2023 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

2023 Nevada Wolf Pack football
Conference	Mountain West Conference
Record	2–10 (2–6 MW)
Head coach	Ken Wilson (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Derek Sage (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Co-defensive coordinator	Kwame Agyeman (2nd season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Mike Bethea (2nd season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Mackay Stadium

2023 Mountain West Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
UNLV y		6	–	2					9	–	5
Boise State y$		6	–	2					8	–	6
San Jose State		6	–	2					7	–	6
Air Force		5	–	3					9	–	4
Wyoming		5	–	3					9	–	4
Fresno State		4	–	4					9	–	4
Utah State		4	–	4					6	–	7
Hawaii		3	–	5					5	–	8
Colorado State		3	–	5					5	–	7
Nevada		2	–	6					2	–	10
New Mexico		2	–	6					4	–	8
San Diego State		2	–	6					4	–	8
Championship: Boise State 44, UNLV 20
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant

The 2023 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno as a member of the Mountain West Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolf Pack were led by Ken Wilson in his second year as Nevada's head coach. They played their home games at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nevada. Wilson was fired a week after the season ended.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	3:30 p.m.	at No. 6 USC*	LA Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA	P12N	L 14–66	62,916
September 9	4:00 p.m.	No. 7 (FCS) Idaho*	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	KNSN-TV	L 6–33	19,852
September 16	7:30 p.m.	Kansas*	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	CBSSN	L 24–31	16,890
September 23	4:00 p.m.	at Texas State*	Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	ESPN+	L 24–35	19,257
September 30	7:30 p.m.	at No. 25 Fresno State	Valley Children's Stadium Fresno, CA	FS1	L 9–27	39,246
October 14	2:00 p.m.	UNLV	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV (Fremont Cannon)	KNSN-TV	L 27–45	24,578
October 21	6:00 p.m.	at San Diego State	Snapdragon Stadium San Diego, CA	FS2	W 6–0	27,122
October 28	7:30 p.m.	New Mexico	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	CBSSN	W 34–24	13,083
November 4	1:00 p.m.	Hawaii	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	SPEC PPV	L 14–27	15,540
November 11	12:00 p.m.	at Utah State	Maverik Stadium Logan, UT	MW Network	L 24–41	17,760
November 18	12:00 p.m.	at Colorado State	Canvas Stadium Fort Collins, CO	MW Network	L 20–30	20,121
November 25	6:00 p.m.	Wyoming	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	CBSSN	L 6–42	12,044
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game All times are in Pacific time

