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The 2024 Mountain West Conference championship game will mark the third time the two teams will play each other since late 2023. Last December, riding the momentum of interim head coach Spencer Danielson, the Broncos defeated the Rebels in Las Vegas, 44-20.
In that game, Boise State rolled up 527 yards of offense to help secure the victory.
Boise State (11-1) traveled to Las Vegas earlier this season, again defeating UNLV 29-24. This desert duel was a close game throughout, with the Broncos using a drive of over eight minutes to seal the deal.
On the line in this season's title game (December 6, 8 p.m. ET on FOX) at Albertsons Stadium in Boise is much more than bragging rights and the shot at a bowl game.
Yes, bragging rights will be included for the victor, but the spoils are much bigger. For 11th-ranked (10th in the AP) Boise State, a victory secures a spot in the first iteration of the 12-team College Football Playoff, with a possible first round bye to boot.
A victory for 22nd-ranked (19th in AP) UNLV means they have their own argument for a CFP appearance thanks to a near-perfect season of their own.
However it boils down, the game should be a good one on a cold Friday night in Boise.
Boise State Broncos
Boise State arguably put together its finest season in a decade, with their only loss coming way back in their second game to the top-ranked Oregon Ducks. And it was a game Boise State very well should have won, losing only by three.
The Broncos have displayed a fantastic team effort but let's face it, a substantial portion of this season's story belongs to junior running back Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty is among the top two contenders for the Heisman Trophy. He should be a "no doubt about it" winner with his stats, production, and what he means to the team but sadly, it may not be enough.
Threatening to break a single season rushing record held by Barry Sanders, Jeanty has 2288 yards this season, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He has 28 touchdowns on the ground, plus another through the air.
Jeanty has five games with 200+ yards but in the earlier meeting this season the Rebels held him to 128 yards on 33 carries. This was Jeanty's second-lowest yardage output of the season, with only 127 yards (in one half) against Portland State lower.
The Boise State Broncos boast one of the top scoring offense in the nation, ringing in 40.6 points per game. Thanks primarily to Jeanty, the Broncos rank sixth in rushing yards per game (253.5), adding 224.8 in the air.
Maddux Madsen has taken the majority of snaps at quarterback, completing 61.7 percent of pass attempts. Madsen takes care of the ball (only three interceptions) and has tossed for 2,556 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Madsen was 18 of 33 for 209 yards and one touchdown in the last meeting with the Rebels. Madsen's last five games have been a bit of a roller coaster. In games against San Jose State and San Diego State, Madsen was 46 of 62 for 593 yards and five touchdowns. In the other three games, Madsen is only 40 of 79 for 481 yards, three touchdowns, and a pick.
The redshirt sophomore has produced big throws and has a stable of receivers to choose from. Cameron Camper, Latrelle Caples, and tight end Matt Lauter are the primary targets. Camper has 51 catches for 811 yards, Caples 32 for 406, and Lauter 38 for 461. The trio combined for 14 touchdown receptions.
The next trio is the group of Austin Bolt, Prince Strachan, and Chase Penry, who combined for 47 catches, 592 yards, and five touchdowns.
Boise State's defense has had its share of problems, primarily in the deep passing game but overall is a deep, solid crew. Opponents scored 23.6 points per game and the Broncos finished the regular season with 45 sacks and six interceptions.
The Broncos have been somewhat quiet in the sack department in recent weeks. Jayden Virgin-Morgan has nine, with Ahmed Hassanein close behind with 8.5. The two have combined for 74 tackles this season.
Ty Benefield leads the team with 65, plus two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Zion Washington has 56 and A'Marion McCoy has 55.
UNLV Rebels
Aside from against Boise State, the only time the UNLV Rebels (10-2) lost this season was 44-41 to a now 9-3 Syracuse team.
The Rebels average 39.7 points and allow only 22. Through the air, UNLV averages 179.9 yards per game and has an overall rushing attack slightly better than Boise State with 254.1 yards per game.
The key to the ground attack is quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams. Williams finished second on UNLV with 768 rushing yards, leading the team with nine touchdowns. In the season's first meeting with Boise State, Williams had 105 yards on the ground. He was also sacked six times and picked off once.
Williams has a completion percentage of 61.4, throwing for 1,735 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions this season. Only once in the last six games has Williams thrown for over 200 yards but has three 100-yard games on the ground in the same span.
Jai'Den Thomas was the team's leading rusher with 833 yards, scoring seven times on the ground. UNLV utilized Thomas more as of late. After only seven carries for 43 yards against the Broncos, Thomas has 41 carries for 270 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games.
While Madsen spreads the ball around for Boise State, UNLV really only has two primary receivers, with a tight end special in the red zone. Ricky White III (75 receptions, 1020 yards, 11 TD) and Jacob De Jesus (32 receptions, 456 yards, 2 TD) combine for 68 percent of the receptions for UNLV.
White had five catches for 57 yards against Boise State and only twice this season had under five receptions in a game. De Jesus only caught one pass in the first meeting but in his last three has 14 catches for 157 yards.
Tight end Kaleo Ballungay has only 13 receptions this season but six of those have gone for touchdowns.
UNLV boasts one of the best defenses in the country, led by linebacker and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Jackson Woodard. Woodard accumulated 114 tackles. 3.5 sacks, and four interceptions this season.
The Rebels are excellent ballhawks, notching 17 picks. Jalen Catalon, with 82 tackles and five interceptions, leads a stellar secondary.
In the last three games, UNLV is holding opponents to 16.7 points per game and on the season the Rebels have 36 sacks.
Prediction: This game will be another hard-hitting affair. Much like the first game, time of possession will be a key. Cold weather will factor in but this game will ultimately be decided via the team who passes the ball better. The Rebels will deliver all they can but with so much on the line for the Broncos, I see Boise State prevailing 31-27.
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