Nevada's Double-OT Loss to Air Force Frames a Pivotal Week in Reno Athletics
A double-overtime heartbreak against Air Force opened Mountain West play for Nevada football, coming alongside Steve Alford's retirement press conference and the official tip-off of basketball practice in Reno.
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Opening Mountain West play with a gut-wrenching double-overtime defeat at home is the kind of razor-thin setback that shifts an entire program's early-season trajectory. For head coach Jeff Choate and the Nevada Wolf Pack, Saturday night's 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Mackay Stadium against Air Force was supposed to be a reset—a chances to purge the bad taste of a 27-20 road loss at MTSU and re-assert authority on home turf. Instead, the Falcons departed Reno with another frustrating victory, extending a recent series grip that has tormented the Wolf Pack for nearly a decade.
Mountain West Opener Delivers Double-Overtime Heartbreak
Nevada entered Saturday's conference opener sitting at 1-2, needing a signature response against an Air Force squad that brought its own set of early-season questions after dropping a 38-32 decision to new Mountain West member North Dakota State. What unfolded in Reno was an exhausting physical clash that required extra periods to decide.
Following the double-overtime finish, Nevada Sports Net's weekly 30-minute program Wolf Pack All Access captured postgame reaction from players Herschel Turner and Jeremy Naborne-Owens, alongside an in-depth dialogue with Choate. In his featured interview, Choate broke down the critical moments that let a potential conference-opening victory slip away. For a team seeking rhythm and executed discipline, falling short in double overtime underscores the fine operational margins facing Nevada in league competition this autumn.
An image from the Air Force Academy Athletics coverage of the Falcons' thrilling 36-33 double-overtime victory.Image source: goairforcefalcons.com
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Historical Friction: Air Force Extends Mastery Over Nevada
Air Force's victory in Reno marks the fourth consecutive win for the Falcons over the Wolf Pack in their head-to-head series, reinforcing a matchup dynamic that has consistently tilted toward Colorado Springs in recent years.
Nevada vs. Air Force Series Context & Recent Results
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Date / Event
Matchup Context
Result
tbody>tr
September 26, 2026
Mountain West Opener in Reno
Air Force def. Nevada (Double OT)
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November 2024
Mountain West Regular Season
Air Force def. Nevada 22-19
tr
2018 Meeting
Mountain West Matchup in Colorado
Nevada def. Air Force 28-25
table>
Prior to Saturday's contest, Air Force had prevailed in three straight meetings, including a tight 22-19 contest in November 2024. Nevada's last victory over the Falcons remains a 28-25 win in Colorado back in 2018. Overcoming Air Force's disciplined system requires mistake-free execution over four quarters—and as Saturday demonstrated, four quarters were not even enough to resolve the deficit.
Transition at Lawlor: Alford Retirement and Hoops Practice Tip-Off
While football handled the immediate sting of its conference opener, the broader Nevada athletics campus stood at a major ceremonial crossroads. The official start of Nevada men's basketball practice coincided with head coach Steve Alford's retirement press conference, signaling an incoming era of transition for the storied Lawlor Events Center program.
Despite the backdrop of Alford's retirement announcement, the Wolf Pack men's basketball squad officially took the floor to open preseason practices. Player interviews featured on Wolf Pack All Access highlighted a team attempting to channel focus into court preparation, pacing, and roster integration as official practice activities ramp up toward the winter schedule.
Across the Campus: Swimming Spotlight and Fall Sports
Beyond the high-stakes drama of football and men's basketball, Nevada athletics continues to showcase momentum across Olympic sports. The latest broadcast spotlighted Nevada swim coach Maddy Banic, highlighting the culture and training standards being established within the swimming and diving program, alongside updates across other fall sports competing across the region.
For Choate's football program, the double-overtime loss to Air Force forces an immediate gut-check regarding situational execution and late-game poise. With the Mountain West slate now underway and winter sports officially opening practice doors across the complex, Nevada finds itself navigating a high-pressure stretch that will define the athletic calendar well into 2027.
Image accompanying KOLO TV coverage of the Nevada Wolf Pack's Mountain West opener.Image source: kolotv.com
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