Boise State Broncos ON SI

Game recap, analysis: No. 10 Boise State holds off No. 20 UNLV to win second straight Mountain West Championship

Broncos clinch College Football Playoff berth with 21-7 victory; Ashton Jeanty runs for 209 yards

Bob Lundeberg

Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty.
Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty. / Brian Losness-Imagn Images

Ashton Jeanty ran for 209 yards as No. 10 Boise State (12-1) clinched a College Football Playoff berth with a 21-7 victory over No. 20 UNLV (10-3) in Friday’s Mountain West Football Championship. 

Jeanty, a Heisman Trophy candidate, had 32 carries for 209 yards — his sixth game 200-plus-yard game this season — and a touchdown. 

With 2,497 rushing yards for the season, Jeanty is now fourth on the FBS all-time single-season rushing list, trailing only Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders (2,628 yards, 1988 season), Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (2,587, 2014) and UCF’s Kevin Smith (2,567, 2007). Jeanty has 29 rushing touchdowns this season. 

The win secures a College Football Playoff berth — and likely a first-round bye — for the Broncos. It was Boise State's second straight MWC title and sixth overall.

Read our game recap, with in-game analysis and big play highlights from start to finish. 

FINAL STATS

Jeanty ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, his 12th carry of 50 or more yards this season. 

Maddux Madsen finished 18 of 27 passing for 158 yards and a touchdown. 

The Broncos contained UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, holding the senior to 13 of 28 passing for 110 yards with an interception and 21 carries for 56 yards. 

The Boise State defense piled up 11 tackles for loss and six sacks. 

Fourth quarter recap

Final: Boise State 21, UNLV 7. Broncos clinch a College Football Playoff berth as Ashton Jeanty makes a statement to the Heisman Trophy voters. 

Jeanty update: UNLV takes its last timeout after a four-yard Jeanty run. He is at 200 yards. 

Jeanty first down: Jeanty picks up a first down on the ground that will seal this game. He is up to 29 carries for 196 yards as we reach the two-minute timeout. 

BSU holds: UNLV had a first-and-goal from the 8, but a big penalty and two BSU tackles for loss forced UNLV to go for it from the 21. Williams’ desperation pass falls incomplete, and the Broncos take over. 

BSU sack: Marco Notarainni drops Williams for a loss — BSU’s sixth sack of the game. Rebels will face a second-and-15 from the BSU 33 with 4:10 remaining when play resumes. 

Rebels marching: Williams converts a third-and-seven with his legs, giving UNLV a fresh set of downs near midfield. 

Broncos punt: BSU calls three straight passes, and a strong UNLV pass rush on third down forces an incompletion to a wide open Matt Lauter. Rebels are still alive in this one with the ball at their own 21. 

Touchdown Rebels: On fourth-and-inches from the 31, Greg Burrell breaks through the middle and out-runs the defense to the end zone. Boise State 21, UNLV 7, 9:06 left on the clock. 

Near-disaster for UNLV: Jeremiah Earby drops what would’ve been an easy pick-six. The BSU secondary has had a tremendous night. 

Broncos punt: The UNLV defense hasn’t given up, forcing another punt. Rebels take over at their own 19 with 12:36 remaining in the game. 

Attendance: The official tally is a sellout crowd of 36,663, a new Mountain West Football Championship record. 

Jeanty update: The Heisman Trophy candidate is up to 25 carries for 181 yards and a touchdown as the crowd chants his name. 

Third quarter recap

End of quarter: Boise State 21, UNLV 0. Broncos are 15 minutes away from a College Football Playoff berth. 

Rebels punt: UNLV just cannot figure it out on offense. Everything looks discombobulated. Broncos get it back at their own 22. 

Broncos punt: After a hot start, Madsen hasn’t been nearly as effective in the third quarter. UNLV, still trailing 21-0, takes over at its own 42. 

Rebels can’t cash in: UNLV was hit with a delay of game penalty after the big run and wound up with a fourth-and-goal from the 10. Williams overshot his intended target in the end zone, resulting in a turnover on downs. It’s been one of those nights for UNLV. 

UNLV big play: Kylin James rips off an 87-yard run up the middle to begin the drive. UNLV needed a spark, and James just provided it. First-and-goal Rebels from the 4. 

BSU punt: The drive stalls on back-to-back throws from Madsen that should’ve been picked. UNLV, still trailing 21-0, will take over at its own 9. 

Broncos on the move: Cam Camper makes a nice grab on the BSU sideline, and Spencer Danielson is fired up. First-and-10 Broncos from the UNLV 43. 

Rebels punt: UNLV’s offense is completely out of sync. Boise State will have it at the 20 when play resumes. 

Rebels gamble: On fourth-and-one from its own 34, UNLV opts to go for it. Jai’Den Thomas gets just enough to move the sticks. 

BSU three-and-out: UNLV stays alive by forcing a punt to open the second half. Rebels take over at their own 25.

