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Rebels Set to Invade Hawaii's Island in 2026
6 Sep
Summary
- UNLV will be the first team to visit The Island in 2026.
- Jackson Arnold's offense showed promise despite defensive struggles.
- Hawaii's defense struggled against Stanford's offense.
UNLV is scheduled to make history in 2026 as the inaugural visiting team at The Island. The Rebels faced a setback in Week 0 against Memphis but have a critical matchup against Hawaii to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Hawaii, also coming off a Week 0 loss to Stanford, views this game as essential for their Mountain West contention. The Rebels are favored by three points on the road, despite the notorious home-field advantage Hawaii typically enjoys.
Quarterback Jackson Arnold showcased an impressive offensive performance for UNLV, demonstrating threats both through the air and on the ground. However, his efficiency needs improvement. He will face a Hawaii defense that was unable to contain Stanford's offense, which is projected to be one of the weaker Power 4 units.
Despite Hawaii's offensive playmaker Micah Alejado's ability to change games, he is up against a similar talent in Arnold. The UNLV defense, though inconsistent, faces a Hawaii offense that also took time to gain momentum against Stanford. The betting line may be inflated due to Hawaii's home-field advantage, suggesting UNLV could cover the spread.