Roster

2023 Nevada Wolf Pack football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class RB 0 Cross Patton  Sr WR 1 Isaah Crocker GS QB 2 Brendon Lewis  So WR 3 Jamaal Bell Sr RB 4 Sean Dollars  Jr WR 5 Dalevon Campbell GS WR 6 Gerick Robinson  So WR 7 Marquis Ashley  So WR 9 Marshaun Brown Fr QB 10 A. J. Bianco  Fr WR 11 Carlos Sandy GS WR 12 Nate Burleson II Fr QB 13 Jax Leatherwood Fr WR 14 John Jackson III GS WR 15 Kola Babalola  Fr QB 16 Shane Illingworth  Jr QB 17 Baylor Horning  Sr QB 18 Spencer Curtis  Sr QB 19 Logan Howren Fr RB 22 Jeshua Fixel  Sr RB 23 Jacques Badalato-Birdsell  So WR 24 Christo Viloria Fr RB 26 Ashton Hayes So RB 32 Wesley Kommer  Jr RB 33 Conner Noah Fr RB 34 Spencer Firebaugh Fr TE 44 Oliver Stuart  Fr TE 47 Rory Morgan  Jr OL 52 Tyson Ruffins Fr OL 54 Josh Grabowski  So OL 55 Joey Capra  Sr OL 56 Zac Welch  Sr OL 62 Frank Poso Sr OL 63 R. J. Taylor  Jr OL 64 Kai Arneson  Jr OL 67 R. J. Esmon Fr OL 68 Jacob Nunez  Jr OL 70 Isaiah World  So OL 71 Josiah Timoteo Fr OL 73 Josh Castro GS OL 74 Garvey Gordon  So OL 75 Shawn Klingler  Fr OL 77 John Bolles Jr OL 78 Andrew Madrigal  So OL 79 Cole Feinauer  So WR 80 Ross Nickson Fr TE 81 Keleki Latu Jr TE 82 Jayden O'Rourke Fr WR 83 Aaron Smith  Jr WR 84 Jeremiah Gradowitz  Jr TE 85 Cameron Zeidler  Fr TE 86 Dyson Frank  So WR 88 Tyler Clark  Fr TE 89 Cooper Shults Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DL 0 Henry Ikahihifo GS DB 1 Caine Savage Sr CB 2 Isaiah Essissima Sr DB 3 Michael Coats Jr. Sr LB 4 Eli'jah Winston GS DB 5 Emany Johnson GS DB 6 Jaden Dedman GS LB 7 Jonathan Thomas  Jr DB 8 Tre Weed GS LB 9 Davion Blackwell  Jr DB 10 K. K. Meier  Fr LB 11 Marcel Walker-Burgess Jr DB 12 Kacee Williams  Sr DB 13 Ezekiel Robbins  Sr DB 14 Devin Gunter  Jr S 15 Bishop Turner Fr LB 16 Kaleo Neves  Sr DB 17 Micah Camat  Jr DB 19 KeeKee McQueen  Fr S 20 Journey McKoy Fr LB 22 Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio Fr DB 23 Richard Toney Jr.  So DB 24 Chad Brown  Sr CB 25 Dorian Blackwell  So DB 26 Tooni Ikahihifo Jr. Jr DB 28 Tori Mulkey Sr CB 30 Jonah Lewis Jr. Fr DB 31 Donoven DeRicco  Fr LB 32 Drue Watts  So LB 33 Stone Combs  Fr LB 34 Malcolm McClure  Fr DB 35 Elijah Acklin  Fr LB 36 Tongiaki Mateialona Sr LB 37 Marques Allen-Patmon  Jr LB 39 Micah Lilo  Jr LB 42 Jackson LaDuke  So LB 44 Zach Beagle GS LB 45 Chris Smalley So DB 46 Aedan Seiuli  So DL 47 Hunter Kaupiko  Jr DL 50 Louie Cresto  Jr LB 51 Junior Walling  Jr DL 52 Dwight Togiola  So DL 54 Sosefo Moeaki Jr DL 55 Mackavelli Malotumau So LB 56 Adam Weynand  Jr BB 57 Andoni Fessenmaier Fr LB 58 Jayden LaGrone Fr LB 66 Thomas Witte  Jr DL 72 Cade Rodahaffer  Fr DL 89 D'Angelo Davis Fr DL 90 Ike Nnakenyi  Fr DL 91 James Hansen  Sr DE 92 Dion Washington  So LB 95 Jonathan Maldonado  Fr DL 96 Tanner Vaughan  So DT 99 William Green Jr. GS	Special teams Pos. # Name Class JR 18 Matthew Killam  Jr K/P 38 Boden Page Fr LS 40 Jackson Robertson Fr K 43 Brandon Talton GS P 48 Matt Freem GS LS 88 Nick Barcelos Sr	Head coach Ken Wilson Coordinators/assistant coaches Vai Taua – Assistant head coach/Running backs Derek Sage – Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks Kwame Agyeman – Co-defensive coordinator/safeties Mike Bethea – Co-defensive coordinator/Linebackers Peyton Yanagi – Special teams coordinator Anthony Arceneaux – Wide receivers Virgil Green – Tight ends Al Lapuaho – Defensive linemen Angus McClure – Passing game coordinator/Offensive linemen Jalen Ortiz – Cornerbacks Mason Baggett – Director, Strength and Conditioning Jordan Loeffler – Offensive analyst Nick Yaver – Offensive analyst Jake Belzer – Defensive analyst Jeff Magdaleno – Defensive analyst Garrett McClure – Graduate assistant Gabe Sewell – Graduate assistant Tyson Williams – Graduate assistant Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 9/4/23

