1976 UNLV Rebels football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1976
| team = UNLV Rebels
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 9–3
| head_coach = Tony Knap
| hc_year = 1st
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Las Vegas Stadium
| bowl = NCAA Division II Quarterfinal
| bowl_result = L 6–27 vs. Akron
}}
{{1976 NCAA Division II independents football records}}
The 1976 UNLV Rebels football team was an American football team that represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. In their first year under head coach Tony Knap, the Rebels compiled a record if 9–3.{{cite web|title=UNLV 2020 Football Guide|publisher=University of Nevada, Las Vegas|year=2020|page=129|accessdate=December 20, 2020|url=https://unlvrebels.com/documents/2020/10/21//Section_4_Record_Book_pg_89_169.pdf?id=15887}}
Hired in late January, the 61-year-old Knap was previously the head coach for Utah State from 1963 to 1966 and Boise State from 1968 to 1975.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BrFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4jIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5832%2C7927816 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho|agency=Associated Press |title=Knap leaves Boise State for Las Vegas |date=January 30, 1976 |page=1B }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qPMjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6848%2C5214520|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|agency=Associated Press |title=Boise's Knap off to Vegas |date=January 30, 1976 |page=17}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1976
| rankdivision = NCAA Division II
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 11
| w/l = w
| opponent = Montana
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Stadium
| site_cityst = Whitney, NV
| score = 21–19
| attend = 13,848
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-missoulian-rebels-edge-tips/161150054/|work=The Missoulian|title=Rebels edge Tips|date=September 12, 1976|accessdate=December 18, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 18
| w/l = w
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1976|team=South Dakota Coyotes|title=South Dakota}}
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Stadium
| site_cityst = Whitney, NV
| score = 28–26
| attend = 13,031
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 25
| away = y
| w/l = w
| rank = 9
| opponent = Weber State
| site_stadium = Wildcat Stadium
| site_cityst = Ogden, UT
| score = 33–16
| attend = 13,602
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-rebels-stro/161154513/|work=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|title=Rebels' strong aerial attack sinks Weber State 33–16|date=September 26, 1976|accessdate=December 18, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 2
| w/l = w
| rank = 4
| opponent = Idaho State
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Stadium
| site_cityst = Whitney, NV
| score = 31–17
| attend = 13,702
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-news-las-vegas-defeats-isu-31/161152415/|work=The Times-News|title=Las Vegas defeats ISU 31–17|date=October 3, 1976|accessdate=December 18, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 9
| away = y
| w/l = l
| rank = 2
| opponent = Pacific (CA)
| site_stadium = Pacific Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Stockton, CA
| score = 13–38
| attend = 9,327
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 16
| w/l = w
| rank = T–5
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1976|team=Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks|title=Nebraska–Omaha}}
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Stadium
| site_cityst = Whitney, NV
| score = 63–42
| attend = 13,213
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 23
| away = y
| w/l = l
| rank = T–5
| opponent = Northern Arizona
| site_stadium = Lumberjack Stadium
| site_cityst = Flagstaff, AZ
| score = 28–31
| attend = 6,860
| source = {{cite news|title=Axers Stun Highly-Rated Nevada Rebels|newspaper=Arizona Daily Sun|author=Art Coughanour|date=October 25, 1976|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86647498/axers-stun-highly-rated-nevada-rebels/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 30
| w/l = w
| opponent = Cal Poly
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Stadium
| site_cityst = Whitney, NV
| score = 28–10
| attend = 11,136–11,138
| source = {{cite web |author= |title=Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Cal Poly) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/90/stats/13330 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=June 13, 2022 }}{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/calpoly/docs/2016fbguidelow-res|title=Cal Poly Football; 2016 Media Guide|access-date=January 12, 2017}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 6
| w/l = w
| opponent = Boise State
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Stadium
| site_cityst = Whitney, NV
| score = 31–26
| attend = 14,066
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-rebels-rally-to-topp/161151265/|work=The Idaho Statesman|title=Rebels rally to topple Boise State|date=November 7, 1976|accessdate=December 18, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 13
| w/l = w
| rank = 9
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1976|team=Missouri Southern Lions|title=Missouri Southern}}
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Stadium
| site_cityst = Whitney, NV
| score = 28–3
| attend = 11,320
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 20
| w/l = w
| rank = 7
| opponent = Nevada
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Stadium
| site_cityst = Whitney, NV
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 49–33
| attend = 14,270
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 37
| away = y
| w/l = l
| rank = 7
| opponent = Akron
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Rubber Bowl
| site_cityst = Akron, OH
| gamename = NCAA Division II Quarterfinal
| score = 6–27
| attend = 6,562
}}
}}
{{cite web |author= |title=Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (UNLV) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/465/stats/13330 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=December 22, 2022 }}