UNLV will come to Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday after losing big to Wisconsin 41-21 in week one. The Utes have never lost to the Rebels at home—the overall series is 13-2. Head coach Kyle Whittingham, however, said the Utes must be careful not to underestimate the conference foe when preparing to defend their 18-game home-winning streak.

“They looked like, on tape, a much-improved team,” he said. “They played well with (Wisconsin) in the first half.”

First-year UNLV coach Bobby Hauck declared a quarterback controversy between junior Mike Clausen and senior Omar Clayton, who has started 23 games for the team during the past three seasons. Hauck opted not to announce who would start in week two but said that both would likely see playing time.

Hauck took the UNLV job in the offseason after winning seven straight Big Sky Conference titles as coach of Montana, including three trips to the FCS Championship Game.

“It’s going to take some time for (Hauck) to get his players recruited and do the things he wants to do,” Whittingham said. “It takes time. Things don’t happen overnight.”

Whittingham and the Utes come into the first Mountain West Conference game of the year after knocking off the then-No. 15 Pittsburgh Panthers 27-24 in overtime. It was capped off by the interception by true freshman safety Brian Blechen that set up the winning field goal. Blechen was named MWC Defensive Player of the Week.

“Our players battled and fought the entire 60 minutes and found a way to win at the end,” Whittingham said.

Also starting in his first career game for the Utes’ defense was former walk-on linebacker Chaz Walker. Walker led the team with 11 tackles and was a big part of the rush defense that held Pitt’s All-American rusher Dion Lewis to 75 yards.

“Going into the game, we figured that (Lewis) would get some of his runs,” Walker said. “We just had to limit those big plays, and it was satisfying to be able to do that.”

Walker said this week’s focus for the defense will be preparing for the speed and athleticism that the Rebels have, including Clayton, who led the team in rushing as a quarterback with 59 yards.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Utes found an unexpected hero in junior wide receiver DeVonte Christopher, who was named MWC Offensive Player of the Week for his 155-yard, one-touchdown performance. Christopher came into the season opener behind senior Shaky Smithson in the depth chart but took advantage of the extra playing time given to him after Smithson fumbled away the ball twice in the first half.

“I’m glad the coaches had the confidence in me to go out there and play like that,” Christopher said.

Whittingham said Christopher’s play in the season opener was something the coaching staff has been expecting since converting him from his high school position of quarterback to receiver.

“(Christopher) is completely bought into the position change,” he said. “At first, I don’t think he was completely sure it was the right move.”

Sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn is listed as probable for the game after tweaking his thumb in last week’s game. Although Wynn is expected to play, Christopher expressed his confidence in backup Terrance Cain.

“It’s crazy how good both of them are,” he said. “I have the utmost confidence in Terrance if he had to come in and play…I’m pretty much game for whoever.”

Because the Utes played their home opener on a Thursday, they got a few more days off than usual to rest and prepare for their upcoming game.

“It was good to have a little extra time to rest your muscles after such a hard-fought, downhill run game,” Walker said.

Kickoff at Rice-Eccles is at 2 p.m. and will be televised on The Mtn.