It took five games in conference play, but Fresno State found itself in a football game, in tight, needing to execute, needing to make plays.
It was UNLV, of all teams. The Rebels had just two wins, had struggled defensively all season and were without their starting quarterback because of injury. UNLV had to go with a backup in Johnny Stanton, who had played the past two games at linebacker.
And it was the Bulldogs that cracked first, and more often. A fumble on a mishandled punt by KeeSean Johnson late in the third quarter and with the score tied led to a UNLV touchdown and Fresno State continued to self-destruct in a 26-16 loss to the Rebels on Saturday before 27,922 at Bulldog Stadium.