American college football season
The 2021 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno, in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolf Pack were led by fifth–year head coach Jay Norvell and played their home games at Mackay Stadium. They competed as members of the West Division of the Mountain West Conference.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order they were released
Mountain West media days
The Mountain West media days were held on July 21–22, 2021, at the Cosmopolitan in Paradise, Nevada.
Media poll
The preseason poll was released on July 21, 2021. The Wolf Pack were predicted to finish in first place in the MW West Division.[11]
West
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1 |
Nevada |
141 (19)
|
2 |
San Jose State |
121 (5)
|
3 |
San Diego State |
96
|
4 |
Fresno State |
85 (1)
|
5 |
Hawaii |
56
|
6 |
UNLV |
26
|
Mountain
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1 |
Boise State |
148 (23)
|
2 |
Wyoming |
115 (2)
|
3 |
Air Force |
104
|
4 |
Colorado State |
72
|
5 |
Utah State |
47
|
6 |
New Mexico |
39
|
Preseason All-Mountain West Team
The Wolf Pack had four players selected to the preseason All–Mountain West Team; three from the offense and one from the specialists.[12]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
September 4 | 7:30 p.m. | at California* | | FS1 | W 22–17 | 35,117 |
September 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Idaho State* | | KNSN-TV/Stadium | W 49–10 | 23,965 |
September 18 | 11:00 a.m. | at Kansas State* | | ESPN+ | L 17–38 | 48,768 |
October 2 | 12:30 p.m. | at Boise State | | FS1 | W 41–31 | 37,426 |
October 9 | 7:30 p.m. | New Mexico State* | | CBSSN | W 55–28 | 21,448 |
October 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Hawaii![dagger](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Dagger-14-plain.png) | | CBSSN | W 34–17 | 22,098 |
October 23 | 4:00 p.m. | at Fresno State | | FS1 | L 32–34 | 33,012 |
| 7:00 p.m. | UNLV | | CBSSN | W 51–20 | 28,960 |
November 6 | 7:00 p.m. | San Jose State | | FS2 | W 27–24 | 17,770 |
November 13 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 22 San Diego State | | CBSSN | L 21–23 | 11,821 |
| 6:00 p.m. | Air Force | | FS1 | L 39–41 3OT | 15,206 |
November 27 | 6:00 p.m. | at Colorado State | | CBSSN | W 52–10 | 17,465 |
| 8:00 a.m. | vs. Western Michigan* | | ESPN | L 24–52 | 22,321 |
|
Source: [13]
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes | Week |
---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
---|
AP | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | — | — | — | — | — | |
---|
Coaches | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | RV | RV | — | — | — | RV | — | — | — | — | |
---|
CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
---|
Personnel
Depth chart
Defense
|
|
FS
|
Christian Swint OR JoJuan Claiborne
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
|
|
SS
|
Tyson Williams
|
Jayce Godley
|
Emany Johnson
|
|
CB
|
Berdale Robins OR Jaden Dedman
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
|
|
DE
|
DT
|
DT
|
DE
|
Kameron Toomer
|
Zak Mahannah
|
Dom Peterson
|
Sam Hammond
|
Jack Powers
|
Christopher Love
|
Amir Johnson
|
Daniel Grzesiak
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
|
|
CB
|
A.J. King OR Mikael Bradford
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
|
Offense
|
|
H
|
Melquan Stovall
|
Jamaal Bell
|
⋅
|
|
LT
|
LG
|
C
|
RG
|
RT
|
Jacob Gardner
|
Jermaine Ledbetter
|
Tyler Orsini
|
Zac Welch
|
Aaron Frost
|
Moses Landis
|
Gray Davis
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RB
|
Toa Taua OR Devonte Lee
|
Avery Morrow
|
⋅
|
|
Special teams
|
PK Brandon Talton
|
P Julian Diaz
|
KR Jamaal Bell Melquan Stovall
|
PR Romeo Doubs
|
LS Austin Ortega
|
H Hamish McClure
|
|
|
|
|
|
Game summaries
At California
Nevada at California
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Wolf Pack |
0 |
13 | 9 | 0 |
22 |
Golden Bears |
14 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
17 |
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
CAL –3 |
52.5[14]
|
Statistics |
Nevada |
