Las Vegas • Southern Utah coach Ed Lamb has a problem.

He doesn't know who the Thunderbirds will play Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Will it be inept UNLV, which lost its first two games of the season at Wisconsin and Washington State by 86 points? Or will it be overpowering UNLV, which led from start to finish during an easy 40-20 victory over Hawaii last week.

Lamb has watched the video of all three UNLV games and says comparing the crushing losses to the dominating win is impossible.

"It's like watching two different teams," Lamb explained.

Against Hawaii, Lamb said, "UNLV had their way in every way — offense, defense and special teams."

The Rebels were a 20-point underdog going into the game. But Lamb said UNLV was "never threatened" by the Warriors, who two weeks earlier opened their season with a 34-17 victory over the Pac-12's Colorado.

"We'll have to play a great game to compete" with UNLV, Lamb said.

Southern Utah has won two straight since an opening 29-28 loss at South Dakota State.

The 2-1 start is the Thunderbirds' best since 2006. They are ranked 23rd in the country this week by The Sports Network — the first time SUU has been in the top 25 since 1998.

Southern Utah likely needs a big-time performance by junior quarterback Brad Sorensen if it wants to step up from the Football Championship Subdivision and beat a Mountain West Conference team.

In the Thunderbirds' two wins, Sorensen has completed 50 of 65 passes for 555 yards and three touchdowns.

He ranks eighth nationally among FCS quarterbacks in passing yards per game (299.3).

Sorensen has caught the eye of professional scouts, Lamb said.

Another good showing — this time against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent — might help how NFL teams view him.

"If you look at it from a fan's perspective or from somebody trying to keep track of Brad, it's an excellent opportunity for him to show what he can do," Lamb said. "UNLV's back seven are very fast." —

Southern Utah at UNLV

P Saturday, 7 p.m.

TV • The Mtn.

Radio • 590 AM, 91.1 FM

Records • Southern Utah 2-1, UNLV 1-2

Series • UNLV, 3-0

Last meeting • UNLV, 28-6 (1970)