JONESBORO -- Saturday represents a chance.
"It's huge for us," ASU Coach Blake Anderson said.
Arkansas State University will welcome UNLV at 6 p.m. today into Centennial Bank Stadium. From there, an opportunity to capitalize on the most successful beginning to a season since Anderson took charge in late 2013 will present itself.
ASU is 2-1 through three games for the fifth time since it moved to FBS status in 1992 (1995, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018). The last time the Red Wolves began 3-1 or better was 2008. Prior to that, it was 1986.
"We want to get this program to a point where we're in the national conversation for the Group of Five," Anderson said. "It's going to take 3-1 and 4-0 type records in nonconference -- and then, obviously, producing in conference play to get that done."
The Red Wolves have produced thus far.
Arkansas State pummelled Southeast Missouri State from the FCS by 27 points at home Sept. 1. Top-ranked Alabama took a 50-point victory from their matchup with ASU in Week 2.
In Week 3, ASU engineered its first nonconference road victory since 2008 by halting Tulsa's fourth-quarter comeback with a stiff defense and an offense that managed the game clock.
"Schedules have been tough," Anderson said. "Teams have been young and inexperienced. This one is too, but they're growing up and they're growing up quickly. I think Saturday was a good sign of that."
A win this Saturday against UNLV -- a program ASU has not faced since a loss in Las Vegas in 1995 -- would springboard the Red Wolves into Sun Belt Conference play with their best start during the Anderson era.
Like ASU, UNLV is 2-1 with a 43-21 loss to a major program (USC) as its only blemish. The Rebels boast a run-heavy offense that has carved up three defenses for more than 300 yards rushing.
The Rebels have two headliners in their running game: senior tailback Lexington Thomas and sophomore quarterback Armani Rogers, both of whom are averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game. The duo has combined for 690 total rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
Thomas, who carried the ball 30 times last week, is a former sprinter that's clocked a 100-meter dash in 10.5 seconds and is the primary conductor of UNLV's ground attack.
"Stuff the holes and don't give him anywhere to run," ASU junior defensive lineman Forrest Merrill said. "Yeah, he is very fast. But we're going to play our type of ball and get in there and hopefully shut him down."
The Rebels aren't much interested in passing, but they can do it. Rogers is 29-for-61 passing with 6 touchdowns and 1 interception and is averaging 115.33 passing yards per game -- a touch more than his 102.33 rushing yards per game.
The Rebels are the nation's third-best rushing team. Ten total rushing touchdowns, 345.2 yards per game and an average of 6.36 yards per carry on 163 rushes drive their offense -- one of seven programs in the country averaging more than 300 rushing yards per game.
"It's going to be a dogfight," UNLV Coach Tony Sanchez told reporters Monday.
Today’s game
UNLV AT ARKANSAS STATE
WHEN 6 p.m.
WHERE Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro
RECORDS UNLV 2-1, Arkansas State 2-1
TV None
Arkansas State (2-1)
DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT
Sept. 1 SE Missouri St. W, 48-21
Sept. 8 at Alabama L, 57-7
Sept. 15 at Tulsa W, 29-20
Sept. 22 UNLV 6 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Ga. Southern* 5 p.m.
Oct. 9 Appalachian St.* 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 Georgia State* 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 27 at La.-Lafayette* 6 p.m.
Nov. 3 South Alabama* 2 p.m.
Nov. 10 at Coastal Carolina* TBA
Nov. 17 La.-Monroe* 2 p.m.
Nov. 24 at Texas State* 3 p.m.
*Sun Belt game
Sports on 09/22/2018