California
|
First downs |
19 |
17
|
Total yards |
373 |
330
|
Rushing yards |
61 |
153
|
Passing yards |
312 |
177
|
Turnovers |
0 |
0
|
Time of possession |
27:42 |
32:18
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Nevada |
Passing |
Carson Strong |
22/39, 312 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Toa Taua |
10 carries, 37 yards
|
Receiving |
Tory Horton |
3 receptions, 94 yards
|
California |
Passing |
Chase Garbers |
25/38, 177 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Damien Moore |
15 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Jeremiah Hunter |
2 receptions, 35 yards
|
Idaho State
Idaho State at Nevada
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bengals |
7 |
0 | 3 | 0 |
10 |
• Wolf Pack |
14 |
7 | 7 | 21 |
49 |
- Date: September 11, 2021
- Location: Mackay Stadium
Reno, NV - Game start: 7:36 p.m. PDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 7 minutes
- Game attendance: 23,965
- Game weather: Temperature: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: W 11 MPH
- Referee: Timothy Davis
- TV announcers (KNSN-TV/Stadium): Noah Coslov (play–by–play) and Jordan Palmer (analyst)
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
NEV –35 |
56.5[15]
|
Statistics |
Idaho State |
Nevada
|
First downs |
18 |
26
|
Total yards |
283 |
586
|
Rushing yards |
141 |
145
|
Passing yards |
142 |
441
|
Turnovers |
5 |
0
|
Time of possession |
32:49 |
27:11
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Idaho State |
Passing |
Tyler Vander Waal |
10/17, 107 yards
|
Rushing |
Malakai Rango |
10 carries, 72 yards
|
Receiving |
Xavier Guillory |
5 receptions, 54 yards
|
Nevada |
Passing |
Carson Strong |
34/43, 381 yards, 4 TDs
|
Rushing |
Toa Taua |
9 carries, 103 yards
|
Receiving |
Elijah Cooks |
7 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TDs
|
At Kansas State
Nevada at Kansas State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Wolf Pack |
7 |
0 | 10 | 0 |
17 |
• Wildcats |
7 |
10 | 0 | 21 |
38 |
- Date: September 18, 2021
- Location: Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium
Manhattan, KS - Game start: 1:05 p.m. CDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 25 minutes
- Game attendance: 48,768
- Game weather: Temperature: 86 °F (30 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SW 6 MPH
- Referee: David Alvarez
- TV announcers (ESPN+): Shawn Kenney (play–by–play), Barrett Brooks (analyst) and Shane Sparks (sideline)
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
NEV –1.5 |
51.5[16]
|
Statistics |
Nevada |
Kansas State
|
First downs |
14 |
22
|
Total yards |
331 |
398
|
Rushing yards |
25 |
269
|
Passing yards |
306 |
129
|
Turnovers |
1 |
0
|
Time of possession |
29:00 |
31:00
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Nevada |
Passing |
Carson Strong |
27/40, 262 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Devonte Lee |
10 carries, 24 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Romeo Doubs |
7 receptions, 121 yards
|
Kansas State |
Passing |
Will Howard |
7/10, 123 yards, 1 TD
|
Rushing |
Deuce Vaughn |
23 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Daniel Imatorbhebhe |
1 reception, 68 yards, 1 TD
|
At Boise State
Nevada at Boise State
(Rivalry)
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Wolf Pack |
10 |
10 | 18 | 3 |
41 |
Broncos |
14 |
7 | 3 | 7 |
31 |
- Date: October 2, 2021
- Location: Albertsons Stadium
Boise, ID - Game start: 1:36 p.m. MDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 25 minutes
- Game attendance: 37,426
- Game weather: Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: N/A
- Referee: Brandon Cruse
- TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play–by–play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst)
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
BSU –3.5 |
59[17]
|
Statistics |
Nevada |
Boise State
|
First downs |
18 |
24
|
Total yards |
393 |
410
|
Rushing yards |
130 |
22
|
Passing yards |
263 |
388
|
Turnovers |
0 |
6
|
Time of possession |
28:01 |
31:59
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Nevada |
Passing |
