UNLV head coach Barry Odom just laid down the hammer on why his team should be ranked in the top 25

The college football season is back, and that means there are smaller schools that are putting on a show, and dominating their schedule, begging for a spot in the top 25. However, we know that because of the schedule they play and their being smaller schools, it usually takes longer for those smaller schools to get into the top 25 rankings. UNLV thinks they should be there.

Head coach Barry Odom, formerly the head coach at Mizzou and the defensive coordinator at Arkansas, thinks his team is good enough to be one of the best 25 schools in the country after a big win over the Houston Cougars, which his team won on the road 27-7.

The defense showed out with a pick-six by Jalen Catalon, a former Arkansas and Texas Longhorns safety, and some vicious pass rush, too. The offense, well, their quarterback Matt Sluka has a new nickname, Sluka Doncic, a twist on Luka Doncic, one of the flashiest NBA players in the world. Sluka got the name after throwing some impressive touchdowns, as well as a bounce pass that gained a few yards. Yes, you read that right, a bounce pass.

With the new playoff system, the best Group of Five teams, meaning the conferences that aren't the four big ones, will get a chance to be in the playoffs. Right now, people seem to think that the team will be either UNLV or Boise State, another reason UNLV should be ranked.

"I used to be acting like I didn’t read them,” Odom joked when asked about the top 25 votes. “I read them (now), and I read them then. Everybody reads them. I’m done with coach talk, that’s boring. I think we are a top-25 team. If you haven’t put your vote in yet, you should vote for the Rebels. I think we're atop-255 team. You should vote for the Rebels. We know what that significance means."

This week, Odom will be looking at the votes. His team is good, and we've already heard star wide receiver Ricky White guaranteeing a playoff spot. Now they have to work their way up the rankings.

Related: Former Vols QB Harrison Bailey learns his depth chart fate at UNLV