It’s a new year, and the Nevada Wolf Pack is ready to howl. Having weathered a couple of dismal years in the Mountain West, Reno fans are eager for a turnaround. With fresh personnel on board and a schedule full of opportunity and peril, the 2025 season will challenge Nevada’s mettle from beginning to end. The question is, can this Wolf Pack claw its way back to a winning mark?
2025 Nevada Football Schedule
- August 30, 2025—at Penn State
- September 6, 2025—vs. Sacramento State
- September 13, 2025—vs. Middle Tennessee
- September 20, 2025—at Western Kentucky
- October 4, 2025—at Fresno State
- October 11, 2025—vs. San Diego State
- October 18, 2025—at New Mexico
- October 25, 2025—vs. Boise State
- November 8, 2025—at Utah State
- November 15, 2025—vs. San José State
- November 22, 2025—at Wyoming
- November 29, 2025—vs. UNLV
What To Look for in 2025?
The Wolf Pack will be immersed immediately in Week 1 with a visit to Big Ten giant Penn State on Aug. 30. This game can bring national exposure and useful experience. However, expectations will be muted against such a strong opponent in Happy Valley.
Things get easier with a couple of home games against FCS rival Sacramento State and Conference USA’s Middle Tennessee. These season-opening games are absolute necessities if Nevada hopes to establish momentum and confidence going into the meat of the season.
Road trips to Western Kentucky and Fresno State in back-to-back weeks are next, and both figure to be tricky. Fresno State, a perennial Mountain West contender, always brings the heat, especially at home.
Meanwhile, October has a crucial three-week period that has the potential to determine Nevada’s conference record. A home contest against San Diego State on Oct. 11, then a road game at New Mexico and a home battle with Boise State, will demand almost flawless execution. Boise State, for all its recent inconsistency, is still a measuring stick for any Mountain West team.
Nevada has three road tests in November against Utah State, Wyoming, and in-state rival UNLV, with just a single home respite against San José State. The annual rivalry game against UNLV on Nov. 29 may have big stakes and is always the fan favorite in the Battle for the Fremont Cannon.
Nevada’s road schedule consists of six games, five of which are against teams that recorded winning records in 2024. That’s a tall ask for a program seeking to establish itself under head coach Ken Wilson.
Can Nevada Howl Its Way to Bowl Eligibility?
To say this is a pivotal year for the Wolf Pack would be an understatement. Coming off multiple seasons without a winning record, head coach Ken Wilson’s squad needs to demonstrate significant improvement. However, the silver lining is that there are winnable games on the slate, particularly early in the season.
The offense will rely on junior quarterback Brendon Lewis, who flashed playmaking potential last year but must improve on consistency. Wide receiver Jamaal Bell is back as a solid target, and sophomore running back Ashton Hayes provides explosiveness to the running game.
On defense, Nevada needs to strengthen a unit that was poor at tackling and pass coverage in 2024. Linebacker Drue Watts and cornerback Isaiah Essissima are back to lead the defense and provide much-needed leadership.
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That sentiment will be tested early and often. A 6-6 record isn’t unthinkable, but Nevada will have to pull a win or two on the road and hold its own at home. Foes at Sacramento State, Middle Tennessee, San José State, and UNLV provide the best opportunities for wins.
Fans will also be paying attention to how this team plays against top-tier Mountain West foes such as Boise State and Fresno State. The schedule is tough, particularly on the road, but the potential for positive change exists. If the offense remains healthy and the defense improves, Nevada could quite possibly shoot for bowl eligibility.
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