Underway: Boise State, leading 21-0, will begin the second half at its own 21. Broncos are 30 minutes away from securing a College Football playoff berth. 

Halftime recap

Heisman update: With his big first half, Jeanty is now +400 to win the Heisman. Travis Hunter has slipped to a -650 favorite. 

BSU domination: Broncos out-gained UNLV 246-78 in the opening half. 

Jeanty watch: Jeanty has 14 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown. He is up to 316 carries for 2,420 yards and 29 touchdowns for the season. 

Second quarter recap

Halftime: Boise State 21, UNLV 0. Broncos get the ball to start the second half. 

Interception Broncos: Jeremiah Earby picks off a deep pass from Williams. What a half for the Broncos. 

Jeanty update: One play before the TD run, Jeanty passed USC’s Marcus Allen (2,342 yards in 1981) for the fourth-most rushing yards in a single season in FBS history. 

Touchdown Broncos: Jeanty EXPLODES for a 75-yard touchdown late in the half. It looked like BSU was content with running out the clock, but Jeanty had other ideas. Boise State 21, UNLV 0, 29 seconds left in the half. Wow. 

Rebels punt: The BSU defense forces its fourth punt of the half. Broncos have the ball at their own 20 with 1:16 left. 

BSU defense: Seyi Oladipo is having the best game of his career. Five total tackles and two sacks in the first half for the senior safety. 

Two-minute timeout: UNLV will be facing a second-and-11 from the 40 when play resumes. 

Call overturned: After review, it is a TD for Madsen. Really nice scramble by the quarterback. Boise State is rolling in this one, up 14-0 with 2:30 left in the half. 

Touchdown Broncos: Maddux Madsen runs it in himself from 14 yards out. He is initially ruled down at the 1, but I don’t see how this is anything other than a touchdown. Play is under review. 

Jeanty converts: BSU gives it to Jeanty, and the Heisman Trophy candidate gets two yards. 

Review: Long replay review after Matt Lauter reaches for a first down. I think he’s going to be just short. BSU will likely be going for it on fourth-and-inches from the UNLV 46. 

UNLV doink: Caden Chittenden’s 48-yard field goal attempt hits off the crossbar and comes back. The kick is no good. That was more of a thud than a doink, but regardless, BSU still leads 7-0. 

Big catch: Corey Thompson Jr. hauls in a 29-yard gain for UNLV on third down. Rebels are driving. 

Broncos punt: James Ferguson-Reynolds’ punt bounds into the end zone. UNLV will start at its own 20. 

Jeanty update: Ashton Jeanty has passed Cedric Minter (4,475 yards) for the most rushing yards in Boise State history. 

First quarter recap 

End of quarter: Boise State 7, UNLV 0.

Rebels punt: UNLV goes three-and-out for the second straight drive. The BSU defense is playing fast and ferocious right now. Broncos, leading 7-0, will take over at the Rebels 47.

Touchdown Broncos: On third-and-17, Madsen delivers a beautiful ball to Latrell Caples in the right corner of the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown. Boise State 7, UNLV 0, 3:51 remaining in the opening quarter. 

Big play Broncos: Matt Lauter hauls in a 40-yard pass from Madsen to set BSU up with a first-and-10 from the UNLV 15. 

Rebels punt: UNLV goes three-and-out. Boise State will have great field position at its own 45 when play resumes. 

Slick ball: UNLV fumbles on consecutive plays but recovers both of them. Lucky. 

Broncos punt: Prince Strachan drops a third-pass, and Boise State is forced to punt. UNLV will begin its second drive from the 9. 

Jeanty update: Ashton Jeanty’s first carry is an 18-yard gain. A very good start for the Broncos. 

BSU sack: Rodney Robinson drops Williams for a big loss on third-and-seven. Broncos take over at their own 23 following a UNLV punt. 

Rebels on the move: Two plays, two first downs for UNLV. Hajj-Malik Williams is electric behind center. 

Underway: UNLV begins the game with the ball at its own 23. A College Football Playoff berth is on the line. Here. We. Go. 

Coin toss: Boise State wins the toss and defers to the second half. 

Biggest game in BSU history?: TV color analyst Brock Huard says this is the biggest game in Boise State history. I’m not sure if I would go that far (the 2007 Fiesta Bowl was iconic), but it’s certainly on the short list. 

Pregame recap

Attendance alert: The game is officially a sellout. Boise State sold out all seven home games this year.

Weather: The Treasure Valley has been stuck under a nasty inversion all week, and conditions are not expected to improve until the weekend. We will have cold, heavy, stagnant air tonight at Albertsons Stadium. Temperature will be in the upper 20s at kickoff with plenty of fog.

Jeanty chases Sanders: Records are made to be broken, a fact that is not lost on Barry Sanders. The legendary running back posted a nice message on X this morning. 

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Bob Lundeberg
BOB LUNDEBERG

Bob Lundeberg is a reporter for Boise State Broncos On SI. An Oregon State graduate, Bob has lived in Idaho since 2019 and is an avid hiker and golfer.

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