The UNLV football program made history this morning, collecting 21 votes in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll — the most preseason consideration the Rebels have ever received from the prestigious ranking system.

The previous high-water mark came ahead of the 2001 season, when coach John Robinson’s squad garnered 12 votes. That team entered the year with legitimate buzz, featuring quarterback Jason Thomas as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate and riding high after defeating Arkansas in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl.

While UNLV's 21 votes this season weren’t enough to crack the Top 25, they represent a shift in national perception for the program.

The preseason recognition confirms that two consecutive breakthrough campaigns have altered how college football views the Rebels. UNLV ha

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