UNLV Unleashes Defensive Fury, Orji Runs Wild in Blowout Win Over Stallions In a performance that will be etched into the record books, the Rebels delivered a punishing display of power and speed on both sides of the ball, dismantling the Stallions 42-17 in front of a raucous crowd at Allegiant Stadium.
The headline? Twelve sacks. Four rushing touchdowns from quarterback Alex Orji. And a team that looked every bit the rising powerhouse fans in Las Vegas have been hoping for.
UNLV’s defensive front was relentless from the first snap. The Rebels tallied a staggering 12 sacks, tying the NCAA record for sacks in a game by a team, previously done in 2019 by Miami (OH) against Akron. Both the starting and backup quarterbacks for the visitors spent the night under siege, with nowhere to hide from a swarming pass rush led by a high-motor defensive line and a punishing blitz package.
“The defense was hunting tonight,” said analyst Jesse Palmer. “It wasn’t just pressure — it was total domination.”
But it wasn’t just the defense making noise — Alex Orji was a one-man wrecking crew on offense.
The dual-threat quarterback showcased why he's becoming one of the most dangerous playmakers in the country. Orji scored four rushing touchdowns, each more impressive than the last, using his legs to escape pressure, convert key third downs, and finish drives as the Rebels scored 35 unanswered points.
His final score came on a gutsy third-and-goal call, where he extended the play, rolled out, and walked untouched into the end zone — giving UNLV a commanding two-possession lead to start the fourth quarter.
“I like the aggressive play calling by the offensive coordinator,” said David Pollock. “They trusted Orji to make plays, and he delivered every single time.”
The Stallions kept things close in the first half and even led 17-14 at one point, but a missed field goal and three failed fourth-down conversions proved costly. Meanwhile, UNLV only got stronger as the game wore on, outscoring the visitors 31-3 in the second half.
Running back Jai'Den Thomas added a late-game exclamation point with a thunderous 57-yard touchdown run, breaking free through the middle and outrunning defenders to seal the game.
The Rebels move to 1-0 on the season, and if this performance is any indication, they’ve arrived with a chip on their shoulder — and a quarterback who looks poised for a breakout year.
