WEEK 7 GAME SCHEDULE
Friday, October 11, 2024
UNLV Rebels vs Utah State Aggies
CBSSN 7 p.m. MT
REBELS vs. AGGIES NOTES…
Utah State leads this long-running series 18-8 … This marks UNLV’s second straight visit to Logan as the Rebels snapped a six-game losing skid to the Aggies in their last meeting in 2022 … UNLV has never won two straight trips to USU … These programs first staged a home-and-home series back in 1971 & ‘73 and later played 13 times as Big West Conference (originally PCAA) rivals from 1983-95 … The Rebels and Aggies have played some of the closest contests in UNLV history as 12 of the 26 games were decided by a touchdown or less, including three by just one or two points … UNLV lists two players from the state of Utah on its current roster: DL Waisale Muavesi from Provo’s Timpview HS and OL Austin Boyd from Lehi HS … UNLV second-year OL coach Vance Vice was an assistant at USU from 2005-08.
UNLV Notes
FRIDAY’S PREVIEW…
Hitting the road in conference play for the first time, UNLV (4-1/1-0) travels to Utah State (1-4/0-1) for its second consecutive Friday evening outing … The game will be the first of five national TV appearances by the Rebels on CBS Sports Network this season … UNLV dropped out of Sunday’s AP Poll but is still receiving votes in the Coaches Poll … The Rebels made their first-ever AP appearance at No. 25 last week and earned their first national ranking in the Coaches Poll on Sept. 15, moving up as high as No. 23 … UNLV won its first four games this fall for the first time since 1984 … UNLV is coming off a 44-41 overtime loss to visiting Syracuse while USU fell at Boise State, 62-30 … With a win at Houston and a victory at Kansas, UNLV became the first non-conference team ever to have multiple road wins against Big 12 competition in the same season … The 13 wins in 19 games under head coach Barry Odom represent the most victories over any two-season span since the Rebels went a combined 16-7-1 in 1984 and ‘85 … With the August 31 victory at UH, Odom became the first UNLV coach to win his first two season-openers at the school since Tony Knap in 1976-77 … The Rebels are 12-0 under Odom when leading after the third quarter … UNLV is tied for third in the nation with a plus-eight turnover margin as the UNLV defense has forced at least one turnover in 18 of 19 games under DC Michael Scherer … The Rebels have scored 44 total points off turnovers while allowing just seven such points from opponents … UNLV returned two All-Americans for the first time in its history — WR Ricky White III and KR/PR Jacob De Jesus.
MORE REBELATIONS…
UNLV is having a historic season on the scoreboard as its 44.4 points-per-game average represents the second-highest number during any five-game stretch in program history behind only a 47.2-point clip in the middle of the 1974 campaign as a member of Division II … The school record for points per game during a season is 34.9 in 1980 … Under the current coaching staff, the Rebels have scored at least 40 points 11 times in 19 games … The Rebels rank second in the Mountain West in scoring defense at 19.8 points allowed per game (39th nationally) and second in offensive scoring with an average of 44.4 PPG (ninth nationally) … The 59 points scored vs. Fresno State represented the most UNLV has ever scored against a conference opponent in a regulation game. The Rebels finished with 69 vs. Wyoming in a triple-overtime affair in 2016 at Sam Boyd Stadium … After limiting three of five opponents to less than 70 yards rushing, UNLV sits first in the MW and 18th nationally with 94.2 yards allowed per outing … UNLV also leads the league in pass efficiency and sits second in pass efficiency defense … UNLV WR Ricky White III has 20 receptions in the last two games and has gone for at least 100 yards in eight of his last 10 regular-season games … After bringing in five in the last two games, the Rebs are tied for second in the nation with 10 team interceptions. In fact, since the beginning of 2022, UNLV’s defense has 42 interceptions, which is tied with Oklahoma for the most in the FBS during that span … In his first game after transferring from Texas, UNLV safety Jalen Catalon brought in two interceptions at UH, including one he tipped to himself and returned 36 yards for a touchdown. He is now tied for second in the nation with four picks on the year (coincidentally, the only player with more is former Rebel Nohl Williams of Cal who has five) … Cameron Oliver had one of the four interceptions vs. Fresno State, which was the 11th of his career and tied him for fourth place in UNLV history … The Rebels earned two victories over “P4” opponents in the same season for the first time since winning at Arizona State and vs. Iowa State — both in overtime — in back-to-back weeks in September 2008 … The Rebels are 6-2 in true road games under head coach Barry Odom after only winning five total road games in the previous five seasons (5-22) … Odom also has a 6-2 record in non-conference games during the regular season at UNLV after the Rebels only had a combined six such wins from 2018-22 (6-10) … Against Utah Tech, UNLV finished 8-of-8 in the red zone, including five touchdowns. Overall, the Rebels are 26-of-30 in scoring this fall when entering the red zone … The Rebels listed a school-record 111 players on the Week One roster and 53 of them were not on the team a year ago. That’s actually down from 55 new faces last season. The numbers include incoming high school and JC signees, walk-ons and portal additions … The Rebels have made all 27 of their extra-point attempts this fall and 152 straight dating back to the first game of 2020 … Barry Odom’s second UNLV coaching staff includes just one new assistant coach — and even he is not new to the program as first-year safeties coach Nicco Fertitta served as UNLV’s defensive analyst in 2023 … Not counting blocks, UNLV has not returned a punt for a touchdown in 23 years — the longest drought in the nation. The last Rebel to do it was Troy Mason, who went 52 yards vs. San Diego State on Oct. 13, 2001, at Sam Boyd Stadium … However, when Jai’Den Thomas went 90 yards into the end zone vs. Fresno State, UNLV snapped a 13-year drought by returning a kickoff for a score for the first time since Deante “Never Nervous” Purvis sprinted 98 yards to the end zone vs. Colorado State on Oct. 29, 2011 … Ray Guy Award candidate Marshall Nichols finished with the second-highest season punting average in school history last fall as his 47.1 yards per attempt ranked sixth in the nation and sat only slightly behind 1984 All-American Randall Cunningham’s 47.5 rate. Nichols is averaging a robust 42.5 this season, which would rank 46th in the nation if he had enough attempts to qualify for the NCAA stats.
