Eastern Washington @ UNLV

Who will WIN this matchup?

Eastern Washington Eagles (0-0)

@ UNLV Rebels (0-0)

Current odds:

Eastern Washington Eagles: (-125)

UNLV Rebels: (+105)

• The line for this game is Eastern Washington by 1.5 points.

• With all 22 starters returning and a whopping total of 67 returning letterwinners, Eastern is seeking its 11th Big Sky Conference title and 15th appearance in the FCS Playoffs. The Eagles won the 2010 NCAA Division I title and were runners-up in 2018, and advanced to the first round of the playoffs in the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign.

• Eastern wrapped up preseason practices on Aug. 25 with an 80-play scrimmage at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash., then started prep work for UNLV.

• Eastern returns a total of 14 players who have previously earned All-Big Sky Conference honors, with 13 of them being honored during the 2020-21 campaign when eight of the league’s 13 schools took part in the league schedule. Quarterback Eric Barriere was the runner-up for the 2020-21 Walter Payton Award, and joins offensive tackle Tristen Taylor, wide receiver Talolo Limu-Jones and kicker Seth Harrison as preseason All-Americans.

• The Rebels are a member of the Mountain West Conference and the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. Eastern is 8-24 all-time against current members of the league, with 24 of those meetings coming versus former Big Sky Conference rivals Boise State and Nevada (Reno).

• Additionally, Eastern is Eastern is now 10-27 all-time versus Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Eastern has won three of its last 10 games versus FBS foes, but has lost its last three since winning at Washington State 45-42 on Sept. 3, 2016.

• The Rebels completed the abbreviated 2020 season 0-6 – all Mountain West games — and had two games canceled because of the pandemic. All three of their home games were played in Allegiant Stadium. They were 4-8 overall in 2019, including a season-opening 56-23 victory over Southern Utah of the Big Sky. UNLV was 2-6 in the Mountain West, and ended the season with victories over San Jose State (38-35) and Nevada (33-30 in overtime).

• Eastern finished 5-2 overall in the unique 2020-21 spring season and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Division I playoffs where it lost to North Dakota State. The Eagles ended the season ranked No. 10 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll, marking the 16th time Eastern has finished the season nationally ranked, including 12 times since 2004. The other seasons were in 1985, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Seven times the Eagles have finished in the top four – fourth in 1997, 2012, 2014 and 2016; third in 2013; second in 2018; and first in 2010 after winning the NCAA Division I title.