In Week 2 of the 2025 college football season, the UCLA Bruins will travel to Las Vegas to take on the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at Allegiant Stadium. Scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2025, the game kicks off at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast on CBSS. With the Bruins looking to rebound from an early-season loss, this night game offers them a chance to reset their path.
The UCLA Bruins, part of the Big Ten conference, began their season with a challenging defeat against the Utah Utes, losing 43-10 at home. Despite their struggles in the opener, the Bruins aim to leverage this opportunity on the road to secure their first win. Their current season record stands at 0-1, with no road games yet under their belt.
Conversely, the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels have made a strong start, holding a 2-0 record, and coming off a victory over Sam Houston Bearkats by 38-21. Their performance at both home and away games shows promise, having already notched up a home win against Idaho State Bengals. As they host the Bruins, they will look to continue their winning momentum in front of their home fans.
UNLV vs UCLA At a Glance
- Game Location: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV
- Game Date & Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
- TV Broadcast: CBSS
- Weather: Outdoor Field
- UCLA Record: 0-1 this season
- UNLV Record: 2-0 this season
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Gear Up for Battle
Offensive Powerhouse
The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels have been a force offensively this season, ranking 4th in points for with 76 points. Their passing attack is particularly strong, with 481 passing yards, placing them 5th in the rankings. The ground game is also formidable, as they rank 3rd with 464 rushing yards.
First downs have been plentiful for the Runnin’ Rebels, achieving 45 so far this season, which ranks them 4th. This offensive efficiency is key to their success, consistently moving the chains and putting pressure on opposing defenses.
Defensive Stalwarts
On the defensive side, UNLV has shown resilience by allowing just 52 points against, ranking them 36th. They have been effective at pressuring quarterbacks, with 5 sacks, placing them 3rd overall. Their ability to intercept passes is also notable, with 5 interceptions ranking them 6th.
Despite their success in causing turnovers through interceptions, they have yet to recover a fumble this season. This is an area where they may look to improve as they continue their campaign.
Key Players to Watch
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea has been pivotal, with 444 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, ranking 5th and 13th respectively. Jai’Den Thomas stands out in the rushing department with 212 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, leading the league in both categories.
Jaden Bradley has been a reliable target in the passing game, with 12 receptions for 256 yards, leading the league in receiving yards. His ability to stretch the field is a vital component of the Runnin’ Rebels’ offensive strategy.
Recent Performances
In their recent game against Sam Houston Bearkats, the Runnin’ Rebels secured a victory with a score of 38-21. They displayed a balanced attack with 249 passing yards and 157 rushing yards.
Earlier, they outperformed Idaho State Bengals 38-31, showcasing their offensive depth with 232 passing yards and 307 rushing yards. This versatility in both the passing and rushing game makes them a challenging opponent.
Betting Trends
- SU All Games: 2-0 (100.0%)
- ATS All Games: 2-0 (100.0%)
- O/U All Games: 1-1 (50.0%)
- SU in Home Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU in Away Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS in Home Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS in Away Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U in Home Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U in Away Games: 0-1 (0.0%)
UCLA Bruins: A Look Ahead in the 2025 College Football Season
UCLA Offensive Performance
The UCLA Bruins have shown a challenging start to their 2025 season with a mere 10 points scored, placing them 44th in national rankings. Their passing game yielded 136 yards, ranking 105th, while their rushing yards totaled 84, which is 104th in the rankings.
Despite these low offensive numbers, the Bruins secured 14 first downs, placing them 27th in that category. They will need to improve in both passing and rushing to climb the ranks.
Defensive Challenges
Defensively, UCLA has allowed 43 points in their opening game, positioning them 30th in points against. Notably, their defense has not yet recorded any sacks, interceptions, or fumble recoveries.
This suggests that while they rank high in preventing turnovers, they need to apply more pressure on the opposing offenses to disrupt their plays effectively.
Recent Performance Against Utah
In their recent game against Utah, UCLA was outplayed, losing 43-10. The Bruins struggled to contain Utah’s rushing attack, which amassed 287 yards compared to UCLA’s 84.
UCLA’s passing game also faltered with only 136 yards, while Utah achieved 206. This indicates room for improvement on both sides of the ball.
Key Players to Watch
Nico Iamaleava, the Bruins’ quarterback, threw for 136 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His performance will be crucial in turning the offensive fortunes around.
On the ground, Anthony Woods managed only 13 rushing yards. Improving their run game will be essential in future games.
Upcoming Schedule
The Bruins’ next game is against the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at Allegiant Stadium, marking their first away game of the season. Following that, they will return home to face the New Mexico Lobos.
The team will have a challenging road test when they visit Michigan State in October. These games will be pivotal in assessing their progress this season.
Injury Concerns
UCLA is currently dealing with several injuries, including key positions such as offensive line and defensive back. The most notable injury is to wide receiver Rico Flores Jr., who is recovering from a torn ACL.
Their injury list could impact their depth and performance in upcoming games, making it crucial for backups to step up.
Team Betting Trends
- SU Last 3: 0-1 (0.0%)
- SU as Underdog: 0-1 (0.0%)
- ATS Last 3: 0-1 (0.0%)
- ATS as Underdog: 0-1 (0.0%)
- O/U Last 3: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U as Underdog: 1-0 (100.0%)
UNLV vs UCLA Prediction: UNLV +2.5
UNLV enters this game with a strong start to the season, holding a 2-0 record. Their offensive stats are impressive, ranking 4th in points scored and top 5 in both passing and rushing yards. Their ability to accumulate yardage and score consistently makes them a strong contender against UCLA.
UCLA, on the other hand, struggled in their season opener, scoring only 10 points. Their offensive rankings are concerning, particularly in passing and rushing yards where they rank 105th and 104th, respectively. This lack of offensive production could be a hindrance when playing a UNLV team that’s shown the capability to score efficiently.
The spread for this game has UCLA favored by 2.5 points. However, given UNLV’s early season form and UCLA’s struggles, UNLV +2.5 appears to be a favorable bet. UNLV’s strong performance at home, coupled with a solid ATS record this season, suggests they can cover this spread.
While playing at home in Allegiant Stadium, UNLV’s momentum and offensive power will likely give them an edge in this contest. The predicted final score is UNLV 31 – UCLA 27, aligning with a selection of UNLV +2.5.
- UNLV vs UCLA Prediction: UNLV +2.5
- UNLV vs UCLA Score: UNLV 31 – UCLA 27
