The Rebels led by 17 at halftime and cruised to a victory over UNR on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium. UNLV will play in the Mountain West title game Friday.

A victory in Saturday’s game puts No. 21 UNLV (No. 22 in the College Football Playoff rankings) in the Mountain West title game a week later at Boise State, which is 11th in the AP and CFP rankings. Which means the Rebels (9-2, 5-1 MW) have a path to the first 12-team playoff field.

The Fremont Cannon is on the line Saturday when the 21st-ranked UNLV football team hosts rival UNR at Allegiant Stadium. The Rebels (9-2, 5-1 Mountain West) would clinch a second consecutive berth in the Mountain West championship game with a victory and reach double-digit wins for the third time in program history (1974 and 1984).

UNLV will make the Mountain West championship with a victory and play at No. 11 Boise State with a potential shot at the College Football Playoff. The Rebels could lose and still make the conference title game, but it becomes more complicated and their chances to make the playoffs would almost be nil.

This one involves a fierce in-state rivalry as Nevada plays UNLV at 5 p.m. Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network beginning at 5 p.m. The game site rotates between Reno and Las Vegas each year;