While BYU would like to annihilate the tape of last week's 32-7 loss at TCU, the Cougars' upcoming opponent, UNLV, likely has been voraciously poring over the film, frame-by-frame.

If the Horned Frogs, who became the first Mountain West Conference team to defeat BYU since 2005, have provided a blueprint of how to beat the Cougars, then the Rebels are going to do their best to emulate TCU.

UNLV coach Mike Sanford acknowledged that his team can't completely copy the Frogs' tactics because his players are different and the situation is different.

However, as the Rebels prepare to visit Provo on Saturday, Sanford said TCU's impressive performance last Thursday has been helpful in preparing for the Cougars.

"There are some things that we have in our style of offense that are similar to what TCU did against BYU," Sanford said. "Obviously, those are some things we have to do well. There are some things we do on defense that are similar to what TCU does. We also have some things that are very specific to us that we can learn from watching the TCU tape.

"When a team plays that well, like TCU did against BYU, you're going to look at what they did and why they did it. I wouldn't say copy, but I would say learn from it and put into place in our scheme on both sides of the ball to try to have the most success.

"We have a lot of respect for BYU," he said. "They're a very good football team. This is one loss that they've had."

Cougar coach Bronco Mendenhall respects UNLV (3-4, 0-3) as well.

"They are the most improved offense in the league, and I think they are the most improved team in the league," Mendenhall said. "They have a much clearer identity of who they are this year than they did last year. Their team is more competitive in general and they can stay in any game."

The Rebels proved that early this season when they upset nationally ranked Arizona State, 23-20, in overtime on the road. The following week, the Rebels downed Iowa State, 34-31, at home, also in overtime.

But since then, UNLV has dropped three straight games, including last week's disappointing 29-28 setback at home against Air Force.

The key for BYU's defense will be stopping UNLV's potent one-two punch: quarterback Omar Clayton and running back Frank "The Tank" Summers.

Clayton poses a familiar challenge for the Cougars — mobility. BYU has already faced fleet-footed QBs in Washington's Jake Locker and Utah State's Diondre Borel.