The Other Side of the Wall: Nevada
There will be a lot of firsts on Saturday.
This is the first matchup between the Trojans and the Wolf Pack, the first game under Coach Gerad Parker, the and the first new opponent for Troy since the 2022 Cure Bowl.
Troy was the first Alabama team to play in Nevada, and the Wolf Pack will be the first to return the favor Saturday. Their closest stop was a 2013 beatdown in Tallahassee.
In 1977 UNLV hosted Troy in week two, 350 miles southeast of of the Nevada-Reno campus. Troy will make the return trip in 2031, a full 54 years after the 35-28 loss to the Runnin’ Rebels.
Nevada is also Troy’s first Mountain West opponent since losing to Boise State in 2017 and 2018. The Broncos are the only true Mountain West foe Troy has ever faced too, despite being 2-4 against teams currently in the MWC.
Troy is 2-1 against Utah State, but the Aggies and the Trojans moved from I-A Independence to the Sun Belt—one after the other—from 2002-2004.
On the other hand, Texas State dealt Nevada one of its ten losses last year in San Marcos.
The two teams seemed to be trending in opposite directions, but since both teams got new head coaches, how much closer are they?
| Team | Nevada |
|---|---|
| Time, Network | 6 pm, ESPN+ |
| 2023 Record | 2-10 (2-6) |
| Troy’s Record | First Matchup |
| Last Matchup | N/A |
| Preseason Conf. Rank | 1st WAC |
| FPI Rank | 107 (Up 13) |
| FPI Win% (Troy) | 76.3% (Down from 82.5%) |
| Spread | Troy -8 |
The good news? Troy gets the fortunate advantage of a free week of film and stats to pore through.
The better news? Troy gets to dissect a comeback loss against a team of the same caliber.
SMU finished the season ranked 24 after an 11-3 conference championship win and a bowl game loss against an ACC opponent. The only differences—SMU kept its coach and moved to the ACC.
The Mustangs were 27-point favorites, then they went into the fourth quarter trailing 24-13. SMU put 16 unanswered points on the board and left Reno with a win.
The question is was SMU that bad… or was Nevada that good? To get those answers, I put together my 2024 questionnaire and sent it over to the guys at Sidelines Nevada.
1. Describe this season’s expectations like a movie trailer.
“Left for dead in the desert, Nevada football seems to have been resurrected with the hiring of Jeff Choate. Many fans are optimistic that the Wolf Pack will turn things around, and some even hope to recreate the days of Chris Ault. But should the enthusiasm be curbed just because there’s a new boss in town? After all, look at Ken Wilson’s tenure *gulp* . Surely it can’t go further downhill? Will Jeff Choate be the savior that rescues Nevada?”
I think I’ve seen this one before. It’s a good one though.
2. What’s your favorite play to run with Nevada in College Football 25?
I absolutely love running the speed option. I’ve used this so many times against opponents and have had overwhelming success. I feel that this game has been rewarding players for getting to the outside edge and this play is one of the best in doing so.
Can’t lie, I’m still getting used to the “hold A to pull” mechanic.” It makes sense, but I’m used to the reverse.
3. Which archetype is Coach Choate strongest – Recruiting, Motivation or Scheme?
Jeff Choate would seem to fit the “gritty”, defensive label. So this would be his archetype for sure. In last Saturday’s game against SMU, Nevada’s defense looked (more or less) solid, with the secondary, D-line and linebackers playing much better than expected. He also seems to inspire players to play aggressive which is a testament to his blue-collar attitude. To be candid, I feared a blowout after initially taking the lead against SMU but the team held on strong until the end. I could only attribute this to Choate and his doggedness.