Utah State Notes
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (1-4, 0-1 MW) continues Mountain West play this week as it hosts UNLV (4-1, 1-0 MW) on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) with Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst) and Amanda Guerra (reporter) on the call. • Utah State is 58-33-2 (.634) all-time in Homecoming games, including a 4-0 record against UNLV. USU is 9-3 in its last 12 Homecoming games. • Interim head coach Nate Dreiling, who was elevated from defensive coordinator on July 2, is the youngest head coach at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level as he is 33 years old. Dreiling is one of only two interim head coaches in the nation along with Fresno State’s Tim Skipper. • Utah State is 52-35 (.598) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 28-16 (.646) home record. USU has the third-best record against MW opponents since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (74-17) has the best record, while San Diego State (61-28) has the second-best record. Overall, USU is 50-23 (.685) in its last 73 home games. • Utah State is third in the Mountain West and 37th in the nation in total offense (439.8 yards per game), third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in passing offense (271.2 ypg), and seventh in the MW and 74th in the nation in rushing offense (168.6 ypg). USU is also fourth in the MW and tied for 23rd in the nation in yards per rush (5.3). • Senior WR Jalen Royals was named the Breakout Offensive Player of the Week by the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Offensive Player of the Week by the Reese’s Senior Bowl as he caught nine passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns at No. 21 Boise State last weekend. • Royals is third in the Mountain West and 11th in the nation in receiving (98.2 yards per game), third in the MW and 30th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with four (0.80 pg), fourth in the MW and 14th in the nation in receptions (6.8 pg), and fourth in the MW and 34th in the nation in all-purpose yards (117.8 ypg).
SCOUTING UNLV
• UNLV is 4-1 on the season following its 44-41 non-conference overtime home loss to Syracuse last weekend. The Rebels, who are 1-0 in Mountain West play, are led by senior QB HajjMalik Williams, who is 34-of-41 (.829) passing for 409 yards (102.3 ypg) with six touchdowns and one interception. Williams also leads the team in rushing with 260 yards on 34 carries (7.6 ypc/65.0 ypg) with two touchdowns. Senior WR Ricky White III leads the team in receiving as he has caught 30 passes for 388 yards (12.9 ypr/77.6 ypg) with six touchdowns. Defensively, senior LB Jackson Woodard has a team-best 45 tackles, which includes 3.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. As a team, UNLV is averaging 44.4 points and 414.8 yards of total offense per game (251.8 rushing, 163.0 passing) and allowing 19.8 points and 346.0 yards of total offense (94.2 rushing, 251.8 passing). UNLV returns 12 starters (O-5, D-7) and 36 lettermen (O-17, D-16, S-3) from last year’s team that went 9-5 overall and tied for first place in the Mountain West with a 6-2 record. The Rebels lost to Boise State (44-20) in the MW Championship game and lost to Kansas (49-36) in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Barry Odom is 38-31 in his sixth season as a collegiate head coach, including a 13-6 record in his second season at UNLV.
UTAH STATE AND UNLV AS CONFERENCE FOES
• Utah State and UNLV have spent 25 years as league foes as both schools were members of the Big West Conference from 1983-1995 and have been members of the Mountain West since 2013. As Big West members, USU went 8-5 against the Rebels with a 4-2 home record and a 4-3 road mark. In the MW, USU is 5-1 against UNLV with a 2-1 home record and a 3-0 road record.
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND UNLV
The following are series notables between Utah State and UNLV
• Utah State had won six straight games played in the series, outscoring UNLV 236-137 (39.3-22.8), before UNLV’s 34-24 road win in 2022 in the last meeting in the series. • Utah State has averaged 499.4 yards of offense (330.4 passing, 169.0 rushing) in its last seven games against UNLV. • The team that has had more yards of total offense had won the last eight meetings in the series, prior to UNLV’s win in 2022. • The team with fewer turnovers has won eight of the last 11 meetings in the series. • The winning team has scored first in five of the past 11 meetings, as Utah State is 3-1 in those games and UNLV is 2-5. • The team that has led at the half has won five of the last seven games played in the series. • The losing team has scored 20 or fewer points in four of the last 10 games, while the team with more penalties has won six of the past 10 games in the series. • There has only been one shut out in series history, a 42-0 Utah State road win in 1995. • Twelve of the 26 games played in the series have been decided by one score. • Utah State has had a 100-yard receiver in five of the last seven meetings, and had two 100-yard receivers in back-to-back games in 2012 and 2013. Overall, USU has had eight 100-yard receivers in the last 11 meetings as compared to three for UNLV. • Utah State has had two 100-yard rushers and four 300-yard passers in the last 11 meetings as compared to five 100-yard rushers and one 100-yard receiver for UNLV. • In Utah State’s 35-13 home win in 2012, it had a 400-yard passer, two 100-yard receivers and a 100- yard rusher.
