The 2017 UNLV Rebels football team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Tony Sanchez, the Rebels compiled an overall record of 5âÂÂ7 record with mark of 4âÂÂ4 in conference play, placing third in the MW's West Division. The team played home games at Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada.
Following the season, Sanchez fired defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kent Baer and special teams and safeties coach Andy LaRussa.
UNLV's season-opening loss to Howard represented the largest upset in college football history in terms of point spread. Howard was a 45-point underdog to UNLV and pulled the upset on the back of quarterback Caylin Newton, brother of NFL quarterback Cam Newton, who had 330 total offensive yards in the game.