SAN JOSE, Calif. — In its second season under coach Tony Sanchez, UNLV’s football team was expected to beat the so-called bad teams on the schedule.
It turns out the Rebels are the bad team.
Facing a virtual must-win to keep its slim bowl hopes alive against a San Jose State squad that entered as one of the worst teams in the country, UNLV trailed 27-10 at halftime and never recovered in a 30-24 loss Saturday night at CEFCU Stadium.
Kurt Palandech replaced ineffective starting quarterback Dalton Sneed in the second quarter and almost helped bring the Rebels all the way back from a 20-point second-half deficit, throwing for a score in the third quarter and running for a score in the fourth before throwing an interception in the final minute after driving UNLV to the San Jose State 44.