Would UNLV Have Made a Good NRG Stadium Opponent For Sam Houston?

Sam Houston announced they would move their home games to Shell Energy Stadium, the home of Houston Dynamo FC. The announcement comes amid doubts about where the Bearkats would play while Bowers Stadium received renovations this year. The Bearkats' schedule update also may have answered another schedule question.

The lack of an announcement implies Sam Houston will not play a game at NRG Stadium, the home of the Houston Texans, for the first time since 2010, excluding the pandemic season. The move of all home games to Houston could be a reason for not holding a game at NRG, but the lack of a marquee or in-state non-conference home game could play a role.

This situation begs the question, "Would UNLV have drawn fans to NRG Stadium?"

UNLV was Sam Houston's lone non-conference home opponent in 2025. The Rebels are a rising Group of Five program, but multiple factors imply they would not have been an attractive draw for Sam Houston's NRG Stadium game.

Despite back-to-back Mountain West Championship Game appearances, UNLV fans do not travel well. UNLV's appearance in the LA Bowl set a new low in the bowl's four-year history with 24,420 fans. This figure deserves some grace, given the game shifted off its Saturday time slot for the first time. The previous year, 26,478 fans attended their Guaranteed Rate Bowl appearance against Kansas. Although this was the highest attendance for the bowl since 2019, it was nearly 8,000 fans less than Air Force's attendance figure in the 2019 edition of that bowl.

Speaking of Air Force, UNLV lacks the national brand recognition to draw casual Sam Houston fans and bystanders to the program in Houston. Air Force was a logical opponent for Sam Houston in their first post-Battle of the Piney Woods NRG Stadium game. Due to the proliferation of military bases and veterans in Texas, the Falcons are a fixture in the state's bowl games and are a natural brand for obvious reasons.

Furthermore, the Falcons have a longer record of success than UNLV. Before 2023, the Rebels had only four bowl appearances at the FBS level, including just one from 2001-2022, the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl. UNLV has the potential to sustain its success, but no one would blame a casual college football fan for wanting to attend an Air Force-Sam Houston game more than a UNLV-Air Force game.

Finally, UNLV playing home games at an NFL stadium could have also reduced its traveling fan base. The NRG Stadium game was more of a draw for Air Force and Texas State due to the rarity of their appearances at NFL stadiums. UNLV, of course, shares Allegiant Stadium with the Raiders. Playing at an NFL stadium is not a milestone event for the program. It is just the norm. Hence, Rebel fans likely would not have traveled well to Houston.

Sam Houston's situation is not ideal, but it allows the program to win more hearts in Houston. Naturally, there is no need for a game at NRG Stadium when you already have six games in Downtown Houston. Still, hosting UNLV at NRG Stadium is a significant what-if for both schools. Unfortunately, multiple signs point to the endeavor having a disappointing outcome. With a program that already calls an NFL stadium home and does not travel well, being the only option, maybe the Bearkats should not hold a game at NRG Stadium this year.