Preview: Ohio State plays UNLV for first time

Rebels 5-38 against ranked teams in their history

Who: UNLV (1-1) at No. 10 Ohio State (2-1)

When: Noon Saturday

Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus

TV/Radio: Big Ten Network/1410

»RELATED: Ohio State receivers ready for any shot they get

Series history: This is the first meeting. Ohio State is 9-1 against current members of the Mountain West Conference. The Buckeyes last played a Mountain West team in 2015, beating Hawaii 38-0. UNLV is 2-14 against current members of the Big Ten. Both wins came against Wisconsin.

Last game: Ohio State beat Army 38-7 in Columbus. UNLV won 44-16 at Idaho on Sept. 9 in its last game. The Rebels didn't play last Saturday.

Coaches: Ohio State's Urban Meyer is 63-7 in his sixth season. UNLV's Tony Sanchez is 8-18 in his third season.

»MORE COVERAGE: Erick Smith; Tuf Borland; J.K. Dobbins; J.T. Barrett

Ohio State notes:J.T. Barrett needs 94 yards to pass Bobby Hoying and move into second place in Ohio State history in career passing yards. Barrett has 7,138 yards. Art Schlichter is the all-time leader with 7,547. Barrett is also 376 yards away from becoming the 10th player to rush for 3,000 yards in Ohio State history. … J.K. Dobbins ranks eighth in the nation with 425 rushing yards. … Army moved the ball into the red zone one time in nine drives last week against Ohio State. Army threw for 19 yards. That's the lowest total allowed by Ohio State since the 1990 Liberty Bowl when Air Force threw for 11 yards.

UNLV notes: The Rebels last had a winning season in 2013 when they were 7-6. They finished 3-9 and 4-8 in Sanchez's first two seasons. … Lexington Thomas rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns in UNLV's last game. … Wide receiver Devonte Boyd broke the school record with his 13th 100-yard receiving game. … The Rebels are 5-38 against ranked teams. Their last win came in 2008 against No. 15 Arizona State.

Quoted: UNLV's Sanchez said, "It was a productive week off. We were able to shorten practices a little bit and get their legs back up underneath them. It was good coming off a win. Obviously, they came in a little more spirited, but we still had to keep our thumb on them a little bit and keep that chip on their shoulder. This week, we play a heck of an Ohio State team. Urban Meyer has done a great job throughout his career of building great programs."

Next game: Ohio State plays at Rutgers at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 (Big Ten Network). UNLV plays at home against San Jose State at 10:30 p.m. (ET) Sept. 30 (ESPNU).

Prediction: Ohio State 48, UNLV 14.

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