BYU Football: Did you know? (BYU vs. UNLV)

Final play of the BYU-UNLV game in 2008 (Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)


Game day is almost here for the BYU Cougars and the UNLV Running Rebels. Here are trivia and fun facts to help you impress your friends and family.

Did you know that the first meeting between the two schools in 1978 was played in Japan?

Did you know Cameron Jensen had a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 2004 meeting?

Did you know that Owen Pochman kicked five field goals in the 1999 meeting?

Did you know that BYU has had six different players rush for over 100 yards in a game against UNLV?

  1. Scott Pettis, 100 yards, 1981 
  2. Luke Staley, 167 yards, 2000
  3. Marcus Whalen, 105 yards, 2002
  4. Curtis Brown, 102 yards, 2004; 148 yards, 2006 
  5. Mike Hague, 123 yards, 2006 
  6. Harvey Unga, 177 yards, 2007; 149 yards, 2009

Did you know BYU did not allow UNLV to convert a single third down (0-8) in 1982?

Did you know that Steve Sarkisian passed for 400 yards in the 1996 meeting?

Did you know that for three straight seasons BYU had a kickoff return of at least 50 yards?

  1. 2008: Austin Collie, 75 yards
  2. 2009: O'Neill Chambers, 97 yards
  3. 2010: Cody Hoffman, 50 yards

Did you know BYU has shutout UNLV twice? (1982, 1999)

Did you know BYU has had over 500 yards total offense the last three meetings?

  • 611 yards in 2009
  • 516 yards in 2010
  • 592 yards in 2014

Did you know that Andrew Rich intercepted a hail Mary in the end zone on the final play of the game in 2008 to secure victory?

Did you know BYU has won the last seven meetings?

Did you know John Beck set a school record with 67 pass attempts in the 2004 meeting?

Did you know three Cougar punters have had punts longer than 60 yards against UNLV?

  1. JD Hartsfield, 74 yards, 1998
  2. Jesse Sowards, 65 yards, 1998
  3. Matt Payne, 63 yards, 2004

Did you know BYU has had eight different players with 100 yards receiving in a game against UNLV?

  1. Mike Chronister, 138 yards, 1978
  2. Gordon Hudson, 132 yards, 1982
  3. Mark Atuaia, 105 yards, 1996
  4. Ben Horton, 109 yards, 1998
  5. Margin Hooks, 125 yards, 1998; 108 yards, 1999
  6. Todd Watkins, 117 yards, 2004
  7. Austin Collie, 113 yards, 2008
  8. Mitch Mathews, 120 yards, 2014

Did you know that Waymon Hamilton (1981) and Harvey Unga (2009) have scored three touchdowns in a single meeting?

Did you know that BYU has scored over 50 points in six meetings?

  1. 54 points, 1980
  2. 63 points, 1996
  3. 55 points, 2005
  4. 52 points, 2006
  5. 59 points, 2009
  6. 55 points, 2010

Did you know that Jim McMahon was responsible for seven touchdowns (5 passing, 2 rushing) in the 1980 meeting?

Did you know that John Beck (218.3 in 2006) and Max Hall (201.8 in 2009) have had a pass efficiency rating over 200?

Did you know that BYU has held the Running Rebels to less than 50 yards rushing five times?

  1. 15 yards, 1982
  2. 24 yards, 1999
  3. 41 yards, 2000
  4. 2 yards, 2005
  5. 22 yards, 2010

Did you know BYU leads the all-time series 16-3, with a perfect 8-0 record in Las Vegas?

The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com

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