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 180-197-8 (.478) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-28-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 38-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 20-21-1 record vs. San José State, an 18-8 record vs. UNLV, a 17-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 13-19-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 12-6 record vs. Hawai`i, an 8-19 record vs. Nevada, a 5-24 record vs. Boise State, a 5-7 record vs. Air Force, and a 4-13 record vs. San Diego State. • Utah State is 52-35 (.591) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 28-16 (.636) record in home games and a 24-19 (.558) record in road games. • Utah State (52-35) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (74-17) has the best record and San Diego State (61-28) has the second-best record.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
San Jose State Spartans vs Colorado State Rams
truTV/Max 1:30 p.m. MT
San Jose State Notes
OPENING DRIVE
• The defending co-regular season Mountain West champions look for their fourth bowl game in the last five years and a third bowl game in a row. • The Spartans are 10-2 in their last 12 games overall and have won eight straight conference games. • At 4-1, the Spartans have the best record out of every California FBS school. • The Spartans have won seven bowl games ever, new head coach Ken Niumatalolo has six bowl wins as a head coach. • The Spartans had 11 first-time FBS starters in their game vs. Sac State (8/29/24), which was the fifth most in the country. The Spartans have started 17 first-time FBS starters through five games, the country’s fourth-most. • The Spartans have seven home games for the first time since 2006 and are 13-2 in their last 15 games at CEFCU Stadium and 19-5 at CEFCU Stadium since 2020. • The Spartans had five takeaways against Sac State (8/29/24), which was the most takeaways for SJSU since having six against New Mexico on Oct. 4, 2019. • SJSU has forced 13 turnovers this season, which is good for fifth in the nation. The Spartans’ eight interceptions are good for fourth in the nation and second in the Mountain West. • The Spartans’ +3 turnover margin is good for third in the conference. • Against Nevada (10/5/24), the Spartans had no turnovers for the first time this season. • This season, Nick Nash leads all FBS players outright in receptions (55), receptions per game (11.0) and receiving touchdowns (nine). Nash is the third FBS player since 1996 to have 50+ receptions and 8+ touchdown receptions through the team’s first four games of the season (Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree in 2007 and Louisiana Tech’s Troy Edwards in 1998). • Nash is second in FBS in receiving yards per game (142.4) and second in the country with 712 receiving yards. • Nash was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week (9/16/24) following his career-high17 receptions for a career-best 225 yards with three touchdown catches in the game. It was the second time in his career Nash has caught three touchdown passes in a game (8/26/23 at No. 6 USC). • Nash is tied for second in SJSU history with 18 receiving touchdowns and has only been a true wide receiver for 19 games. • Nash broke the SJSU regular-season reception record of 15 against Kennesaw State with 17 receptions (9/14/24) set by Tuati Wooden (vs. Tulsa, 2003), Steven Pulley (vs. Stanford, 1999), and Guy Liggins (vs. Fresno State, 1986). • Nash had 17 (9/14/24 vs. Kennesaw State) and 16 receptions (9/20/24 at WSU). The 17 receptions are the most for an FBS wide receiver in a single game since Nevada’s Romeo Doubs had 19 receptions in 2021 against Fresno State. The 17 and 16 receptions are the first and second most by any FBS receiver in a game this season. • Pro Football Focus (PFF) has Nash ranked as the third-best wide receiver in the country with a grade of 89.9. • Nash also threw his first touchdown pass since Oct. 30, 2021, and the 11th of his career when he found Jacob Stewart for a 26-yard score (8/29/24 vs. Sac State). Nash is the first non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass for the Spartans since Tre Walker threw a 54-yard touchdown pass in 2017 against San Diego State. • Nash is only the third FBS player in the last three years to throw a passing touchdown and have two receiving touchdowns in the same game (KJ Concepcion of NC State in 2023 and Xavier Worthy of Texas in 2022). • Nash threw his second touchdown pass of the season against Nevada (10/5/24) and the last time the Spartans were at Colorado State (10/09/21), Nash was the starting quarterback for the Spartans. • Emmett Brown started for the first time in his SJSU career (Sac State 8/29/24) and threw for 298 yards which is the most since Clint Carlson in 2001, who threw for 366 yards against Texas-El Paso in his first SJSU start.
Colorado State Notes
NOTING THE RAMS
• The Rams are in year three under head coach Jay Norvell who was named the program’s 24th head coach on Dec. 6, 2021. Norvell led his former program, Nevada, onto Sonny Lubick Field in the 2021 finale on Nov. 27 and returned to Fort Collins nine days later as the Rams’ new head coach. • Colorado State is seeking its first bowl game since 2017, and first under Norvell. Over his five years in Reno (2017-21), Norvell compiled four-straight seven-plus win seasons and led the Wolf Pack to four bowl games. • Colorado State set a Canvas Stadium – and program – record with 40,099 fans in attendance for the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sept. 14 against Colorado. It also marked back-to-back sellouts for the first time ever after Ram Nation turned out for the home opener against Northern Colorado on Sept. 7. • Colorado State’s offensive line is full of experience, including the Mountain West’s most seasoned player in center Jacob Gardner (50 starts in 50 career games). Gardner and the Rams’ front unit allowed just 14 sacks last season – tied for 11th in the nation – and have allowed just six through five games in 2024 (tied for 29th). • The Rams will play seven games at home for the first time in program history in 2024, highlighted by a pair of rivalry matchups in the Rocky Mountain Showdown against Colorado (Sept. 14) and The Border War against Wyoming (Nov. 15). The last time both rivals were in Fort Collins the same season was in 1996. • Colorado State is committed to improving on both sides of the rushing game in 2024. Norvell identified 4.0 yards per carry as a number to target, wanting his offense to exceed that number and his defense to hold opponents below it. So far so good on the offensive side as the Rams are currently averaging 4.7 yards per carry, but their opponents are managing 4.2 yards per attempt on the other end.
