College football is unpredictable, so anything can happen until the very last tick of the clock. Surely, last-second victories don’t come often, but when they do, they’re legendary. How could you forget Auburn’s 2013 showdown with Alabama? With the score tied and a single second left, Chris Davis snagged a missed field goal for the win. And then the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, where Boise State pulled off a stunning 43-42 upset over Oklahoma in a dramatic finish. Now, while moments like these have happened in the past, Troy Calhoun’s squad is now feeling that same sting of losing in the final minute.

Before facing Calhoun’s Air Force, UNLV HC Dan Mullen kept it simple, stating, “The best thing about being 5-0 is you have a chance to be 6-0.” The Rebels edged out a win against the Falcons 51-48, thanks to QB Anthony Colandrea. He broke free for a 19-yard TD run with just 36 seconds left. Meanwhile, the Air Force piled up 428 rushing yards. But it wasn’t enough to win only because of one mistake. A 40-yard field goal attempt in the final 2 seconds missed, denying the Falcons a shot at OT. And College football insider Brett McMurphy summed it up perfectly, writing, “Air Force misses last-second field goal and UNLV somehow outlasts the Falcons.” Now, while UNLV claimed the victory, the Falcons didn’t back down.

The Rebels were in a relentless back-and-forth battle until the final seconds. And as the Air Force’s offense refused to slow down, the lead kept swinging. QB Liam Szarka was a dual-threat nightmare. He racked up 175 passing yards and a TD. But that’s not all, as he also had 136 rushing yards. And that’s why UNLV HC said, “He did a great job.” RB Owen Allen dominated on the ground, rushing for 192 yards, while Cade Harris added a pair of TDs to keep the Falcons in striking distance. But it was UNLV’s day, and their head coach didn’t hesitate to show respect to the opponent.

When the dust settled nearly four hours later, Dan Mullen’s squad remained undefeated in front of a homecoming crowd at Allegiant Stadium. “It went back and forth,” admitted Mullen. “It could’ve gone either way. But I’m so proud of the way our guys kept battling.” Then he paused to give credit where it was due and said, “I want to give Air Force a lot of credit. We knew they had an explosive offense.” Now, while the HC knows it was a tough battle, the players really enjoyed the game, with Colandrea at the helm.

Player reactions after the win

Air Force vs UNLV, this game was college football chaos at its finest. And neither defense could slow the other down. The UNLV QB Colandrea thrived under pressure, and threw for 361 yards. This included an 86-yard strike to DaeDae Reynolds. His reaction after the game was candid. “It was a fun game to be in,” he said.

UNLV’s Jaden Bradley even threw a TD pass to TE Var’Keyes Gumms. But in the end, Air Force kicker Jacob Medina’s 40-yard field goal attempt sailed wide. “It was a crazy game,” said UNLV LB Marsel McDuffie. “We gave up 48, but we got the dub.” He recovered a botched handoff for a UNLV TD. But despite having a strong team, concerns lingered from the Air Force.

Nine penalties for 79 yards from Air Force. Still, covering the Falcons’ option attack wasn’t easy. But UNLV remains 6-0 and looks ahead to a trip to Boise State. “We know it’s going to be a rowdy environment, so we have to be ready to play,” remarked McDuffie. It remains to be seen if Dan Mullen can keep his Rebels undefeated.