4. What game are fans looking forward to most? Why?
There are always a few games that we look forward to! Let’s start with the obvious one: UNLV. Classic, ol’ hatred for the school down south. They have held the Freemon Cannon (rivalry trophy — it’s actually a functioning cannon). I could go on for awhile about this game but to put it plain and simple: it’s a rivalry and is definitely #1 on must watch this season. The second game I am sure Nevada fans look forward to is the Colorado State game. When Jay Norvell left us after the 2021 season and went there to be the HC, this has become a game of vengeance. We also get them in Reno this year, so I expect plenty of animosity. Personally, I think the game at Troy and Minnesota are also fun given the totally different environments and cultures. I am excited to see the matchup this weekend!
I can’t lie, a game against Tulane would probably hit the same way haha.
5. What happened during the fourth quarter of the SMU game?
Good question. Let’s put it this way: what didn’t happen? There was a safety, a 16-point blown lead and a total shift in momentum and energy. To be honest, it was likely a combination of factors.
I would likely claim fatigue and SMU’s more talented roster for the meltdown. But one could also make the case for a controversial call on the safety as well. Either way, the fourth quarter performance was a microcosm of Nevada football recently: nothing went right.
So basically the wheels did fall off. Good to know. I’ll get back to that.
6. What are three names on defense Troy fans should pay attention to? Why?
On defense, Troy fans should keep an eye out for LB Drue Watts who is a workhorse and veteran of this squad. Look for him to set the tempo of the defense and make a few big plays. CB Chad Brown had a good game vs SMU so I would certainly add him to this list. He is a playmaker in the secondary and should cause some disturbances for Troy’s WR corps. Lastly, sixth year senior [edge] Henry Ikahihfko (if healthy) should also be a player to watch.
7. When Nevada snaps the ball, what is most likely to happen?
If you tuned into the game vs SMU, you would’ve noticed that QB Brendon Lewis had many designed runs. I would expect more of these plays given their success. Expect more from the rushing attack with RB Sean Dollars and Patrick Garwo as well. I would also not be surprised to see Jeff Choate take to the passing game more as it was quite anemic last week.
If I’m being honest, it looked like Brandon had some un-designed runs too.
8. If we wake up Sunday and the underdog wins, what happened the day before?
If we wake up and see that Nevada won, it’ll be because of a few reasons. Four things that Nevada did well against SMU included controlling the time of possession, not committing a turnover, executing well in red zone and relying on a balanced rushing/passing attack. More than likely, all of these will need to happen this week once again if Nevada is to win. I would also toss in a more consistent performance from our secondary, too. A strong 4th quarter performance wouldn’t hurt either!
The first three are Colin Cahill’s famous Keys to an UpsetTM. Well, sticking to your gameplan period is the third point, but you should definitely execute well in the red zone too.
9. If we’re in town, where should we go eat?
Reno’s food scene is actually quite underrated! Should you find yourself in the Biggest Little City, there are plenty of great options including American, Mexican, Italian and Asian cuisines to name a few. There are also some European options as well. I would recommend the following: Wild River Grille, DOPO pizza, Mexcal, Johnny’s Italian Restaurant, Bimini Steakhouse and Von Bismarck. Of course, there are plenty others!
You know I though this would be a smart question, then I realized the rematch is in seven years. Actually, that makes it a REALLY smart question. Best of luck on staying in business!
10. What’s one question you have for us about Troy?
I don’t know how, but at some point a few years ago, I began to like Troy. It probably has something to do with the name and mascot but you guys are actually my favorite Sun Belt team. Can you tell me more about Troy, its culture and university and what it’s like in Southern Alabama? How did Troy get its name too?
Let’s start with the first part of that. Troy is a small Southern town that’s proud to be a small Southern town, from the food to the hospitality to the hot, humid summers. It’s a special place, because even as I’m typing this I literally had a conversation with a fellow alum about people I knew that had ties here. You get big-time football with a small school atmosphere. NOTHING says college football like a Saturday at the Vet.