NOTING THE GAME
• Colorado State welcomes San José State to Fort Collins for the Rams’ first Mountain West contest of the season. CSU has won four of the last five meetings with SJSU, but the Spartans were victorious in the most recent-meeting in 2022 in San José. • San José State boasts the No. 8 passing attack in the country, which averages 328.6 yards through the air per game. This is the second top-10 aerial attack the CSU defense has faced this season, as the Rams held Colorado (No. 9 passing offense) below its season average of 326.0 on Sept. 14 in Fort Collins. • Fans will enjoy watching two of the top receiving talents in the MW in Tory Horton (CSU) and Nick Nash (SJSU). Nash – a converted quarterback – has racked up 55 receptions for 712 yards and scored a touchdown in every game, with multiple scores in three games. Horton, who has missed time with injury, is coming off his best performance of the season – nine catches for 158 yards and a touchdown at Oregon State.
San Diego State Aztecs vs Wyoming Cowboys
CBSSN 1:30 p.m. MT
San Diego State Notes
SAN DIEGO STATE TRAVELS TO LARAMIE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2016 TO FACE WYOMING
n Fresh off a 27-24 victory over Hawai’i on Saturday night in its lone home game in a span of 48 days, San Diego State travels to Laramie, Wyoming, to take on Wyoming at 1:30 p.m. CT (12:30 p.m. PT) Saturday. n The Aztecs (2-3, 1-0 MW) are playing at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie for the first time since playing twice in a 14-day period in 2016. The Cowboys (1-4 this year, 1-0 MW) won the regular-season encounter, 34-33, on Nov. 19, while SDSU took the Mountain West title game, 27-24, two weeks later on Dec. 3. n The last time the teams played in Laramie was Dec. 3, 2016. On game day, it will be 2,870 days since the teams met at War Memorial Stadium. That’s seven years, 10 months and nine days. n The two teams are meeting overall for the first time since a 26-22 San Diego State win on Oct. 12, 2019 in San Diego. On Saturday, it will be exactly five years (1,827 days) since the teams played one another. n Each team has won 19 games apiece in the series, both going 12-7 at home (and 7-12 on the road). n On Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium, the Aztecs trailed for only 2 minutes, 34 seconds (2:34), but had to rally in the fourth quarter to beat Hawai’i, 27-24, and snap a three-game losing streak. n The NCAA’s active leading FBS rusher – Marquez Cooper – ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns. It was his second straight 100- yard rushing game, third this season and 20th of his career. n True freshman Danny O’Neil threw for 224 yards and a touchdown to improve to 2-2 as the starting quarterback this year. n The Rainbow Warriors took their only lead of the game early in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard touchdown pass, but SDSU answered with an 8-play, 87-yard drive, culminating with a 2-yard TD run by Cooper. n San Diego State then stopped UH on fourth-and-2 from the Aztec 46-yard line and later clinched the win on a Marlem Louis sack to end the game. n EDGE Trey White continued his remarkable start to the season, registering three sacks and four tackles for loss for a second straight game. For his efforts, he was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for the first time of his career. n White has nine sacks through five games, including 8.5 over the last three games. White is averaging 1.80 sacks per game, which would be a NCAA FBS record for most sacks per game in a season, just ahead of Arizona State’s Terrell Suggs (1.71 in 2002), Louisville’s Elvis Dumervil (1.67 in 2005) and Syracuse’s Dwight Freeney (1.46 in 2001). n As a team, the Aztecs rank fourth in the country with 3.80 sacks per game. White’s 1.80 sacks per game are more than 41 other FBS teams and tied with nine teams, including Iowa State, Missouri and Tennessee for the 83rd most in the country. n White leads the country in sacks per game (1.80), total tackles for loss (12.0), tackles for loss per game (2.40) and tackles for loss yards (83), and is tied for first in sacks (9) and third in sack yards (53). n O’Neil, the first true freshman to start a season-opener in SDSU’s Division I history (since 1969), has thrown 113 pass attempts this season, which is the third most in the country without an interception, only trailing Eastern Michigan’s Cole Snyder (145) and USF’s Byrum Brown (132). Snyder is a fifth-year senior, while Brown is a junior. O’Neil is 71-for-113 for the year with 791 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. n O’Neil was named the MW Freshman of the Week for the first time on Monday following his 224-yard, 1 TD performance. O’Neil completed his first 10 passes of the game and completed a career-high 24 of the game on 33 attempts. SDSU scored on five of its 10 drives, including three touchdowns and two field goals. n San Diego State started the season with a 1-3 record, its first 1-3 start since the 2015 campaign. That year, the Aztecs won their final 10 games of the year, including a 27-24 victory over Air Force in the Mountain West Championship game and a 42-7 win over Cincinnati in the Hawai’i Bowl. n That was the first of back-to-back MW championships for the Aztecs, who have three in league history (2012, 2015 and 2016). n Cooper is the active leader in FBS play in both rushing yards (4,439) and all-purpose yards (5,107), and tied for first in rushing touchdowns (38), third in rushing yards per game (94.4) and tied for fifth in total touchdowns (38). n Cooper, who has three straight 1,000- yard seasons (2023 at Ball State, and 2021-22 at Kent State under Sean Lewis), enters the weekend 11th in the country