Jackson Arnold shines, but UNLV falls to Memphis in opener

Jackson Arnold has been chasing a fresh start for three straight years now. A five-star recruit who started at Oklahoma before getting benched and eventually transferring to Auburn, where he threw for just 1,309 yards and 6 touchdowns in a rough stint, Arnold landed at UNLV in January looking for a program that would actually let him play his way. Dan Mullen wasted no time confirming the plan, announcing on his radio show that Arnold would take the first snap of the season against Memphis.

Pete Nakos

@PeteNakos

Former Oklahoma and Auburn transfer Jackson Arnold will be the starting QB for UNLV on the first play of Saturday's game against Memphis, Dan Mullen said on his radio show last night. t.co/U8U8DRvrkV

For a half, it looked like exactly the reset Arnold needed. He was 17-for-21 through the air for 204 yards and added a rushing touchdown, staking the Rebels to a 14-7 lead at the break. Elvis leading the team out of the tunnel felt like a good omen in Vegas.

Brett McMurphy

@Brett_McMurphy

Elvis leads UNLV onto field - fittingly - before Rebels played Memphis 🤣

The problem was Memphis wasn't going anywhere. New coach Charles Huff, in his own debut on the Tigers sideline, had his defense settle in as the game turned into the shootout everybody expected out of two offenses built for tempo. A 50-yard touchdown grab and a long touchdown run tied the game at 21 heading into the fourth quarter, and from there Arnold's flashes gave way to the exact flaw that's dogged him since Oklahoma: he holds the ball too long.

Chris Vannini

@ChrisVannini

UNLV blown up on the next few plays, including fourth down. But also, Jackson Arnold's tendency to hold onto the ball too long remains a problem.

UNLV compounded the issue by spreading out into five-wide sets against a Memphis front that had no trouble getting home, leaving Arnold without the protection to buy himself time even when he wanted to get rid of it. Memphis closed it out 27-21, and while it's a gut punch for a UNLV team that had genuine buzz around this Arnold reunion tour, it's an enormous signature win for Huff, who's turned around programs everywhere he's gone.

That track record is what makes this result more than a garden-variety upset. Huff took a 1-11 Southern Miss team last season and got it to 7-5 in a single year, and before that he led Marshall to bowl games in all four of his seasons, including the program's first 10-win season in a decade. Walking into Las Vegas in his Memphis debut and beating a Rebels team many had pegged as a Mountain West contender only adds to the case that he was one of the better hires of the coaching cycle.

Chris Vannini

@ChrisVannini

Memphis beats UNLV 27-21. A mighty impressive debut win for new coach Charles Huff. That defensive front was NASTY. That's also a big one for the American over the Mountain West.

For Arnold, the tape will cut both ways. The arm talent and legs were both on display, and 204 yards with a rushing score is a real building block for a guy trying to salvage a career that's bounced around the sport. But until he speeds up his internal clock, Rebels fans are going to keep watching promising drives end in sacks and negative plays no matter how many wide receivers Mullen sends out there.