Nevada (0-1) vs. Sacramento State (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 - 2 p.m.
Reno, Nev. - Mackay Stadium

TV: Nevada Sports Net (PxP: Alex Margulies; Analyst: Lucas Weber; Sideline: Shannon Kelly)
Stream: Mountain West Network / MW App
Radio: Wolf Pack Radio Network / 105.7 KOZZ FM

RENO, Nev. - Nevada opens its 2025 home campaign this Saturday, hosting Sacramento State for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Saturday's contest will be broadcast on Nevada Sports Net and streamed on the Mountain West and the MW App, with Alex Margulies (play-by-play), Lucas Weber (analyst) and Shannon Kelly (sideline) on the call.

The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game on KOZZ 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada, online at www.thevarsitynetwork.com and on the Varsity Network app. John Ramey (play-by-play) and Mike Edwards (analyst) will be in the booth, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 1 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY
Nevada and Sacramento State will meet for the first time in 21 years, and only the second time since 1990, when they clash Saturday. The Wolf Pack leads the all-time series, 17-9. The teams met for all but one year in the stretch of 1954-78, with the 1971 season the only one without a contest. Since moving to Division I in 1992, Nevada has faced the Hornets just once, beating them 59-7 on Sept. 11, 2004.

ABOUT SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State dropped its 2025 opener Saturday, 20-3 at South Dakota State. The Hornets are in their first season under head coach Brennan Marion.

Last Saturday, the Hornets managed just 24 rushing yards on 24 attempts and finished the contest with just 131 yards of offense. Quarterback Jaden Rashada went 11-for-27 passing with an interception.

On defense, Derek Houston led the way with 14 tackles as the Hornet defense racked up seven sacks. Jayland McGlothen picked up two of the sacks, and with 2.5 tackles-for-loss was one of three players with at least two.

AGAINST THE BIG SKY
Nevada, a member of the Big Sky from 19xx-91, will face a team from its former conference for the 18th time in its Division I Era (1992-present). Over those games, the Wolf Pack is 12-5.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS
While the Nevada defense does feature many new faces whether via transfers or freshmen, the importance of the experience of the transfers and how it's blended with the experience of the Wolf Pack returners showed in the performance at Penn State.

Safety Murvin Kenion III, a transfer from Sacramento State, and homegrown fourth-year linebacker Stone Combs led the defense with eight tackles apiece. Two more returners, defensive lineman Dylan Labarbera and linebacker Austin Harnetiaux, each had seven tackles including two for loss from Labarbera, and transfer safety Hayden McDonald also had seven tackles.

BIG PLAY BELLON
Wide receiver Marcus Bellon gave early validation Saturday to his preseason all-conference honors from both the Mountain West media and national publications. The Truckee native led the Wolf Pack with six catches for 76 yards and a touchdown Saturday at Penn State, including a brave 32-yard grab between defenders in the third quarter.

PURDY SHOWS HIS POTENTIAL
Quarterback Chubba Purdy said in the preseason that this was the healthiest and best he's felt in his college career, and he showed Wolf Pack fans Saturday how he can make big plays going forward. Although Purdy went 7-for-15 passing against a tough Penn State defense, he used his legs to extend plays and showed his speed in designed runs. He finished the game with a team-high 55 rushing yards with a long of 22.

Saturday's start against Penn State also made Purdy one of four FBS quarterbacks this in 2025 who have started at least one game in at least five seasons. He joins Jalon Daniels (Kansas, 2020-25), Blake Shapen (Mississippi State, 2021-25), and Nicholas Vattiato (Middle Tennessee, 2021-25) on that list.