LAS VEGAS » UNLV has fired football coach Mike Sanford after five losing seasons, a 15-43 record and no bowl appearances.

Sanford's firing comes after a 45-17 loss to Air Force on Saturday made the Rebels ineligible for a bowl game.

In a joint statement, university president Neal Smatresk and interim athletic director Jerry Koloskie said Sanford will coach the final game of the season at home against San Diego State on Nov. 28.

“;We agree this action is needed at this time,”; Smatresk said.

Sanford, 54, will be paid a $225,000 buyout, under terms of a three-year contract extension the coach signed last year.

Sanford had been watched closely by Smatresk and Koloskie since Oct. 3, when UNLV lost 63-28 to rival Nevada, allowing 773 total yards.

After that game, Smatresk said he would evaluate Sanford on a game-by-game basis and expressed concern for players and fans.

The Rebels (4-7) defeated Hawaii 34-33 on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas.

Woods an honorary captain

Tiger Woods will be an honorary captain for Stanford when the 14th-ranked Cardinal take on rival California in the Big Game on Saturday.

Coach Jim Harbaugh says it will be an honor to share the sidelines with “;the greatest competitor of our generation.”; Woods has won 14 major championships and is the top-ranked golfer in the world.

He will also be honored at halftime when he will be presented with a plaque signifying his induction into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame.

Woods spent two years at Stanford, winning the Pac-10 and NCAA championships in 1996.

Boise State loses Brockel

Boise State tight end Richie Brockel is expected to miss the rest of the season with a foot injury.

Brockel, who has eight catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns this season, injured his left foot in the sixth-ranked Broncos' 63-25 blowout over rival Idaho Saturday.

The Broncos (10-0) also lost freshman running back Matt Kaiserman (broken right leg) for the season.