Carson Strong |
25/38, 263 yards, 1 TD
|
Rushing |
Toa Taua |
12 carries, 124 yards, 2 TDs
|
Receiving |
Justin Lockhart |
5 receptions, 94 yards
|
Boise State |
Passing |
Hank Bachmeier |
34/47, 388 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
|
Rushing |
Cyrus Habibi–Likio |
10 carries, 46 yards
|
Receiving |
Stefan Cobbs |
10 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TDs
|
New Mexico State
New Mexico State at Nevada
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Aggies |
7 |
0 | 0 | 21 |
28 |
• Wolf Pack |
3 |
28 | 21 | 2 |
54 |
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
NEV –31.5 |
61.5[18]
|
Statistics |
New Mexico State |
Nevada
|
First downs |
25 |
27
|
Total yards |
452 |
532
|
Rushing yards |
27 |
69
|
Passing yards |
425 |
463
|
Turnovers |
1 |
1
|
Time of possession |
32:21 |
27:39
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
New Mexico State |
Passing |
Jonah Johnson |
38/62, 425 yards, 3 TD
|
Rushing |
Juwaun Price |
10 carries, 37 yards
|
Receiving |
Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda |
5 receptions, 76 yards
|
Nevada |
Passing |
Carson Strong |
25/32, 377 yards, 6 TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Toa Taua |
7 carries, 28 yards
|
Receiving |
Melquan Stovall |
7 receptions, 155 yards, TD
|
Hawaii
Hawaii at Nevada
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Rainbow Warriors |
7 |
10 | 0 | 0 |
17 |
• Wolf Pack |
3 |
17 | 14 | 0 |
34 |
- Date: October 16, 2021
- Location: Mackay Stadium
Reno, NV - Game start: 7:30 p.m. PDT
- Elapsed time: 3 hours and 40 minutes
- Game attendance: 22,098
- Referee: M. Vandervelde
- Television network: CBSSN
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
N/A |
N/A
|
Statistics |
Hawaii |
Nevada
|
First downs |
|
|
Total yards |
|
|
Rushing yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Hawaii |
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
Nevada |
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
At Fresno State
Nevada at Fresno State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Wolf Pack |
3 |
7 | 6 | 16 |
32 |
• Bulldogs |
7 |
7 | 14 | 6 |
34 |
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
FRES –3.5 |
N/A
|
Statistics |
Nevada |
Fresno State
|
First downs |
30 |
24
|
Total yards |
501 |
474
|
Rushing yards |
47 |
205
|
Passing yards |
476 |
256
|
Turnovers |
2 |
1
|
Time of possession |
34:03 |
25:55
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Nevada |
Passing |
Carson Strong |
49/61, 476 yards, 4 TD, INT
|
Rushing |
Toa Taua |
12 carries, 62 yards
|
Receiving |
Romeo Doubs |
19 receptions, 203 yards, TD
|
Fresno State |
Passing |
Jake Haener |
26/38, 256 yards, 2 TD
|
Rushing |
Ronnie Rivers |
23 carries, 134 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Keric Wheatfall |
5 receptions, 84 yards, TD
|
UNLV
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
N/A |
N/A
|
Statistics |
UNLV |
Nevada
|
First downs |
|
|
Total yards |
|
|
Rushing yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
UNLV |
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
Nevada |
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
San Jose State
San Jose State at Nevada
|
1 |
2 | Total |
Spartans |
|
|
0 |
Wolf Pack |
|
|
0 |
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
N/A |
N/A
|
Statistics |
San Jose State |
Nevada
|
First downs |
|
|
Total yards |
|
|
Rushing yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
San Jose State |
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
Nevada |
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
At No. 22 San Diego State
Nevada at San Diego State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Wolf Pack |
0 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
21 |
• No. 22 Aztecs |
7 |
3 | 7 | 6 |
23 |
|
|
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
SDSU –2.5 |
45
|
Statistics |
Nevada |
San Diego State
|
First downs |
19 |
20
|
Total yards |
358 |
362
|
Rushing yards |
8 |
186
|
Passing yards |
350 |
176
|
Turnovers |
0 |
0
|
Time of possession |
26:32 |
33:28
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Nevada |
