# 2020 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

The 2020 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolf Pack were led by fourth–year head coach Jay Norvell and played their home games at Mackay Stadium. They were members of the Mountain West Conference.
On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference suspended all sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 24, the conference announced that the football season would begin on October 24.

## Preseason
### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Dom Peterson | DL | JR |
| Doak Walker Award | Toa Taua | RB | JR |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award | Elijah Cooks | WR | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Dom Peterson | DL | JR |
| Outland Trophy | Dom Peterson | DL | JR |
| Lou Groza Award | Brandon Talton | PK | SO |
| Paul Hornung Award | Toa Taua | RB | JR |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Lawson Hall | LB | SR |
| Maxwell Award | Carson Strong | QB | SO |

### Mountain West media days

The Mountain West media days were originally scheduled on July 16–17, 2020, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, but were canceled in favor of virtual media days due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual media days that were scheduled to take place on July 27–29, 2020, were also canceled.

#### Media poll

The preseason poll was released on July 21, 2020. The Wolf Pack were predicted to finish in second place in the MW West Division. The divisions were later suspended for the 2020 season.
West :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | San Diego State | 122 (19) |
| 2 | Nevada | 100 (2) |
| 3 | Hawaii | 74 |
| 4 | Fresno State | 73 |
| 5 | San Jose State | 43 |
| 6 | UNLV | 29 |
Mountain :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Boise State | 125 (20) |
| 2 | Wyoming | 90 (1) |
| 3 | Air Force | 86 |
| 4 | Utah State | 60 |
| 5 | Colorado State | 59 |
| 6 | New Mexico | 21 |

#### Preseason All−Mountain West Team

The Wolf Pack had two players selected to the preseason All−Mountain West Team; one from the offense and one from the defense.

## Schedule
### Original

| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| August 29 | UC Davis (Div. I FCS)* | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | No contest |
| September 5 | at Arkansas* | Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR | No contest |
| September 12 | UTEP* | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | No contest |
| September 19 | at South Florida* | Raymond James StadiumTampa, FL | No contest |
| September 26 | San Diego State | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | Rescheduled |
| October 3 | at Hawaii | Aloha StadiumHalawa, HI | Rescheduled |
| October 17 | at New Mexico | University StadiumAlbuquerque, NM (Battle of the Wolves) | Rescheduled |
| October 24 | Fresno State | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | Rescheduled |
| October 31 | Utah State | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | Rescheduled |
| November 7 | at San Jose State | CEFCU StadiumSan Jose, CA | Rescheduled |
| November 14 | Wyoming | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | Rescheduled |
| November 28 | at UNLV | Allegiant StadiumParadise, NV (Battle for the Fremont Cannon / Silver State Series) | Rescheduled |
| *Non-conference game ||||

### Revised

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| October 24 | 4:00 p.m. | Wyoming | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | CBSSN | W 37–34 $^{OT}$ | 250 |
| October 31 | 7:30 p.m. | at UNLV | Allegiant StadiumParadise, NV (Battle for the Fremont Cannon / Silver State Series) | FS1 | W 37–19 | 2,000 |
| November 5 | 4:00 p.m. | Utah State | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | FS1 | W 34–9 | 250 |
| November 14 | 3:30 p.m. | at New Mexico | Sam Boyd StadiumWhitney, NV (Battle of the Wolves) | FS2 | W 27–20 | 250 |
| November 21 | 12:30 p.m. | San Diego State | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | CBS | W 26–21 | 50 |
| November 28 | 8:00 p.m. | at Hawaii | Aloha StadiumHalawa, HI | KNSN-TV/SPEC HI | L 21–24 | 0 |
| December 5 | 6:00 p.m. | Fresno State | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | FS2 | W 37–26 | 50 |
| December 11 | 7:00 p.m. | vs. San Jose State | Sam Boyd StadiumWhitney, NV | CBSSN | L 20–30 | 0 |
| December 22 | 12:30 p.m. | vs. Tulane* | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) | ESPN | W 38–27 | 0 |
| *Non-conference gameAll times are in Pacific time |||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | — | —* | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | — | RV | — | — | RV |
| Coaches | — | —* | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Personnel
### Depth chart

