The 2008 UNLV Rebels football team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...

 in National Collegiate Athletic Association

National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...

 (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football

College football

College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

 during the 2008 season

2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season

The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...

. UNLV competed as a member of the Mountain West Conference

Mountain West Conference

The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...

 (MWC) and played their home games at Sam Boyd Stadium

Sam Boyd Stadium

Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...

 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

. The Rebels were led by fourth-year head coach Mike Sanford

Mike Sanford

Mike Sanford is a college football coach, formerly the head coach at at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was recently released from his job as offensive assistant at the University of Louisville...

. UNLV finished the season with a 5–7 record (MWC: 2–6), narrowly missing bowl eligibility.

UNLV won all three of their out-of-conference games, including overtime

Overtime (sports)

Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...

 upsets of both of their opponents from Bowl Championship Series

Bowl Championship Series

The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...

 conferences: 15th-ranked Arizona State

2008 Arizona State Sun Devils football team

The 2008 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represents Arizona State University in the college football season of 2008-2009. It plays its home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona....

 of the Pac 10, 23–20, and Iowa State

2008 Iowa State Cyclones football team

The 2008 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented Iowa State University in the 2008-2009 college football season. The team was led by head coach Gene Chizik, who had coached the Cyclones since 2007...

 of the Big 12

Big 12 Conference

The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...

, 34–31. The Rebels led Colorado State

2008 Colorado State Rams football team

The 2008 CSU Rams football team represents Colorado State University in the college football 2008-2009 season. They play their home games at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium in Fort Collins, CO and were led by first year coach Steve Fairchild...

 in the fourth quarter, 28–27, but the Rams scored with 0:09 left to play and then on the ensuing kickoff

Kickoff (American football)

A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...

 recovered a fumble

Fumble

A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...

 and scored again. UNLV led Air Force

2008 Air Force Falcons football team

The 2008 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Air Force competed as a member of the Mountain West Conference .The team was led by...

 in the fourth quarter, 28–20, but lost by one point after the Falcons scored a touchdown

Touchdown

A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...

 and made a field goal

Field goal (football)

A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...

. The Rebels were tied at half and the end of the third quarter against 18th-ranked BYU

2008 BYU Cougars football team

The 2008 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2008 college football season.Prior to the 2008 season, BYU had won consecutive Mountain West Conference championship titles without losing a conference game. It had also finished with an 11-2 overall record for...

. In the final period, UNLV took a 35–34 lead, but lost after yielding a touchdown with 1:46 remaining to play. Despite losing starting

Starting lineup

A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...

 quarterback Omar Clayton

Omar Clayton

Omar A. Clayton is an American football quarterback. He currently plays college football for the UNLV Rebels at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.-Early life:...

 to an injury, the Rebels still managed victories over New Mexico

2008 New Mexico Lobos football team

The 2008 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. New Mexico competed as a member of the Mountain West Conference , and played their home games...

 and Wyoming

2008 Wyoming Cowboys football team

The 2008 Wyoming Cowboys football team represents the University of Wyoming in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team's head coach is Joe Glenn, who is entering his sixth year at Wyoming. They play their home games at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming and compete in the Mountain...

. UNLV entered the regular season finale with five wins and needed one more victory to attain bowl eligibility and, with it, very likely a bowl game

Bowl game

In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...

 invitation. The Rebels, however, surrendered 21 points in the fourth quarter against a "woeful" San Diego State

2008 San Diego State Aztecs football team

The 2008 San Diego State Aztecs football team will represent San Diego State University in the 2008 college football season. They are coached by Chuck Long and play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium, which is also the host of the San Diego Chargers. The 2008 season is expected to be rough for...

 team.

Schedule