.
– P Lachlan Wilson is 12th in punting average (45.0 ypp).
– DB Cam Sidney is tied for 17th with two fumble recoveries.
– OLB Xavier Carlton is tied for 17th in total sacks (9.0) and tied for 18th in sacks per game (0.75).
– ILB Teddye Buchanan is tied for 17th in tackles (112) and tied for 18th in tackles per game (9.3).
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COURTESY CALIFORNIA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