with 116.6 rushing yards per game. He has rushed for 583 yards and five touchdowns in five games, while adding 10 catches for 58 yards. n One of the most innovative minds in college football over the past decade, Sean Lewis was named the 19th head coach in the history of the San Diego State football program, as announced on Nov. 29, 2023. Lewis, 38, brings an extensive résumé to The Mesa, serving as head coach at Kent State from 2018-22 before spending the 2023 campaign as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Colorado under head coach Deion Sanders. He has also witnessed great success as a coordinator/ assistant coach in stops at Syracuse (2016-17), Bowling Green (2014-15) and Eastern Illinois (2012-13). n Last season at Colorado, the Buffaloes were ranked sixth in the country in passing yards per game (330.0) and 39th in scoring (32.1) with Lewis calling the plays. When Lewis stopped calling plays, Colorado dropped to 59th in passing (224.0) and 100th in scoring (20.3). n In 2021, Kent State set program records in plays (1,052), yards (6,907), first downs (364), rushing yards (3,482) and passing yards (3,425). Additionally, the Golden Flashes ranked third in the country that year in rushing (248.6) and first downs (364), fourth in total offense (495.2) and 30th in scoring (33.0). n In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Kent State led the country in scoring (49.8) and total offense (606.5), ranked second in in pass efficiency rating (191.2) and third down conversion percentage (56.1), third in rushing (283.0) and fourth down conversion percentage (87.5), and 10th in passing (323.5). n While at Syracuse, his 2016 offense set or tied 40 program records, including passing yards (3,855), while the 5,290 yards were the second most in school history. n Lewis also had the fourth-ranked offense (546.8) at Bowling Green in 2015 and the sixth-ranked scoring offense (42.2). n The Aztecs have posted a .500 or better overall record and a winning record in Mountain West action in 13 of the past 14 seasons, only failing to do so last year (4-8 overall, 2-6 in MW). n San Diego State once again plays one of the toughest schedules in the country with seven of its 11 FBS games against teams that made a bowl game in 2023 and three against former Pac-12 teams (hosting Oregon State on Sept. 7, at California on Sept. 14 and hosting Washington State on Oct. 26). n SDSU returns only two all-Mountain West players from a year ago in Mekhi Shaw (honorable mention at both wide receiver and punt returner) and Kenan Christon (honorable mention at kick returner). n Gone from San Diego State are second-team honorees TE Mark Redman, OL Cade Bennett, CB Noah Tumblin and P Jack Browning, including the latter two which are vying for spots in NFL camps. Other all-conference performers gone from SDSU are QB Jalen Mayden, LB Zyrus Fiaseu and CB Dez Malone. In all, 18 starters are gone from the 2023 squad. n Joining first-year head coach Sean Lewis are 55 total newcomers (combining scholarships and walk-ons). n The Aztecs do not have a single player in his final year of eligibility who began his career at San Diego State. SDSU and Troy are the only teams in the country without a player in his final year of eligibility who began his career at his current school (see chart on right). n Overall, the Aztecs have 15 players in their final year of eligibility, which is the fifth fewest in the country. Only Illinois (12), Troy (12), Iowa State (14) and San Jose State (14) have fewer (see chart on right). n Additionally, SDSU returns only 54 players from a year ago, which ranks as the fourth fewest in the country. n San Diego State has 44 scholarship newcomers, the sixth most in the nation. The 40 scholarship returnees are tied for the sixth fewest in the country. n Lewis has brought along an impressive coaching staff to The Mesa, including six full-time coaches with previous coordinator experience. Three assistant coaches on the Aztec offensive staff have previous offensive coordinator experience, including pass game coordinator Lanear Sampson (2023 co-offensive coordinator/2022 pass game coordinator at Austin Peay), run game coordinator Mike Schmidt (2023 run game coordinator at Mississippi State, 2022 run game coordinator at Syracuse) and quarterbacks coach Matt Johnson (2023 offensive coordinator at Kent State). Additionally, senior offensive analyst Ryan Lindley was SDSU’s offensive coordinator last season. n Defensively, Eric Schmidt is in his first season as SDSU’s defensive coordinator. Schmidt previously spent two seasons at Washington as its special teams coordinator and coach of the EDGE position on defense. Defensive edges coach Rob Aurich (2022-23 defensive coordinator at Idaho, 2018-21 special teams coordinator at South Dakota, 2015-17 defensive coordinator at Bemidji State) also has previous coordinator experience. n Finally, associate head coach Zac Barton is in his first season as SDSU’s special teams coordinator after spending last season at Kansas, where he served as the Jayhawks’ special teams analyst. Prior to Kansas, Barton coached the special teams at Kent State from 2018- 22 under Lewis. n Following Saturday’s road game at Wyoming, San Diego State is off the week of Oct. 19 before returning to America’s Finest City for a home contest against Washington State on Oct. 26.
Wyoming Notes
Svoboda Leads Balanced Attack:
Quarterback Evan Svoboda led a balanced attack for the Cowboys against Air Force. Wyoming passed for 188 yards and rushed for 173 yards. Svoboda finished his night with a career-high 165 yards passing completing 71 percent of his passes going 15-of-21. He also recorded a career-high 70 yards rushing with a career-best to rushing scores.
