Iowa State’s defense limited Kansas to 150 yards and three points in a season-opening loss last Saturday.

KU coach Mark Mangino thinks UNLV might be even tougher.

“They are very strong defensively,” said Mangino, whose team meets the Runnin’ Rebels at 9 p.m. Saturday at Las Vegas. “When you look at raw talent, they’re probably as talented or maybe even more talented than Iowa State’s defense. They’ve got one of the top defensive ends in the country in Ahmad Briggs.”

Briggs, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior, blocked a field-goal attempt and had a sack in a 27-7 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday.

Linebacker Tyrone Tucker, a 6-2, 240-pound senior who transferred from Iowa State, led the Rebels with 11 tackles against Wisconsin.

UNLV held Wisconsin running back Anthony Davis to 81 yards on 20 carries last weekend at Las Vegas. Davis had 184 yards against Fresno State in the Badgers’ season opener, but Wisconsin managed only 158 yards rushing as a team against the Runnin’ Rebels.

“They have some really good-looking athletes on defense,” Mangino said. “They run to the ball really well. That’s an impressive-looking defensive line.”

UNLV has a solid running game of its own. Senior Joe Haro (5-10, 195) rushed for 1,107 yards last season. He rushed seven times for 34 yards and a touchdown against Wisconsin.

The Jayhawks also can expect to see Dominique Dorsey (5-6, 165) in the Rebels’ backfield. He was the Mountain West freshman of the year last season.

UNLV gained 305 yards in its season opener, but the Rebels had five turnovers. Senior quarterback Jason Thomas turned the ball over four times in UNLV’s first five possessions.

“We were all shocked,” UNLV coach John Robinson said of his quarterback’s miscues. “It was ball security that got him in trouble. He’s got that impulsiveness or impetuousness. All through last year we worked hard on the things we think he needs to do. He reverted back, but I think we will see him much improved this week.”

Thomas completed 12 of 26 passes for 138 yards with two interceptions against the Badgers. He also carried the ball 10 times for 83 yards.

Mangino said facing ISU quarterback Seneca Wallace last week should help KU’s defense prepare for another quarterback who is as big a threat to run as he is to pass.

“Their quarterback is extremely talented,” Mangino said. “He’s a big, strong, athletic kid. I know he’s had some struggles, but he’s better than he was. I got a chance to watch him on TV last year and he was awful. He’s worked hard in the offseason and made himself a better player.”

Thomas, a Compton, Calif., native, started his college career at Southern California in 1998. He red-shirted while recovering from an injury he suffered as a high school senior and later transferred.

In 2000, he overcame a foot injury to rush for 599 yards and 11 touchdowns and pass for 1,708 yards and 14 touchdowns. He led the Rebels to an 8-5 record  their first winning season in six years  and a victory over Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl.

UNLV promoted him as a Heisman Trophy candidate last season, but he struggled with a shoulder injury. His numbers dipped to 481 yards rushing and four touchdowns and 1,353 yards passing with eight TDs and 12 interceptions.

“The pressure really built on him,” Robinson said. “He hadn’t recovered from a shoulder injury last year, and he really got off to a terrible start.”

Thomas is off to another terrible start this season, but this weekend he’ll face a KU defense that allowed 511 yards against Iowa State.

“They’re a running team that’s trying to develop a passing game,” Mangino said. “We hope they don’t develop it this week.”