| † | As of November 30, 2020 |
Defense :
* NICKEL
* E. J. Muhammad
* Jordan Lee
* FS
* Christian Swint OR JoJuan Claiborne
| WILL | MIKE |
| Lamin Touray OR Daiyan Henley | Lawson Hall |
| Trevor Price | Josiah Bradley |
| ⋅ | Naki Mateialona |
* SS
* Tyson Williams
* Jayce Godley
* Emany Johnson
* CB
* Berdale Robins OR Jaden Dedman
| DE | DT | DT | DE |
| Kameron Toomer | Zak Mahannah | Dom Peterson | Sam Hammond |
| Jack Powers | Christopher Love | Amir Johnson | Daniel Grzesiak |
* CB
* A. J. King OR Mikael Bradford
* Kieran Clark
Offense :
* X
* Justin Lockhart
* Tory Horton
* H
* Melquan Stovall
* Jamaal Bell
* Isaac Jernagin
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT |
| Jacob Gardner | Jermaine Ledbetter | Tyler Orsini | Nate Brown | Aaron Frost |
| Moses Landis | Gray Davis | Nathan Edwards | Zac Welch | Cole Watts |
* TE
* Cole Turner
* Reagan Roberson
* Henry Ikahihifo
* Z
* Romeo Doubs
* Charles Ross
* QB
* Carson Strong
* Nate Cox
* Jake Barlage
* RB
* Toa Taua OR Devonte Lee
* Avery Morrow
* Special teams
* PK Brandon Talton
* P Julian Diaz
* KR Jamaal Bell Melquan Stovall
* PR Romeo Doubs OR Charles Ross
* LS Austin Ortega
* H Hamish McClure

## Game summaries
### Wyoming

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Cowboys | 3 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 3 | 34 |
| • Wolf Pack | 7 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 37 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WYO –3 | 54 |
| Statistics | Wyoming | Nevada |
| First downs | 19 | 25 |
| Total yards | 361 | 496 |
| Rushing yards | 128 | 76 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 420 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 25:02 | 34:58 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Wyoming | Passing | Levi Williams | 16/31, 227 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Wyoming | Rushing | Xazavian Valladay | 22 carries, 87 yards |
| Wyoming | Receiving | Isaiah Neyor | 3 receptions, 102 yards |
| Nevada | Passing | Carson Strong | 39/52, 420 yards, 4 TDs |
| Nevada | Rushing | Devonte Lee | 18 carries, 65 yards |
| Nevada | Receiving | Cole Turner | 7 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TDs |

### At UNLV

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Wolf Pack | 10 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 37 |
| Rebels | 3 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 19 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NEV –14 | 59 |
| Statistics | Nevada | UNLV |
| First downs | 22 | 22 |
| Total yards | 497 | 348 |
| Rushing yards | 147 | 126 |
| Passing yards | 350 | 222 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:36 | 32:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Nevada | Passing | Carson Strong | 21/27, 350 yards, 2 TDs |
| Nevada | Rushing | Toa Taua | 12 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD |
| Nevada | Receiving | Romeo Doubs | 7 receptions, 219 yards, 1 TD |
| UNLV | Passing | Max Gilliam | 27/40, 207 yards, 2 TDs |
| UNLV | Rushing | Charles Williams | 19 carries, 99 yards |
| UNLV | Receiving | Tyleek Collins | 5 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD |

### Utah State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| • Wolf Pack | 7 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NEV –17 | 58.5 |
| Statistics | Utah State | Nevada |
| First downs | 11 | 27 |
| Total yards | 210 | 542 |
| Rushing yards | 109 | 121 |
| Passing yards | 101 | 421 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 23:16 | 36:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Utah State | Passing | Jason Shelley | 15/27, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Utah State | Rushing | Jason Shelley | 7 carries, 34 yards |
| Utah State | Receiving | Deven Thompkins | 6 receptions, 30 yards |
| Nevada | Passing | Carson Strong | 36/52, 411 yards, 3 TDs |
| Nevada | Rushing | Toa Taua | 12 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD |
| Nevada | Receiving | Romeo Doubs | 7 receptions, 137 yards, 3 TDs |

### At New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Wolf Pack | 0 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
| Lobos | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NEV –17.5 | 63 |
| Statistics | Nevada | New Mexico |
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 392 | 352 |
| Rushing yards | 52 | 141 |
| Passing yards | 340 | 211 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 27:45 | 32:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Nevada | Passing | Carson Strong | 24/38, 336 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Nevada | Rushing | Toa Taua | 15 carries, 62 yards |
| Nevada | Receiving | Romeo Doubs | 5 receptions, 172 yards, 3 TDs |
| New Mexico | Passing | Trae Hall | 17/32, 195 yards, 1 INT |
| New Mexico | Rushing | Bobby Cole | 17 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| New Mexico | Receiving | Emmanuel Logan–Greene | 5 receptions, 56 yards |

