Part of getting ready for The Ohio State Buckeyes game for me is to scrounge through the media guide of that week’s opponent. The tidbits of information turned up usually don’t amount to much of anything other than some trivial knowledge you can use to impress the others at your local tailgate/watch party/living room.
These ten items will expand your mind and make you sound like the smartest guy or gal there…even if you are only reciting them to your dog. (Trust me, the dogs are impressed by this knowledge).
In an effort to make you sound more intelligent, I present to you this week’s edition of the #B1GThingsToKnow: UNLV.
- This is the first ever matchup between Ohio State and UNLV. The Rebels have only made one other trip to the Buckeye State, to take on Akron in the 1976 Division II Playoffs
- UNLV Head Coach Tony Sanchez’s last job before UNLV was as the head coach at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High School. While there, he lead the Gaels (and current OSU players Tate Martell & Haskell Garrett) to an undefeated season along with the USA Today National Championship.
- There are no Ohio natives listed on the UNLV roster in 2017. There are 2 players from Nevada on Ohio State’s roster (the aforementioned Martell & Garrett).
- Tony Sanchez is just the fifth head coach in the modern era to make the leap straight from high school head coach to NCAA FBS head coach.
- Ohio State AD Gene Smith’s wife Sheila previously served as UNLV Head Women’s Basketball Coach from 1980-1988.
- UNLV is currently 2-14 against current members of the Big Ten. That record includes a 2-8 record against Wisconsin along with 0-2 vs Northwestern & Minnesota. They have also lost their only matchups with Michigan and Nebraska.
- UNLV enters the Ohio State game ranked 8th nationally in total offense (564 yards/game) but also rank 90th in total defense, giving up 416.5 yards per game.
- Sr Wide Receiver Devonte Boyd leads the nation in yards per reception. In 2017, he is averaging 34.7 yards per catch. (6 receptions, 208 yards, 2 TDs)
- Boyd is also the UNLV record holder for 100 yard receiving games in a career with 13 such games
- Starting running back Lexington Thomas is currently 6th in the UNLV record books for most career 100 yard rushing games, currently sitting at 9.
There you have it. All of the meaningless trivia you could possibly need to impress your fellow Buckeyes.