Great Scott:
Running back Sam Scott had a career day for the Brown and Gold against Air Force. He recorded 97 yards on the ground with a career-high 19 carries. He also added his first rushing score of the season and first for a UW running back. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry on the night for the Cowboys.
Suiaunoa All Over the Field:
Linebacker Shae Suiaunoa had a great day for the Cowboys against Air Force. He recorded a career high 13 tackles and a career-high three tackles for loss. It was the most tackles for the Pokes since Easton Gibbs had 13 against Colorado State in 2013 and the three tackles for loss were the most since Braden Siders had three against Ohio in the 2022 Arizona Bowl. Suiaunoa leads the Pokes with 40 tackles.
Florentine Solid in the Middle:
Nose tackle Ben Florentine was a force in the middle against Air Force’s option attack. He recorded seven tackles in the game including six in the first half. He has 16 tackles for the season, which is a career-best.
Big Day for the Offense:
The Cowboys offense recorded a season best 361 yards of total offense and recorded a season-high 31 points including 24 in the second half. Wyoming had over 275 yards in the second frame. UW had 188 yards through the air and 173 on the ground in the win over the Falcons.
Cowboys Dominate Second Half:
The Cowboy offense recorded 278 yards of total offense in the second half against Air Force. Wyoming also added 24 points for the first 20 or more points in a half since the Nevada game last season with 21 in the second half. UW also held on to the ball for over 22 of the 30 minutes of the frame.
A Note on the Youngster:
Wide receiver Chris Durr recorded a career-high three catches for a career-high 71 yards against Air Force. He had a long of 32 yards in the game and racked up 62 yards after catch in the contest for the Brown and Gold to lead the team.
First Meeting in a While:
Wyoming and SDSU will play for the first time since 2019. It is also the first meeting in Laramie since the two teams played twice in three weeks inside War Memorial Stadium in 2016.
Offensive Line Steps Up:
The Cowboys offensive line was without starter Jack Walsh against Air Force. Later in the contest the team lost Wes King. With both veteran guards out, backups Rex Johnsen and Alex Conn stepped in and helped Wyoming’s offense score 24 points in the second half. Johnsen made his first career start for the Cowboys. TK and TD’s: Wide receiver Tyler King found the endzone once again Air Force. He scored on a three-yard rush in the second half for his first rushing touchdown of his career. He added a 100-yard touchdown kick return the previous week for the Cowboys.
Chunk Plays:
The Pokes recorded a season-high 13 plays of 15 or more yards against Air Force. Wyoming had nine in the second half and six in the third quarter. The Pokes had seven rushing plays of 15 or more and six passing plays. One back-to-back plays in the third quarter, Evan Svoboda found Chris Durr, Jr. for 32 yards and John Michael Gyllenborg for 33 yards. Wyoming had 18 chunk plays for the season heading into the contest with Air Force.
Owning The Clock:
The Cowboys won the battle in time of possession against Air Force. UW held onto the ball for 31:28 in the game and over 22 minutes in the second half. Wyoming had the ball for over 10 minutes in each quarter in the second half.
Cowboys Missing with Injuries:
The Cowboys have had numerous injuries to open the season on both sides of the ball. Wyoming has 12 players on the roster that have had injuries this season that have started a game in their career. Those 12 players have combined for 32 missed games this season. That includes a pair of running backs in Daiwaiian McNeely and Harrison Waylee along with safeties Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White among others players.
King to the House:
Wide receiver Tyler King has been excellent this season returning kicks. In fact, King ranks fourth in the nation and first in the Mountain West averaging 32.3 yards per kick return. He recorded a 100-yard return for the Brown and Gold at North Texas tying the school record held by Sonny Jones, as he recorded a 100-yard return against Colorado State College in 1948. Gyllenborg Back in Form: Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg is working his way back into the offense after an injury. He grabbed five catches for a team-high 56 yards against North Texas. The five catches tied a career-high for the tight end, as he had five last season against Texas Tech in the season opener. He added four catches and a season-high 70 yards against Air Force.
Suiaunoa Passes 200 Tackles:
Linebacker Shae Suiaunoa recorded 13 tackles against Air Force tying a career-high. He has now recorded 219 tackles in his career in 52 games for the Brown and Gold. He also has 15 tackles for loss in his career.
Shay Settles in as Starter:
Linebacker Connor Shay has settled into his role at linebacker for the Pokes. He recorded eight tackles for a career-high against North Texas. This season, Shay has recorded 29 tackles to rank third on the Cowboys. Him and Suiaunoa have combined for 69 stops this season.
Air Force Falcons vs New Mexico Lobos
truTV/Max 5 p.m. MT
THE SERIES
• Air Force leads the series, 26-14, including a 21-12 advantage in conference games. • Air Force is 15-3 at home, 11-10 at New Mexico and 0-1 in neutral site games. • Air Force has won five straight overall following a three-game streak by New Mexico. • Air Force has won two straight in Albuquerque dating back to 2017. • Air Force defeated UNM, 35-3, in Falcon Stadium in 2022 in the last meeting. • Air Force defeated UNM, 38-10, in 2021 in the last meeting at New Mexico. • The teams first played in 1957 in Colorado Springs…Air Force won the game, 31-0.
