SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Coach Barry Odom’s UNLV team continues to tick off firsts in a breakout season for the Rebels.

UNLV entered The AP exam for the first time ever in September, made the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time this week and head into the stretch with a chance to win the first Mountain West title in school history.

The 23rd-ranked Rebels (8-2, 4-1 Mountain West, No. 24 CFP) take their highest-ever ranking into their final regular-season game when they take on San Jose State (6-4, 3-3 ) on Friday evening.

“I’m glad we’re getting more national notoriety,” Odom said. “It creates more meaningful games in November, which is always a goal in the pursuit of winning a championship. It’s still on the table for us. The playoff hopes are still out there, and across the country, not many schools can say that.”

Odom has transformed a program that had a winning record in the 21 seasons prior to his arrival into a contender in the conference. The Rebels won nine games last season for their most wins since 1984 when they reached the Mountain West title game before losing to Boise State.

UNLV has been even better this season, making its debut in the poll at No. 25 after a 4-0 start before losing to Syracuse and bouncing back this week.

If the Rebels win their final two games of the regular season and Colorado State loses at least once, they will be in prime position to return to the Mountain West title game with a possible playoff spot on the line.

“When you win, these games keep piling up and they get bigger by the moment,” Odom said.

The stakes aren’t quite as high for the Spartans, who have had a promising first year under coach Ken Niumatalolo. They have become bowl eligible and have a shot at their first eight-win season since 2012.

The Spartans hung tough last week against No. 13 Boise State, taking an early 14-0 lead and staying tied late in the third quarter before losing 42-21.

“It gave us confidence,” Niumatalolo said. “It was the No. 13 team in the country and we know we can beat them. Now we get the No. 23 team.”

San Jose State has lost 11 straight games against ranked teams since beating No. 16 Fresno State in 2013.

Dealing with loss

Jacob De Jesus returned to UNLV’s lineup last week after being out since injuring his knee Oct. 25 against Boise State. He looked like he never left. He caught seven passes for 75 yards, rushed twice for 42 yards and returned five punts for 35 yards in UNLV’s 41-20 win over San Diego State.

All while coping with the recent death of his father, Richard. De Jesus said his father would text him before games and wish him luck, and not being able to read such a message disappointed him.

“But once we got into the stadium and started warming up,” De Jesus said, “I started feeling more fired up and thinking, ‘I want to do this for him and have a great game for him’.”

Special teams

UNLV has had great success on special teams this season. Ricky White III has blocked four punts – more than any other team – and Jai’Den Thomas had a 90-yard punt return for a TD against Fresno State.

“Their special teams have us on high alert,” Niumatalolo said.

Kicking it

UNLV freshman Caden Chittenden leads all kickers in scoring with 109 points. He is also seventh among all players.

Chittenden is tied for the national lead with 22 field goals made on 27 attempts.

“He’s become one of the elite kickers in all of college football, not just our conference,” Odom said. “Obviously he has a number of years ahead of him that he will continue to make a name for himself and our program.”

Enjoy at home

San Jose State has dominated the series as the home team, winning seven straight meetings in its stadium.

UNLV’s last win at San Jose State? It occurred in 1993 when both teams were in the Big West Conference.

The Spartans have been the better team of late, regardless of where the game is played, and carry a four-game winning streak into this matchup. They have won 12 of the last 14 meetings.

UNLV has won its first five road games of the season for the first time in school history and the seven-game streak since last season is tied for the third-longest active streak in the country.

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AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this report

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