Game Day Guide: Boise State battles UNLV for Mountain West title
Boise State looks to capture its fifth Mountain West title and make Spencer Danielson the first interim head coach to win a conference championship game on Saturday.
John Kelly / Boise State University
The stage is set for a showdown in the Sin City as Boise State heads south to square off with UNLV in the 2023 Mountain West Football Championship Saturday afternoon.
A Bronco win at Allegiant Stadium would make Spencer Danielson the first interim head coach to ever win a conference title game and secure Boise State's 26th consecutive winning season, which is the longest active streak in the country.
Back on Nov. 4, Boise State fell to 4-5 for the first time since 1997 in a 37-30 loss to Fresno State, leaving the Milk Can rivalry trophy with the Bulldogs for the first time in six years. The idea of eventually playing for the ultimate trophy in Las Vegas seemed impossible – until the unpredictable happened over the following month.
The preseason favorite to win the conference strung together consecutive wins over New Mexico and Utah State, while Fresno State and Air Force suffered back-to-back losses on Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. Boise State then knocked the Falcons out of title contention with a 27-19 win in the regular-season finale, leaving fate up to the Rebels.
San Jose State heightened the drama with a 37-31 upset of UNLV, who could have earned the right to host the Broncos in the championship with a win. Instead, the Spartans forced a three-way tie atop the Mountain West standings, leaving reporters and fans sleepless awaiting computer rankings Sunday morning.
After anxiously waiting, the conference revealed UNLV and Boise State earned the highest averages in the rankings at 44.50 and 55.75 respectively, barely leaving the Spartans out of the title bout with a 58.50 average.
Saturday's contest kicks off at 1 p.m. MT (12 p.m. PT) and will be nationally televised on FOX. The Broncos are making their seventh appearance in a Mountain West championship, the most of any program in the conference.
Boise State joins USC in 2015 as the only two teams to make a league championship game after making a mid-season coaching change. When the Broncos last played UNLV in October 2019, Danielson was the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach on Bryan Harsin's staff.
Danielson and Co. are set to battle an entirely different Rebels' program than the one it owns six consecutive wins over. On Tuesday, first-year head coach Barry Odom became the first UNLV leader to win Mountain West Coach of the Year since John Robinson in 2000.
Odom's impact in Las Vegas this fall has been impressive – UNLV captured its most overall wins since 1984, its most MW wins ever in a single season and will make its first appearance in the MW title game Saturday against Boise State.
The Rebels tout a high-powered offense that ranks 19th among all FBS teams averaging 35.6 points per game. UNLV also sits at No. 25 with 187.8 rushing yards per outing, and No. 40 nationally with 424.3 yards of total offense per game.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava, who was recognized as the Mountain West Freshman of the Year this week, has the second-best passing efficiency (158.29) in the league and ranks third in total offense. Maiava is 186-of-290 with 2,626 passing yards and 14 touchdowns this fall, in addition to 244 yards and three scores on the ground.
Fans inside Allegiant Stadium will get to watch a pair of all-conference athletes and two of the league's most explosive players in UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. White has turned 76 receptions into 1,308 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.
Jeanty joined Kellen Moore and Brett Rypien as the only Broncos to earn MW Offensive Player of the Year, headlining Boise State's 12 players that received all-conference honors on Tuesday. Jeanty's 1,646 all-purpose yards ranks second in the country, despite missing two full games and a portion of the win over Wyoming.
The Broncos' two-headed monster of Jeanty and George Holani could be in for another big day in Las Vegas, with UNLV allowing 150.8 rushing yards per game.
Maiava and Boise State quarterback Taylen Green will also have their opportunities in what could be a high-scoring affair. Both the Bronco and Rebel defense are outside the top 90 nationally in passing yards allowed, and the units are tied at 67th in the FBS in red zone percentage.
Boise State is a 2.5-point favorite over UNLV in the 2023 Mountain West Football Championship
Scroll down or use the tabs across the top of this story for more information on Saturday's matchup, how to watch and listen to the game, predictions, series history, a stats comparison, a breakdown of KTVB's coverage and more.
Game Information Broncos vs. Rebels
Boise State (7-5, 6-2 MW) vs. UNLV (9-3, 6-2 MW)
- Saturday, Dec. 2
- Allegiant Stadium - Las Vegas, Nevada
- Capacity: 65,000
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. MT / 12 p.m. PT
- Channel: FOX
- Weather: High of 59, low of 42 degrees, mostly sunny
Ways to Watch TV, Radio, Streaming
ON TV
The 2023 Mountain West Football Championship will be nationally televised on FOX, available on the following channels:
- DirecTV: Channel 9
- Dish Network: Channel 9
- Sparklight: Channel 9 / 1009 HD
- Cox: Channel 6
Jason Benetti is set to call play-by-play alongside analyst Brock Huard for the FOX broadcast Saturday in Las Vegas. Allison Williams will serve as the sideline reporter during the matchup between Boise State and UNLV.
