CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

1996 Nevada

9–⁠3 (4–⁠1 Big West), coached by Jeff Tisdel.

Schedule and results

Nevada in 1996, game by game: lost at Oregon 30–44; won vs. Montana State 31–7; lost at California 15–33; won vs. Kent State 63–42; won at UNLV 54–17; won vs. Boise State 66–28; lost at Idaho 15–24; won at North Texas 40–13; won vs. New Mexico State 63–14; won at Utah State 54–27; won vs. Arkansas State 66–14; won vs. Ball State 18–15+52−18Lost 30–44 at Oregon-14OregonWon 31–7 vs. Montana State+24Montana StateLost 15–33 at California-18CaliforniaWon 63–42 vs. Kent State+21Kent StateWon 54–17 at UNLV+37UNLVWon 66–28 vs. Boise State+38Boise StateLost 15–24 at Idaho-9IdahoWon 40–13 at North Texas+27North TexasWon 63–14 vs. New Mexico State+49New Mexico StateWon 54–27 at Utah State+27Utah StateWon 66–14 vs. Arkansas State+52Arkansas StateWon 18–15 vs. Ball State+3Ball State
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 7atOregonL 30–⁠4437%
Sep 14vsMontana StateW 31–⁠786%
Sep 21atCaliforniaL 15–⁠3348%
Sep 28vsKent StateW 63–⁠4283%
Oct 5atUNLVW 54–⁠1777%
Oct 12vsBoise StateW 66–⁠2887%
Oct 19atIdahoL 15–⁠2471%
Oct 26atNorth TexasW 40–⁠1371%
Nov 2vsNew Mexico StateW 63–⁠1486%
Nov 9atUtah StateW 54–⁠2753%
Nov 16vsArkansas StateW 66–⁠1481%
Dec 19Bowls & playoffvsBall StateLas Vegas BowlW 18–⁠1550%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Ball State 18–⁠15 in the Las Vegas Bowl; unranked in the final AP poll; Big West champions.

In program history: The 3rd-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 83 on file).

Big West champions4–⁠1 in the conference, shared with Utah State

Led the nationDamond Wilkins: receptions (114 catches)

Record
9–⁠3
Conference
4–⁠1 shared first in Big West
AP final
Unranked
Points
515–⁠278
Coach
Jeff Tisdel
Elo
1600 +44 this season
SP+ rating
3.7 No. 50 of 111; offense No. 12, defense No. 97
SRS
3.1 No. 47 of 111 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Offensive coordinator
Steve Mooshagian
Defensive coordinators
Ken Flajole and Ken Wilson
Offense
Pro-style
Defense
3–⁠4

1996 Big West standings

TeamConf.OverallAP final
Nevada4–⁠19–⁠3
Utah State4–⁠16–⁠5
Idaho3–⁠26–⁠5
North Texas3–⁠25–⁠6
Boise State1–⁠42–⁠10
New Mexico State0–⁠51–⁠10

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.