### San Diego State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aztecs | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| • Wolf Pack | 6 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 26 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| SDSU –1.5 | 46.5 |
| Statistics | San Diego State | Nevada |
| First downs | 16 | 19 |
| Total yards | 293 | 376 |
| Rushing yards | 109 | 88 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 288 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:07 | 32:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| San Diego State | Passing | Lucas Johnson | 14/24, 184 yards, 1 TD |
| San Diego State | Rushing | Chance Bell | 11 carries, 42 yards |
| San Diego State | Receiving | Jesse Matthews | 5 receptions, 80 yards |
| Nevada | Passing | Carson Strong | 31/46, 288 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Nevada | Rushing | Toa Taua | 13 carries, 52 yards |
| Nevada | Receiving | Romeo Doubs | 5 receptions, 133 yards, 1 TD |

### At Hawaii

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolf Pack | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| • Rainbow Warriors | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NEV –7 | 63 |
| Statistics | Nevada | Hawaii |
| First downs | 23 | 25 |
| Total yards | 376 | 365 |
| Rushing yards | 208 | 119 |
| Passing yards | 168 | 246 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:07 | 27:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Nevada | Passing | Carson Strong | 20/25, 168 yards, 2 TDs |
| Nevada | Rushing | Toa Taua | 20 carries, 131 yards, 1 TD |
| Nevada | Receiving | Cole Turner | 6 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD |
| Hawaii | Passing | Chevan Cordeiro | 26/32, 246 yards, 1 TD |
| Hawaii | Rushing | Chevan Cordeiro | 15 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD |
| Hawaii | Receiving | Calvin Turner | 10 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD |

### Fresno State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 26 |
| • Wolf Pack | 17 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 37 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NEV –6.5 | 59 |
| Statistics | Fresno State | Nevada |
| First downs | 30 | 14 |
| Total yards | 599 | 416 |
| Rushing yards | 114 | 62 |
| Passing yards | 485 | 354 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 35:01 | 24:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Fresno State | Passing | Jake Haener | 41/65, 485 yards, 2 TD |
| Fresno State | Rushing | Ronnie Rivers | 14 carries, 69 yards |
| Fresno State | Receiving | Keric Wheatfall | 6 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD |
| Nevada | Passing | Carson Strong | 23/39, 354 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Nevada | Rushing | Toa Taua | 11 carries, 39 yards |
| Nevada | Receiving | Tory Horton | 5 receptions, 148 yards, 3 TDs |

### Vs. San Jose State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolf Pack | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| • Spartans | 7 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NEV –2.5 | 61.5 |
| Statistics | Nevada | San Jose State |
| First downs | 24 | 18 |
| Total yards | 398 | 506 |
| Rushing yards | 138 | 200 |
| Passing yards | 260 | 306 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:43 | 28:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Nevada | Passing | Carson Strong | 33/48, 260 yards, 1 TD |
| Nevada | Rushing | Toa Taua | 11 carries, 96 yards |
| Nevada | Receiving | Romeo Doubs | 9 receptions, 75 yards |
| San Jose State | Passing | Nick Starkel | 20/30, 306 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| San Jose State | Rushing | Tyler Nevens | 12 carries, 184 yards, 1 TD |
| San Jose State | Receiving | Bailey Gaither | 7 receptions, 156 yards |

### Vs. Tulane (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Green Wave | 0 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 27 |
| • Wolf Pack | 6 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TULN –1 | 56.5 |
| Statistics | Tulane | Nevada |
| First downs | 18 | 21 |
| Total yards | 365 | 480 |
| Rushing yards | 197 | 209 |
| Passing yards | 168 | 271 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 23:50 | 36:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tulane | Passing | Michael Pratt | 12/25, 168 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs |
| Tulane | Rushing | Cameron Carroll | 10 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD |
| Tulane | Receiving | Jha'Quan Jackson | 2 receptions, 69 yards, 2 TDs |
| Nevada | Passing | Carson Strong | 22/28, 271 yards, 5 TDs |
| Nevada | Rushing | Devonte Lee | 18 carries, 105 yards |
| Nevada | Receiving | Toa Taua | 6 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD |