UNLV vs. Ohio: Time, Date, TV Channel, 2025 Frisco Bowl Preview
It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship.
NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest returning to a place we’ve already seen one played:
2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Matchup: UNLV Rebels vs. Ohio Bobcats
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Stadium: Ford Center — Frisco, Texas
TV: ESPN
Game Overview
The Frisco Bowl has a new home this season, as it relocated from the Toyota Center to Ford Center at The Star — making the shift from a soccer facility to a (practice) football facility.
It’ll be an interesting matchup, with one club entering with stability at head coach and the other entering with anything but…
Team Overviews
UNLV Rebels
Conference: Mountain West
Head Coach: Dan Mullen
Record: 10–3
UNLV has finally found some stability, coming off back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the first time in program history.
The Rebels couldn’t cap things off with a conference championship victory, dropping the 2025 Mountain West Conference Championship Game to Boise State, but they had what could be considered the best season in their history with wins over UCLA and Utah State.
Anthony Colandrea provided quite the spark in his first season as starting quarterback, accounting for 3,896 total yards and 32 total touchdowns on his way to winning the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Ohio Bobcats
Conference: MAC
Head Coach: John Hauser
Record: 8-4
Ohio enters this game without head coach Brian Smith.
Smith was terminated after allegedly “violating the terms of his employment agreement by engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably” on the school, with reports pointing toward his penchant for consuming alcohol inside his office and engaging in relationships with students.
The Bobcats will look to rely on their running game, with starting running back Sieh Bangura leading the MAC with 1,243 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2025.
Players to Watch
UNLV
QB Anthony Colandrea
RB Jai’Den Thomas
WR Jaden Bradley
WR Troy Omeire
DL Tunmise Adeleye
LB Marsel McDuffie
CB Aamaris Brown
CB Laterrance Welch
Ohio
QB Parker Navarro
RB Sieh Bangura
RB Duncan Brune
WR Chase Hendricks
DL Jay Crable
DL Anas Lugman
Key Notes
Ohio will become the third team to make multiple appearances in this game, joining UTSA and San Diego State.
Betting Lines
DraftKings Sportsbook: UNLV -6.5 | O/U 66.5
FanDuel Sportsbook: UNLV -6.5 | O/U 65.5
BetMGM Sportsbook: UNLV -6.5 | O/U 65.5
The Pick: Under 48.5