Game summaries

at No. 6 USC

See also: 2023 USC Trojans football team

Nevada Wolf Pack (0–0) at No. 6 USC Trojans (1–0) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolf Pack	7	0	0	7	14
No. 6 Trojans	21	14	7	24	66

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA

• Date: September 2, 2023
• Game time: 3:30 p.m.
• Game weather: Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: SE at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h) • Weather: Cloudy
• Game attendance: 62,916
• Referee: Christopher Wiggins
• TV announcers (Pac-12 Network): Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Yogi Roth (analyst)

Game information

First quarter (12:45) USC – Zachariah Branch 22-yard pass from Caleb Williams, Denis Lynch kick (Drive: 4 plays, 79 yards, 2:10; USC 7–0) (11:01) NEV – Sean Dollars 3-yard rush, Brandon Talton kick (Drive: 4 plays, 85 yards, 1:39; Tied 7–7) (5:18) USC – MarShawn Lloyd 24-yard rush, Denis Lynch kick (Drive: 4 plays, 54 yards, 2:12; USC 14–7) (2:13) USC – Tahj Washington 22-yard pass from Caleb Williams, Denis Lynch kick (Drive: 4 plays, 45 yards, 2:10; USC 21–7) Second quarter (14:08) USC – Michael Jackson III 15-yard pass from Caleb Williams, Denis Lynch kick (Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 1:11; USC 28–7) (6:17) USC – Brenden Rice 13-yard pass from Caleb Williams, Denis Lynch kick (Drive: 3 plays, 64 yards, 2:17; USC 35–7) Third quarter (10:08) USC – Tahj Washington 45-yard pass from Caleb Williams, Denis Lynch kick (Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 2:59; USC 42–7) Fourth quarter (13:30) USC – Denis Lunch 47-yard field goal, (Drive: 10 plays, 79 yards, 4:42; USC 45–7) (12:05) USC – Stanley Ta'ufo'ou 23-yard fumble return, Denis Lynch kick (Drive: 3 plays, -2 yards, 1:24; USC 52–7) (11:18) NEV – Jamaal Bell 77-yard pass from AJ Bianco, Brandon Talton kick (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:47; USC 52–14) (9:09) USC – Quinten Joyner 47-yard rush, Denis Lynch kick (Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 2:01; USC 59–14) (4:02) USC – Duce Robinson 71-yard pass from Miller Moss, Tyler Robles kick (Drive: 2 plays, 68 yards, 0:54; USC 66–14)

Statistics	NEV	USC
First downs	12	28
Total yards	360	668
Rushes/yards	38–49	20–215
Passing yards	311	453
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–34–0	25–34–0
Time of possession	35:59	24:01

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nevada	Passing	Brendon Lewis	18/29, 182 yards
	Rushing	Sean Dollars	9 carries, 33 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jamaal Bell	8 receptions, 121 yards, TD
USC	Passing	Caleb Williams	18/24, 319 yards, 5 TD
	Rushing	MarShawn Lloyd	7 carries, 76 yards, TD
	Receiving	Tahj Washington	3 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TDs

No. 7 (FCS) Idaho

See also: 2023 Idaho Vandals football team

Kansas

See also: 2023 Kansas Jayhawks football team

Kansas Jayhawks (2–0) at Nevada Wolf Pack (0–2) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Jayhawks	7	3	14	7	31
Wolf Pack	0	10	7	7	24

at Mackay Stadium • Reno, Nevada

• Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
• Game time: 9:30 pm CDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C)
• Game attendance: 16,890
• Referee: Derek Anderson
• TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz, Aaron Taylor
• Gamebook

