In one of the hardest-fought games of the season, the Cougars had to come from behind again to claim a 28-24 win over Nevada-Las Vegas. Geographically, the two teams are only 400 miles apart. But they traveled thousands of miles to Yokohama for the final game of the season for both schools. The Rebels carried a seven-game winning streak into the contest, while the Cougars, who were 5-1 in league play, had already won the WAC title and had been invited to represent the Conference in the Holiday Bowl. UNLV ran up a quick 10-0 lead at the half, and ailing quarterback Jim McMahon was forced to the sidelines in the first period. Marc Wilson, who opened the season as the starting QB, came into the game and threw for three touchdown passes. At one point in the fourth quarter, the Cougars were ready to attempt a field goal that would have tied the game at 24-24. But a dead ball penalty put the Cougars closer to the goal line. The kick by Brent Johnson was good, but he was roughed in the process, thus putting BYU even closer to a TD. At that point the Cougars elected to go for the TD, and tailback Casey Wingard ran it in from seven yards out, giving the Cougars a lead that couldn't be overcome by a UNLV field goal, 28-24. Feelings ran high on both sides, and the BYU win gave the Cougars their third consecutive nine-game winning season, 9-3 overall.