FSM Feature: UNLV Rebels Quarterback Anthony Colandrea Named 2025 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year

After a historic first season at UNLV, Rebels quarterback Anthony Colandrea has been named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, the highest honor for an offensive player in the conference. Colandrea is the first UNLV Rebel to receive the award in program history and has led the Rebels to a 10-2 record on the season alongside head coach Dan Mullen, who is also in his first year with the team.

“I came here to be developed as a quarterback,” said Colandrea after the Rebels’ 38-10 Week 13 drubbing of their in-conference rivals, the Hawi’i Rainbow Warriors. “At the end of the day, I just wanted to be a good quarterback, and I knew that if I came here, (Mullen) was going to develop me.”

And develop he did, Colandrea tossed 3050 passing yards alongside 22 touchdowns this season, both first in the Mountain West. He was also a threat on the ground, rushing for 556 yards and 8 touchdowns along the way. His 68.2 completion percentage is also on pace to be a school record.

All of which are career highs for the junior signal caller.

Pretty good for a guy completing less than half of his passes in the spring.

Colandrea’s biggest performance came in a 51-48 barn burner against Air Force in Week 7. In that game, Colandrea went 20 of 32 with 361 yards through the air. His lone passing touchdown came on an 86-yard strike to wide receiver Daejon Reynolds, and he added 62 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, with his final score being the game-winner from 19 yards out.

Even in defeat, Colandrea has looked good. In a 40-35 loss to the New Mexico Lobos earlier in the season, he threw for a whopping 382 yards and three touchdowns, while leading UNLV in rushing yards with 39, albeit alongside two fumbles. One of which was recovered by the Lobos defense for one of their three takeaways on the day.

But regardless of outcome, or computer metrics letting the team with the best overall record in the conference in the championship game, one thing has remained true all season: Anthony Colandrea has been the best offensive player in the Mountain West, and now he has the hardware to prove it.

And if he chooses to play another year in the NCAA under Mullen, he could be in the conversation for another prestigious award given to the best player in all of college football, if he isn’t already.

The fat lady isn’t singing yet, though. 

Colandrea and UNLV now set their sights back on Boise State, where the Mountain West Conference Championship hangs in the balance. The Rebels look to avenge a Week 8 loss to the Broncos that saw UNLV lose 56-31 on the blue grass of Albertsons Stadium. Colandrea had success in defeat against the Broncos as well, throwing for 215 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 87 yards and another score on the ground, accounting for all but one of UNLV’s touchdowns on the day.

For the past two years, these teams met in the Mountain West Championship, and Boise State has had UNLV’s number, winning 21-7 in 2024 after a 44-20 shellacking of the Rebels in 2023.

Surely, Colandrea and the majority of Southern Nevada have other things in mind for round three in Boise.

Kickoff is at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 5th, as Rebel football looks for its first Mountain West Championship in school history. Thank you for visiting FranchiseSportsMedia.com for your Las Vegas Sports news.

Franchise Sports Media. Las Vegas sports news about Las Vegas Sports teams.

– Matthew Conigliaro – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Matthew on Instagram: @conigliaromatt 

Click to Follow The Franchise on Social Media