Game information

First quarter KU 9:46 Devin Neal 3 yard run (Seth Keller kick good), 9–75, 5:14 KU 7–0 Second quarter UN 14:49 Brandon Talton 42 yard field goal, 9–24, 4:00 KU 7–3 KU 8:55 Seth Keller 44 yard field goal 13–47, 5:54 KU 10–7 UN 0:29 Sean Dollars 3 yard run (Brandon Talton kick good) 10–78, 4:55 10–10 Third quarter KU 5:07 Daniel Hishaw Jr. 1 yard run (Seth Keller kick good), 11–84, 4:41 KU 17–10 UN 3:33 Brendon Lewis 6 yard run (Brandon Talton kick good) 4–65, 1:34 17–17 KU 3:00 Devin Neal 1 yard run (Seth Keller kick good) 2–75, 0:33 KU 24–17 Fourth quarter UN 10:37 Brendon Lewis 2 yard run (Brandon Talton kick good) 14–75, 7:23 24–24 KU 6:20 Devin Neal 3 yard run (Seth Keller kick good) 9–75, 4:17 KU 31–24

Statistics	KU	UN
First downs	24	14
Plays–yards	67–441	59–263
Rushes–yards	40–143	37–150
Passing yards	298	113
Passing: comp–att–int	21–27–0	15–22–0
Time of possession	31:51	28:09

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kansas	Passing	Jalon Daniels	21/27 298 yards
	Rushing	Devin Neal	17 carries 89 yards 3 TDs
	Receiving	Mason Fairchild	5 receptions 74 yards
Nevada	Passing	Brendon Lewis	15/22 113 carries
	Rushing	Brendon Lewis	11 carries 58 yards
	Receiving	Dalevon Campbell	1 reception 53 yards

at Texas State

See also: 2023 Texas State Bobcats football team

Nevada Wolf Pack (0–3) at Texas State Bobcats (2–1) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolf Pack	10	7	0	7	24
Bobcats	0	0	21	14	35

at Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos, Texas

• Date: September 23
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 19,257
• Referee: Javarro Edwards
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Brant Freeman, Keith Moreland, and Koral Riggs
• Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter NEV – Brandon Talton 30-yard field goal, 9:27. Wolf Pack 3–0. Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 5:33. NEV – KK Meier 98-yard interception return (Brandon Talton kick), 5:08. Wolf Pack 10–0. Second quarter NEV – Zac Welch 0-yard fumble return (Brandon Talton kick), 11:11. Wolf Pack 17–0. Third quarter TXST – Joey Hobert 25-yard pass from TJ Finley (Mason Shipley kick), 9:43. Wolf Pack 17–7. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:17. TXST – Kole Wilson 77-yard pass from TJ Finley (Mason Shipley kick), 3:42. Wolf Pack 17–14. Drive: 2 plays, 83 yards, 0:42. TXST – Ismail Mahdi 46-yard run (Mason Shipley kick), 0:49. Bobcats 21–17. Drive: 5 plays, 58 yards, 1:33. Fourth quarter TXST – Ismail Mahdi 36-yard run (Mason Shipley kick), 8:30. Bobcats 28–17. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:47. TXST – Malik Hornsby 13-yard run (Mason Shipley kick), 4:50. Bobcats 35–17. Drive: 3 plays, 34 yards, 1:25. NEV – AJ Bianco 2-yard run (Brandon Talton kick), 0:57. Bobcats 35–24. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:53.

