The Air Force Falcons (2-1) will host the Nevada Wolfpack (2-2) Friday on FS1 in a Mountain West Conference showdown. Last season Air Force beat Nevada 41-39 as a 1.5-point favorite.
After going 8-5 last season, Nevada's roster is an extreme transition as their previous head coach Jay Norvell left for Colorado State. This year's team welcomed back just two starters on offense and four on defense. In the Moutain West preseason media poll, the Wolfpack was pegged fourth in the West Division and eighth out of 12 teams in the conference overall. Nevada opened the season with two wins beating New Mexico State 23-12 and Texas State 38-14. They failed to reach 3-0 by losing their third game to an FCS opponent Incarnate Word 55-41, and last week lost to Iowa 27-0 as a 24-point road dog.
Final. #BattleBorn | #HomeIsNevada pic.twitter.com/b5U3Dn3iYa
— Nevada Football (@NevadaFootball) September 18, 2022
Nevada is averaging 25.5 ppg, but 119th is averaging 290 total yards per game. They are averaging 151.5 passing yards per game (116th) and 138.5 rushing yards (89th). Nevada has played two quarterbacks this season. Nate Cox has completed 55.7% of his passes or 372 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Cox physically couldn't throw the ball against Iowa last week and did the majority of his damage in the Incarnate Word game, where he threw for both his touchdowns and 302 yards. Shane Illingworth has completed 60.4% of his passes for 234 yards and an interception. Illingworth was the signal caller in the loss to Iowa, going 14 for 28 passing with 82 yards and an interception.
The Nevada defense is allowed 27 ppg this year and ranks 46th allowing just 113.5 rushing yards per game, which gets tested most when facing Air Force.