We're looking at it as the championship game,'' UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas said. This is it for us at least. If we go out there and beat these guys, we have our foot in the door to the championship. Adding to the atmosphere, this game will be played in front of a national-television audience on ESPN2. To take it to another level would help us in recruiting, it would help us in our program for the future.
Every game is big.
It was watching Thomas on videotape that prompted Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick to praise the sophomore Monday. Among other compliments, Lubick called Thomas the best quarterback in the country. But even as wonderfully as Thomas has played, UNLV's success has been based on more than just him. His receivers have played well, the running backs are piling up yards and the offensive line is coming together. And then there's the defense.