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The Tony Sanchez era at UNLV got off to a pretty exciting start last weekend when the Rebels hung with Northern Illinois on the road for almost the entire contest.

No, UNLV wasn't able to pull off the rare road upset as a 20+ point underdog, but you could certainly see what all the excitement has been about. The Rebels played with a confidence that we haven't seen in quite some time. There was never a feeling that UNLV didn't have an opportunity to win the game.

As the minutes dwindled in the fourth quarter, so did the Rebels' freshness. Without being able to shed blocks, NIU did whatever it pleased on the ground, picking up big chunks of yards on each and every play as it marched towards the end zone drive after drive.

That's the bad news.

The good news is that UNLV was right there. The Rebels were even threatening to tie the game late before Devante Boyd dropped a pass he catches 99 out of 100 times on fourth down in NIU territory.

If Sanchez and his staff can get this roster to play with that energy and confidence for the remainder of the schedule, UNLV is going to be a tough out for any team in the Mountain West Conference.

This week the Rebels will, most likely, face their stiffest test of the season. A very good UCLA club comes to Sam Boyd Stadium for a rare nonconference home game against a ranked opponent. The Bruins are currently No. 13, but after dismantling a physical Virginia team last weekend have shown that ranking may be a little too low.

Freshman quarterback Josh Rosen looks like he could be one of the best at his position in the nation, despite his age. Rosen made all the throws against a Cavaliers defensive unit that is typically sound.

For the Rebels to stay in the game and give UCLA a fight, they will have to keep the offense on the field for long stretches. If the Huskies were able to wear down the thin UNLV defensive line, you have to assume that the bigger, deeper Bruins' offensive line will do the same.

Getting Keith Whitely, who averaged just over three yards a carry last week, churning early could save the UNLV legs later on, which will be needed. Keeping QB Blake Decker upright will be important, too. Decker got sacked three times, but didn't make any critical mistakes with the football.

UNLV looks like a team that is much improved from a year ago. It doesn't matter what the final score is this week, if we continue to see the Rebels growing as a team. Sanchez's toughest task this year will be keeping spirits high through this rugged three-game opening stretch. The first test was passed with flying colors. Let's see how the Rebels respond at home.

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