The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Battle for the Fremont Cannon

Nevada25-17UNLV
Regional Program IV#122 of 138–Regional Program II#93 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 28 · 9 pm ET, 24 days away.

Nevada leads the all-time series 25-17. They've met 42 times since 1978. UNLV has won the last 4.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Nevada
Transfer portal
-3
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -22
UNLV
Win total
7.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +5
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe UNLV's offensive line is struggling to protect the quarterback
Some fun offense to see in the opening weekend, but sad to see the UNLV o-line struggle so much at basic protection at the end
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1978–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeNevadaUNLVevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Nevada won, gray: UNLV won)1960198020002020

The identity war

UNLV was the more pass-heavy program — then Nevada took it over.

UNLV threw it more in 10 of 12 seasons, 2004–2015. Since 2016, Nevada has led 10 of 11. Real exceptions: 2004, 2011, 2025.

more passmore runNevadaUNLV2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262016Nevada 6.8 ptsNevada won 45-102004Nevada 8.2 ptsUNLV won 48-132011Nevada 4.5 ptsNevada won 37-0
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Nevada once won 8 in a row. The biggest win was Nevada by 42 in 1991. The biggest crowd, 40,122, was in 2024.

The coaching duels

Chris Ault vs Mike Sanford Sr.5-0
Chris Tormey vs John Robinson0-4
Jeff Tisdel vs Jeff Horton3-0
Chris Ault vs Bobby Hauck3-0
Jay Norvell vs Tony Sanchez1-2
Chris Ault vs Jeff Horton1-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
31-32
UNLV leads
1st-rounders
0-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
NevadaUNLV
1970s1-7
1980s4-6
1990s6-6
2000s6-11
2010s11-1
2020s3-1

Best picks, either side

2018Austin Corbett Offensive Guard · Cleveland BrownsRd 2, pick 1#33 overall
2014Joel Bitonio Offensive Tackle · Cleveland BrownsRd 2, pick 3#35 overall
2011Colin Kaepernick Quarterback · San Francisco 49ersRd 2, pick 4#36 overall
1985Randall Cunningham Quarterback · Philadelphia EaglesRd 2, pick 9#37 overall
2007Eric Wright Defensive Back · Cleveland BrownsRd 2, pick 21#53 overall
1977Glenn Carano Quarterback · Dallas CowboysRd 2, pick 26#54 overall
1979Aaron Mitchell Defensive Back · Dallas CowboysRd 2, pick 27#55 overall
2002Anton Palepoi Defensive End · Seattle SeahawksRd 2, pick 28#60 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Nevada1.35×its own average home crowd
2025UNLV42-17
2024UNLV38-14
2023UNLV45-27
2022UNLV27-22
2021Nevada51-20
2020Nevada37-19
2019UNLV33-30Nevada — decided by 3
2018UNLV34-29Nevada — Nevada favored by 14.0
2017Nevada23-16
2016Nevada45-10UNLV — UNLV routed by 35
2015UNLV23-17
2014Nevada49-27
2013UNLV27-22
2012Nevada42-37

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Nevada’s chance to win through that meeting. Nevada is 0-3 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025UNLV 42-17Nevada lost 17-42 vs UNLV. Chance to win started at 35%, low under 1%, high 35%.Busy
2024UNLV 38-14Nevada lost 14-38 at UNLV. Chance to win started at 9%, low under 1%, high 16%.
2022UNLV 27-22Nevada lost 22-27 at UNLV. Chance to win started at 17%, low under 1%, high 65%.
2021Nevada 51-20Nevada won 51-20 vs UNLV. Chance to win started at 92%, low 92%, high better than 99%.
2020Nevada 37-19Nevada won 37-19 at UNLV. Chance to win started at 84%, low 77%, high better than 99%.
2019UNLV 33-30Nevada lost 30-33 vs UNLV. Chance to win started at 71%, low under 1%, high 78%.
2018UNLV 34-29Nevada lost 29-34 at UNLV. Chance to win started at 84%, low 11%, high 99%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “Let drop 100 F them !”
    A UNLV fan

Meetings with their own story page

11 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.