Air Force Notes
THE GAME
• Air Force leads the series, 26-14, including a 21-12 advantage in conference games. The Falcons are 15-3 at home, 11-10 at New Mexico and 0-1 in neutral site games. Air Force has won five straight overall following a three-game streak by New Mexico. • Air Force defeated New Mexico, 35-3, in Falcon Stadium in 2022 in the last meeting. • Air Force has had 30 players make the first start of their career this season. The Falcons had 16 do it in the season opener vs Merrimack. The 30 total and 16 vs. Merrimack are the most in the nation this season.
LAST MEETING
(Nov. 12, 2022) Air Force defeated New Mexico, 35-3, in Falcon Stadium to win its fifth straight in the series and 10th straight at home vs. the Lobos. Senior quarterback Haaziq Daniels opened the scoring on Air Force’s first drive with a 65-yard touchdown run to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead. John Lee Eldridge III added a 10-yard scoring run to push the lead to 14-0. Daniels hit David Cormier with a 33-yard touchdown pass to open the third quarter to make it 21-0. Following a New Mexico field goal, Daniels added his second touchdown run of the day to increase the lead to 28-3. Jensen Jones closed the scoring with a short touchdown run in the final minutes to make up the final margin. Air Force rushed for 428 yards and had 470 total yards. Brad Roberts led the way with 163 yards on 29 carries. Daniels chipped in with 113 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. He also hit 2-2 passes for 33 yards and a score. The defense held New Mexico to 172 total yards and eight first downs. The unit had 7.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and two pass breakups. Jayden Goodwin led the defense with six tackles. The Falcons held a 37:49-22:11 advantage in time of possession.
LAST MEETING AT NEW MEXICO
(Oct. 2, 2021) Air Force defeated New Mexico, 38-10, in Albuquerque to win its fourth straight in the series. The Falcons rolled to a 24-0 halftime lead behind touchdown runs by three different players and a field goal from Anthony Rodriguez. The defense held the Lobos to 46 total yards and one first down. DeAndre Hughes scored his first-career touchdown in the third quarter on a 53 yard dash to extend the lead to 31-0 before New Mexico got on the board with a Terry Wilson touchdown pass. Brad Roberts added the final score for the Falcons with his second touchdown run to cap a 29-carry, 142-yard rushing day. New Mexico added a late field goal to make up the final margin. The Falcons finished with 441 total yards, including 408 rushing. Hughes chipped in with 89 yards while Omar Fattah added 60. The defense was led by Vince Sanford, who had eight tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. New Mexico finished with 226 total yards. Wilson led the way, hitting 14-23 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown.
NEW-LOOK FALCONS IN 2024
• Air Force returned just four starters on offense and defense in 2024. The Falcons return one starter on offense and three on defense. The Falcons lost all five starting offensive linemen, plus the tight end, along with its starting backfield (QB, FB, RB). • Air Force returned only 20.5 percent of its rushing output in 2024, losing its top three and five of its top seven leading rushers. • Air Force returned only 14.8 percent of its passing output, losing its leading passer and three of its top four overall. • Air Force returned just 27.8 percent of its total tackles output, losing 520 of its 720 total tackles, including its top six tacklers.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Air Force has held 17 of last 25 opponents to 21 points or fewer dating back to 2022. • Air Force has done it twice this season (Merrimack, 6; San Jose State, 17). • Air Force is among the top three in the MW in two categories in 2024.
AIR FORCE DEFENSE AMONG THE BEST
Air Force has been one of the most productive defenses in the nation the last five years, ranking among the national leaders in several categories. • Air Force ranked sixth in the nation in total defense in 2023. • The Falcons led the nation in total defense for the first time in program history in 2022. • Air Force has ranked in the nation’s top 10 the last four seasons in total defense. • Air Force has been the top ranked defense in the Mountain West all four years.
AIR FORCE RUSHING
• Air Force finished second in the nation in rushing last season with a 281.5 average. • Air Force won three straight national rushing titles from 2020-22. The Falcons are just the second school to win three straight titles and first since 2008. Air Force was the only program to average over 300 yards each season. • Air Force went wire-to-wire for the first time in program history while winning the 2022 title, leading the nation since the first week of the season, setting a new school record for consecutive weeks leading the nation with 14. • Air Force has won the national rushing title four times overall in program history. National title years: 2002 (307.8), 2020 (305.7), 2021 (327.7), 2022 (326.7).
New Mexico Notes
Washington State Cougars at Fresno State Bulldogs
FS1 4 p.m. PT
SERIES HISTORY
WSU leads the all-time series 3-2 against Fresno State but FSU won the last meeting 29-6 at the 2022 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. The Cougars won the only meeting in Fresno, 39-37 in 1992.
Washington State Notes
COUGARS HEAD TO FRESNO STATE FOR SATURDAY MATCHUP
Washington State returns from its bye week with a trip to Fresno State. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Saturday on Fox Sports 1.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State has opened the season 4-1 for the third straight season and is seeking its first 5-1 start since 2018. The Cougars enter the week with the nation’s No. 10 offense (495.4) and the defense is No. 26 in the country with nine takeaways. Quarterback John Mateer is second in the country in total offense (376.4), No. 14 in passing touchdowns (13) and wideout Kyle Williams is No. 13 in the country with five touchdown catches. Head coach Jake Dickert owns a 19-17 career record and is in his third full season.
