UNLV head coach Dan Mullen was looking to get off to a winning start in his second season as his Rebels faced the Memphis Tigers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
But UNLV could not maintain its 21-14 lead in the second half, as Memphis scored the game’s final 13 points and snagged a 27-21 win over a Rebels team that Florida Gators fans were also watching closely.
CFB Fans Offer Impressions of UNLV, Dan Mullen Opener
Positive and negative reactions to the UNLV opener were shared online after the final gun sounded the end of the Rebels’ game.
First, let’s observe some negative comments. One fan chastised Mullen and his team for not being able to get it together against a first-game combination between Memphis’ new quarterback Marcus Stokes and head coach Charles Huff.
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“Hold up… evil super genius Dan Mullen blew a home lead vs a first time QB and head coach duo?” this fan wrote. “Didn’t think that was possible for what non-Gator fans call one of the best coaches in the game.”
Hold up… evil super genius Dan Mullen blew a home lead vs a first time QB and head coach duo? Didn’t think that was possible for what non-Gator fans call one of the best coaches in the game
— \/ (@157Gale) August 30, 2026
Another fan had a witty comeback to comments made by Liam Blutman, host of the “Brandon Walker College Football Show.”
The fan wrote, “Blutman, it’s the Dan Mullen playbook. It’s why he quit at Florida. You know it, I know it, everyone in the world knows it—except for Brandon Walker. Tell him to unblock me because I was right about Dan Mullen being an overrated quitter.”
Blutman, it’s the Dan Mullen playbook. It’s why he quit at Florida. You know it, I know it, everyone in the world knows it—except for Brandon Walker. Tell him to unblock me because I was right about Dan Mullen being an overrated quitter. https://t.co/S1WIPKdULo
— Will (@Will_N11) August 30, 2026
Blue Orange-Gator’s account on X made it clear that a lot of talk about Mullen entering this season appeared to be just a bunch of talk. The account posted, “All that yapping from Dan Mullen about being fired and making the playoffs and he immediately gets popped by Memphis.”
All that yapping from Dan Mullen about being fired and making the playoffs and he immediately gets popped by Memphis😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/HawHDmlHIW
— Blue-Orange Gator (@BlueOrangeGtr) August 30, 2026
And, well, this fan just didn’t hold back from what he heard Mullen talk about during the week leading up to Saturday night’s loss: “Poor Dan Mullen, spent all offseason talking about making twelve team playoffs at Florida just to lose at home to Memphis week one.”
Poor Dan Mullen, spent all offseason talking about making twelve team playoffs at Florida just to lose at home to Memphis week one
— Reed Avers (@ReedAvers) August 30, 2026
Second, there were some positive words from some fans who saw Mullen open his second season at UNLV with a defeat.
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InAllKindsOfWeather.com’s account shared thoughts about what happened to Mullen when he was coaching the Gators. The account posted, “Dan Mullen just ran out of fuel here. He had to go. He’s still a two time national champion with us and did a lot of good for us as a head coach. I’m rooting for him at UNLV, idgaf what the fashionable thing to do is.”
Dan Mullen just ran out of fuel here. He had to go. He’s still a two time national champion with us and did a lot of good for us as a head coach.
I’m rooting for him at UNLV, idgaf what the fashionable thing to do is.
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) August 30, 2026
One fan criticized those who have been throwing Mullen under the metaphorical bus for how things went down at Florida.
“I know I’m not allowed to say it, but the hatred for Dan is way out of proportion. And you don’t have to look very far for ppl who supported Napier up until the USF game who to this day trash Dan mercilessly,” the fan posted on X.
I know I’m not allowed to say it, but the hatred for Dan is way out of proportion. And you don’t have to look very far for ppl who supported Napier up until the USF game who to this day trash Dan mercilessly.
— UF Is Back (@noMoreNapier) August 30, 2026
Mullen finished four years at Florida with a 34-15 overall record, leading the Gators to wins in the Peach Bowl and Orange Bowl in his first two seasons. Florida, though, lost in the Cotton Bowl in Mullen’s third season. He didn’t make a bowl game in his final season.
Now, he’s getting a chance to share his college football knowledge and strategy with new players at UNLV. Let’s see if Mullen and the Rebels can get their first win this season on Saturday, Sept. 5, when they travel and square off against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.