Statistics

Statistics	NEV	TXST
First downs	20	24
Total yards	353	574
Rushing yards	159	276
Passing yards	194	298
Turnovers	3	3
Time of possession	31:25	28:35

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nevada	Passing	Brendon Lewis	21/32, 151 yards, INT
	Rushing	Brandon Lewis	12 rushes, 89 yards
	Receiving	Isaiah Essissima	2 receptions, 67 yards
Texas State	Passing	TJ Finley	25/31, 295 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Ismail Mahdi	21 rushes, 216 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Kole Wilson	4 receptions, 93 yards, TD

at No. 25 Fresno State

See also: 2023 Fresno State Bulldogs football team

Nevada Wolf Pack (0–4) at No. 25 Fresno State Bulldogs (4–0) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolf Pack	0	0	0	9	9
No. 25 Bulldogs	7	7	6	7	27

at Valley Children's Stadium • Fresno, California

• Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
• Game time: 7:30 p.m. PDT
• Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Wind: NW 7mph
• Game attendance: 39,246
• Referee: Patrick Foy
• TV announcers (FS1): Dan Hellie (play-by-play) & Petros Papadakis (analyst)
• Pregame line: Fresno State −24.5

Game information

First quarter (2:12) FRES – Jaelen Gill 65-yard pass from Mikey Keene, Dylan Lynch kick (Drive: 6 plays, 88 yards, 3:30; Fresno State 7–0) Second quarter (4:15) FRES – Malik Sherrod 72-yard run, Dylan Lynch kick (Drive: 5 plays, 97 yards, 2:41; Fresno State 14–0) Third quarter (9:13) FRES – Dylan Lynch 48-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 30 yards, 2:22; Fresno State 17–0) (4:51) FRES – Dylan Lynch 40-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 3:27; Fresno State 20–0) Fourth quarter (12:37) FRES – Jaelen Gill 12-yard pass from Mikey Keene, Dylan Lynch kick (Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 3:14; Fresno State 27–0) (8:22) NEV – Nevada tackles Fresno State running back Elijah Gilliam in end zone for a safety (Fresno State 27–2) (0:11) NEV – Spencer Curtis 12-yard pass from AJ Bianco, Brandon Talton kick (Drive: 8 plays, 90 yards, 2:31; Fresno State 27–9)

Statistics	NEV	FRES
First downs	17	19
Plays–yards	66–220	59–410
Rushes–yards	31–53	25–141
Passing yards	167	269
Passing: comp–att–int	19–35–2	26–34–2
Time of possession	30:33	29:27

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nevada	Passing	AJ Bianco	9/14, 97 yards, TD
	Rushing	Brendon Lewis	15 carries, 31 yards
	Receiving	Spencer Curtis	8 receptions, 73 yards, TD
Fresno State	Passing	Mikey Keene	26/34, 269 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Malik Sherrod	12 carries, 123 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jaelen Gill	8 receptions, 126 yards 2 TD

UNLV

See also: 2023 UNLV Rebels football team

at San Diego State

See also: 2023 San Diego State Aztecs football team

New Mexico

See also: 2023 New Mexico Lobos football team

Hawaii

See also: 2023 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team

at Utah State

See also: 2023 Utah State Aggies football team

at Colorado State

See also: 2023 Colorado State Rams football team

Nevada Wolf Pack (2–8) at Colorado State Rams (4–6) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolf Pack	3	10	7	0	20
Rams	14	6	3	7	30

at Canvas Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado

• Date: November 18th
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. MST/12:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: SE at 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 20,121
• Referee: Cal McNeill
• TV: MWN

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	Nevada	Colorado State
First downs	21	23
Plays–yards	73–327	65–414
Rushes–yards	43–133	34–169
Passing yards	194	245
Passing: comp–att–int	21–30–2	15–31–1
Time of possession	35:30	24:30

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nevada	Passing	Brendon Lewis	18/24, 169 yards
	Rushing	Sean Dollars	20 carries, 69 yards
	Receiving	Dalevon Campbell	5 receptions, 72 yards
Colorado State	Passing	Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi	15/30, 245 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Justin Marshall	19 carries, 98 yards
	Receiving	Tory Horton	6 receptions, 78 yards, TD

Wyoming

See also: 2023 Wyoming Cowboys football team