ON THE RADIO
Fans can listen to the game with Bob Behler and Pete Cavender on the Bronco Radio Network, which can be found online or on the stations listed below. The call can also be heard on SiriusXM Channel 382.
- Boise: KBOI 670 AM / 93.1 FM
- Idaho Falls: KSPZ 980 AM / 98.7 FM
- McCall: KDZY 98.3 FM
- Pocatello: KSPZ 94.5 FM
- Salmon: KSRA 960 AM
- St. Maries: KOFE 1240 AM
- Twin Falls: KSNQ 98.3 FM
- Baker City: KBKR 1490 AM
- La Grande: KLBM 1450 AM
STREAMING
Saturday conference title bout will stream live on the Fox Sports website and the Fox Sports mobile app, available in Apple and Android app stores. While the app is free to download, the streaming services are only available to subscribers of participating cable and satellite television providers (including Cox, Dish Network and DirecTV).
Fox is also included on a number of popular platforms, such as FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV. Click here for more information on streaming Saturday's game through FOX.
KTVB in Vegas Coverage Plan
BRONCO ROUNDUP GAME DAY
Start championship game day with KTVB Sports Director Jay Tust on the official TV station for Bronco Nation! A pair of pre-game shows will provide fans with all they need to know ahead of kickoff, live from Las Vegas.
The first Bronco Roundup Game Day Show airs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. MT on KTVB Channel 7, KTVB.COM, KTVB+ on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, and the KTVB mobile app.
One hour before the Mountain West title game gets underway, Tust returns for a second exclusive pre-game show on KTVB's digital platforms. Tune into KTVB.COM, KTVB's YouTube channel, KTVB+ and the KTVB mobile app at 12 p.m. MT Saturday to see the sights and sounds of Allegiant Stadium from the sidelines.
While the shows differ in content, both editions of Bronco Roundup will hit on matchup storylines, players and trends to watch, in-depth analysis with former players, what lies ahead for Boise State football and more. Saturday afternoon's online program gives fans an up-close look at players and coaches on the field prior to game time.
POST-GAME COVERAGE
KTVB will live stream Boise State's post-game press conference on KTVB.COM, the KTVB YouTube channel, KTVB+ and the KTVB mobile app immediately following the game. Fans will hear from interim head coach Spencer Danielson and select Bronco players.
Post-game interviews will also be posted online shortly after the press conference ends, so Bronco Nation can watch whenever and wherever they want. Stay tuned to KTVB.COM Saturday evening for a game recap, extended highlights, a photo gallery and comments from the Mountain West title game.
Odds and Predictions Who's Favored?
ESPN's Matchup Predictor, created using its Football Power Index, gives Boise State a 55.9% chance of capturing its fifth Mountain West championship and fourth outright title with a win over UNLV on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Broncos are favored by 2.5 (-110) on ESPN Bet. The platform has the point total set at 58.5 (-115), with the Boise State moneyline at -130 and the UNLV moneyline at +110.
Saturday's line is nearly unanimous across major sportsbooks, per VegasInsider. The likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Bet365 and BetRivers all have a 2.5-point spread favoring the blue and orange.
66% of bets on the spread through DraftKings are on UNLV +2.5, while 58% of moneyline bets for the Mountain West title game are for Boise State (-130). Picks on the platform's total points are heavily skewed, with 90% of people taking under 59.
Based on odds provided by DraftKings this fall, the Broncos are 6-6 against the spread and the Rebels are 6-5. UNLV touts a 5-1 record at home entering the Sin City showdown and Boise State is just 2-4 away from The Blue. Danielson's group eyes its fourth consecutive win Saturday, while the Rebels look to bounce back from just their second loss since Sept. 9.
History Broncos-Rebels Series
Boise State has been dominant against UNLV as of late, capturing wins in each of its five meetings since joining the Mountain West. The regional foes squared off in six straight season in the 1970s, but the series came to an end when the Rebels moved from an independent to DI program in 1978.
Saturday's bout marks the first time the conference opponents have met since October 2019, when Hank Bachmeier, Khalil Shakir and John Hightower powered the undefeated Broncos to a 38-13 victory at Sam Boyd Stadium. Running back George Holani averaged an impressive 8.9 yards per carry in the game.
UNLV was scheduled to host Boise State in December 2020, but the Friday night matchup was canceled during the shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 11-game series saw no action between 1977 and 2011.
The Broncos own an 8-3 all-time record against the Rebels, with six consecutive wins entering the championship game. Boise State is a perfect 5-0 in series games played in the City of Trees, but only 3-3 in Las Vegas. The Broncos have been ranked in the top 25 in four of the past five meetings.