Passing |
Carson Strong |
34/48, 350 yards, 3 TD
|
Rushing |
Toa Taua |
9 carries, 31 yards
|
Receiving |
Romeo Doubs |
9 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TD
|
San Diego State |
Passing |
Lucas Johnson |
21/34, 176 yards, TD
|
Rushing |
Greg Bell |
16 carries, 104 yards
|
Receiving |
Elijah Kothe |
6 receptions, 71 yards
|
Air Force
Air Force at Nevada
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Falcons |
0 |
17 | 7 | 0 |
24 |
Wolf Pack |
3 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
24 |
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
N/A |
N/A
|
Statistics |
Air Force |
Nevada
|
First downs |
|
|
Total yards |
|
|
Rushing yards |
|
|
Passing yards |
|
|
Turnovers |
|
|
Time of possession |
|
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Air Force |
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
Nevada |
Passing |
|
|
Rushing |
|
|
Receiving |
|
|
At Colorado State
Nevada at Colorado State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Wolf Pack |
14 |
17 | 7 | 4 |
42 |
Rams |
0 |
0 | 7 | 3 |
10 |
|
Pregame line |
Over/under
|
N/A |
N/A
|
Statistics |
Nevada |
Colorado State
|
First downs |
22 |
20
|
Total yards |
528 |
443
|
Rushing yards |
226 |
230
|
Passing yards |
302 |
213
|
Turnovers |
0 |
5
|
Time of possession |
28:56 |
31:04
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Nevada |
Passing |
Carson Strong |
17/22, 288 yards, 4 TD
|
Rushing |
Avery Morrow |
5 carries, 88 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Tory Horton |
4 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD
|
Colorado State |
Passing |
Todd Centeio |
15/24, 185 yards, 2 INT
|
Rushing |
Trey McBride |
1 carry, 69 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Trey McBride |
6 receptions, 113 yards
|
References
- ^ "Doubs and Strong on Maxwell Preseason Watch List". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Bednarik Award Watch List: Kyle Hamilton, Kayvon Thibodeaux top names to watch". Pro Football Network. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ "Strong on Davey O'Brien Preseason Watch List". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ "Cooks, Doubs and Turner on Fred Biletnikoff Preseason Watch List". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "Orsini on Rimington Preseason Watch List and Turner on John Mackey Preseason Watch List". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ "Robins on Jim Thorpe Preseason Watch List". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ "Talton on Lou Groza Preseason Watch List". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ "Doubs on Paul Hornung Preseason Watch List". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
- ^ "Strong on Manning Preseason Watch List". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ "Strong on Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Preseason Watch List". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ "Boise State, Nevada Picked to Win 2021 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles". Mountain West Conference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team". Mountain West Conference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Football Schedule". University of Nevada Athletics. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ "Nevada Wolf Pack vs California Golden Bears". Odds Shark. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Idaho State Bengals vs Nevada Wolf Pack". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
- ^ "Nevada Wolf Pack vs Kansas State Wildcats". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ "Nevada Wolf Pack vs Boise State Broncos". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ "New Mexico State Aggies vs Nevada Wolf Pack". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
|
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Venues |
- Evans Field (1896–1905)
- Mackay Field and Stadium (I) (1915–1965)
- Mackay Stadium (1966–present)
|
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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