Now for the name. Ben and I have told this story many times. Troy State was a Normal College, or a teachers’ college, so in the early days its athletics teams were branded many ways, like Teachers, Bulldogs and the easy one, Trojans. That became the standard in 1922, until Albert Elmore became the head football coach in 1931. A Bama grad, he change the mascot to the “Red Wave.” That was the nickname used for 40 years, but five years after the 1968 NAIA football title, students decided that “Red Wave” wasn’t good enough. They held a vote the same day as the 1973 season opener against what is now ULM. Troy’s football team left for Monroe nameless, but hours before kickoff the results were in: Trojans won by a 2-to-1 margin. Troy State tied ULM 15-15, and the Trojans name stuck. The moral of the story: if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
Nothing went right. That implies something did go right at some point, and that there was a baseline for what *right* is.
A 24-13 lead is the clear mark for the first answer, and the stats can explain the second one.
How did the 2024 Wolfpack’s performance stack up against the 2023 season?
| VS SMU | 2023 Stats | 2023 Comp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Eff | 122.14 | 105.32 | Oklahoma State |
| Pass YPC | 10.0 | 11.01 | Eastern Michigan |
| Rush YPG | 148 | 124.8 | Arkansas State |
| Rush YPC | 3.4 | 3.38 | Nevada (Seriously?) |
| Def Pass Eff | 137.63 | 156.74 | Georgia Southern/West Virginia |
| Def Pass YPC | 14.7 | 13.55 | Cincinnati |
| Def Rush YPG | 100 | 187.8 | Louisville |
| Def Rush YPC | 2.9 | 5.33 | Texas |
For the most part, the offense performed at the same level, but somehow ended up with better results than average. Nevada picked up 23 more yards on the ground compared to last year’s average, and was nearly 20% more efficient with the pass.
Looking back at the film, the clear difference maker was quarterback Brendon Lewis, who led everyone with 77 yards rushing, in addition to 132 yards passing and two touchdowns. The rest of the Pack only accounted for 71 yards on the ground.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, that’s the job for Troy’s defense: keep Lewis in check. Last year’s squad got plenty of experience in that, with JMU, Texas State, Georgia State, South Alabama, Louisiana… I don’t need to continue.
This is a different team, but the four returning starters up front know exactly what to do.
Speaking of defense, that’s where Wolf Pack showed its rows of teeth. Nevada held SMU to 100 rushing yards at just 2.9 yards per carry—matching top-10 defenses with the average.
Last year’s squad was nearly double that in both categories, and SMU was No. 40 in the nation last year in rushing.
We’ve established that a decent run game is imperative, especially after JMU last season, but if Troy wins, it will be through the air. That’s also looking at this from the perspective of Troy’s WR room too.
We shouldn’t count out the Wolf Pack pass defense though. Nevada’s interception on the first drive brought the Mustangs’ pass efficiency way down.
Between that and a muffed snap by the punter, SMU’s offense looked stalled through the first three quarters. The Mustangs’ first five drives only resulted in 7 points, and Nevada kept them out of the end zone well into the fourth quarter.
Then the world tuned in, and either SMU made the right adjustments, or the Mustangs showed their true colors. The seemingly insurmountable defense kept giving way, and the unstoppable offense couldn’t get going.
That makes me less worried about the impact getting a fast start on Saturday. It may not be necessary to win, but this Nevada team is absolutely bound to prevent another late meltdown.
Mistakes proved the difference for both teams last week. Troy will only win if it plays a clean game… but it’s a first-year head coach with a young roster against… well, the same thing, only with a week of more experience under its belt.
That makes me more worried about mistakes.
The last time Troy faced a first-year coach with a first-year coach was the 2022 Louisiana game. It took a comeback for the ages, 23 unanswered points and Kimani Vidal’s athleticism to pull off that win.
I don’t think Troy needs that much of a clutch performance, but Nevada doesn’t want to repeat last week. Keep an eye on Brendon Lewis.
Troy, 31-28.
Special thanks again to Sidelines Nevada. Give them a follow, especially if you follow our friends at Sidelines Troy!