First-year UNLV head coach Barry Odom is set to face Boise State for the first time Saturday in what also is the Rebels' first appearance in the Mountain West championship. After being picked ninth in the conference preseason poll, Odom guided UNLV to its most overall wins since 1984.
In the last meeting between the Broncos and Rebels more than four years ago, current interim head coach Spencer Danielson served as co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach on Bryan Harsin's staff. Boise State has won back-to-back games under Danielson since the dismissal of Andy Avalos.
Boise State's all-time record against UNLV:
- Oct. 5, 2019: Win - 38-13 (Las Vegas)
- Nov. 18, 2016: Win - 42-25 (Boise)
- Oct. 31, 2015: Win - 55-27 (Las Vegas)
- Oct. 20, 2012: Win - 32-7 (Boise)
- Nov. 5, 2011: Win - 48-21 (Las Vegas)
- Sept. 24, 1977: Win - 45-14 (Boise)
- Nov. 6, 1976: Loss - 31-26 (Las Vegas)
- Oct. 18, 1975: Win - 34-21 (Boise)
- Oct. 19, 1974: Loss - 37-35 (Las Vegas)
- Oct. 13, 1973: Loss - 24-19 (Las Vegas)
- Sept. 16, 1972: Win - 36-16 (Boise)
Jay's Sports Bar Episode 13
Three weeks ago, the Boise State football team had a 3.1% chance of winning the Mountain West, according to ESPN's Football Power Index. Now, they are favored in the championship game against a team they haven't lost to since 1976.
Can the Broncos continue their late season surge against the Rebels? Boise State alumnus Shane Williams-Rhodes joins KTVB Sports Director Jay Tust to preview the matchup and more.
- Director of Athletics Jeramiah Dickey has identified his finalists, and the list includes interim head coach Spencer Danielson.
- Current members of the Boise State football team share their thoughts on who they want the next head coach to be.
- The Mountain West released their postseason award, find out which Broncos were honored and which ones were snubbed.
- Junior defensive end Ahmed Hassanein and sophomore linebacker Andrew Simpson are becoming game-wreckers on defense.
Team Stats FBS Ranks
Team: Stat Per Game | FBS Rank:
TOTAL OFFENSE
- Boise State: 437.2 YPG | No. 28
- UNLV: 424.3 YPG | No. 40
SCORING OFFENSE
- UNLV: 35.6 PPG | No. 19
- Boise State: 32.0 PPG | No. 36
RUSHING OFFENSE
- Boise State: 207.7 YPG | No. 10
- UNLV: 187.8 YPG | No. 25
PASSING OFFENSE
- UNLV: 236.6 YPG | No. 54
- Boise State: 229.6 YPG | No. 58
RED ZONE OFFENSE %
- UNLV: .943 | No. 5
- Boise State: .864 | No. 52
TOTAL DEFENSE
- Boise State: 382.0 YPG | No. 67
- UNLV: 391.6 YPG | No. 83
SCORING DEFENSE
- Boise State: 24.75 PPG | No. 57
- UNLV: 25.58 PPG | No. 61
RUSHING DEFENSE
- Boise State: 127.2 YPG | No. 32
- UNLV: 151.8 YPG | No. 67
PASSING YARDS ALLOWED
- UNLV: 239.8 YPG | No. 91
- Boise State: 254.8 YPG | No. 115
RED ZONE DEFENSE %
- Boise State: .829 | No. 67
- UNLV: .829 | No. 67
Individual Stats Top Players
PASSING
- Taylen Green: 109-of-197 (55.33%), 1,526 yards, 9 TDs, 8 INTs
- Jayden Maiava: 186-of-290 (64.14%), 2,626 yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs
RUSHING
- Ashton Jeanty: 182 carries, 1,109 yards (6.1 avg.), 13 TDs
- Davis Vincent: 118 carries, 667 yards (5.7 avg.), 5 TDs
RECEIVING
- Ashton Jeanty: 37 receptions, 537 yards (14.51 avg.), 5 TDs
- Ricky White: 76 receptions, 1,308 yards (17.21 avg.), 7 TDs
Note: Eric McAlister's stats excluded
TACKLES
- Alexander Teubner: 63 total tackles (36 solo, 27 assisted)
- Jackson Woodard: 104 total tackles (47 solo, 57 assisted)
TACKLES-FOR-LOSS
- Ahmed Hassanein: 15.5 TFLs (89 yards)
- Jerrae Williams: 7 TFLs (37 yards)
SACKS
- Ahmed Hassanein: 12 sacks (84 yards)
- Jerrae Williams: 3 sacks (18 yards)
INTERCEPTIONS
- A'Marion McCoy: 2 INTs
- Jaxen Turner: 4 INTs
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