COUGAR QUICK GAME
• WSU’s 2024 roster features 49 newcomers including 15 transfers with 13 from four-year schools • WSU’s roster features 38 players from the state of California • WSU opened the year 4-0 for the 2nd straight season, 1st time starting 4-0 in back-to-back seasons since 1906-07 • WSU had two Gesa Field sellouts in 2023 (Wisconsin, Oregon State), 4th in the last 3 seasons • Jake Dickert and Bill Doba (2003-07) are the only WSU HC with 2 Apple Cup wins in 1st 4 seasons since 1960’s
MATEER PUTTING UP BIG DUAL THREAT NUMBERS
Redshirt-sophomore John Mateer has posted some eye-popping numbers in his first five starts. • In 1st career start, threw for 352 yards and 5 TD, rushed for 55 yards including 40-yard TD run • Mateer’s 6 total TD vs. Portland State were most by a Cougar QB in 1st start in program history • Mateer’s 5 TD passes vs. Portland State matched the WSU record for TD passes in a first start – Luke Falk, 2014 at Oregon State; Anthony Gordon, 2019, New Mexico State • Mateer’s 197 rushing yards against Texas Tech week 2 was a WSU record for QB rushing yards – 1st 100-yard game by a Cougar QB since 1987 (105,Timm Rosenbach vs. Oregon) – 8th 100-yard rushing game by a Cougar quarterback in program history • Mateer had 2 rush TD and 1 pass TD in Apple Cup win, rushed for 62 yards, 245 pass yards • In the win over San Jose State, set career-highs with 26 completions and 390 pass yards – 1st Cougar QB in program history with 300 pass yards and 100 rushing yards in a game – 2nd 100-yard rushing game of the season (197, Texas Tech – 111, San Jose State) – Mateer’s 501 yards of total offense was the most by any player in the FBS this season • Mateer had a rush TD and pass TD in each of the 1st four games this season • Mateer’s 5 rush TD are tied for 10th-most rush TD by a quarterback in WSU single-season history • Mateer’s 13 TD passes are No. 14 nationally • Mateer’s 16.1 yards per completion is 5th-best nationally • Mateer’s 376.4 yards of total offense-per-game are 2nd-most nationally • Mateer’s 5 rush TD are tied for 6th-most by a QB nationally • Mateer’s 19 rushes of 10+yards are 2nd-most by a QB nationally, national-best 20+yard runs (8) • Mateer’s 31 missed tackles forced are the most by a QB nationally • Mateer owns the 2nd-best PFF rushing grade (90.2) by a QB nationally (Blake Horvath, Navy)
WHAT A START FOR WAYSHAWN
True freshman running back Wayshawn Parker showed off his all-around game in his collegiate debut, the season-opening win over Portland State and has continued to produce big plays. • In week one against Portland State, 8 carries, 96 rush yards, 54-yard TD run, 52-yard TD rec – 1st WSU true frosh with a rush TD and rec TD in his debut since 2018 (Max Borghi at Wyoming) – Parker’s 54-yard rush TD is longest TD run since 2021 (Max Borghi, 2021, Utah State, 64 yds) • In week two win over Texas Tech, rushed for 69 yards including 43-yard TD run – 1st WSU true freshman with TD in back-to-back games since 2018 (Borghi, Arizona, at Colorado) • In win over San Jose State, made 1st career start, rushed 22 times for 76 yards, long of 20 • Owns 6 carries of 20+ yards, the most among all freshman nationally • Parker’s 325 rushing yards are 7th-most among all freshmen in the country • Parker’s 22 missed tackles forced are 2nd-most by a freshmen running back nationally
Fresno State Notes
SETTING THE STAGE
• The Fresno State football team is coming off of its bye week, following five games in a row to open the season. • Saturday is Boots & Buckles Night at Valley Children’s Stadium. • Fresno State has played three of five games on the road. • This weekend’s game is the first in Fresno for the Bulldogs since Sept. 14. • Fresno State is averaging 40,055 fans at home this season (two games, vs Sacramento State and New Mexico State). • The 4 p.m. PT kickoff this weekend is the earliest home kickoff for the Bulldogs since a 4 p.m. kick against New Mexico on Nov. 13, 2021. • Although five games into the season, the Bulldogs don’t play their conference home opener until October 26 against San Jose State. • Fresno State and Washington State will face each other as nonconference opponents for the last time this weekend (with the way conference realignment is going, who knows if this is factual but it is until at least 2026 I think). • On Sept. 12, Fresno State announced it would be joining the Pac-12 conference in 2026 along with Washington State, Oregon State, Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State. Since then, Utah State and Gonzaga have been the most recent additions to the Pac-12. • Fresno State and Washington State last met in the 2022 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl that saw the Bulldogs earn a dominant 29-6 victory to cap a historic season in Fresno State football history. With the win over Washington State last time, Fresno State became the first program in FBS history to begin the season 1-4 and end with 10 wins (10-4). • Senior defensive end Devo Bridges was named the Defensive MVP of the bowl game with career-highs in tackles (8), TFL (2.0) and sacks (2.0). • Fresno State returns home this weekend, following a tough loss on the road at UNLV on Sept. 28. • Washington State is receiving votes in this week’s AP Poll. Of the Bulldogs’ six opponents so far this season, three have been ranked or receiving votes in one or both of the polls – No. 9 Michigan (AP), No. 23 UNLV (Coaches Poll) and RV Washington State (AP). • Fresno State’s cornerback duo of Cam Lockridge and A’zillion Hamilton enter another week as the FBS leaders in passes defended with Lockridge at No. 1 (1.8/game) and Hamilton at No. 2 (1.6/game). • Transfer wide receiver Raylen Sharpe had his best game as a Bulldog last time out at UNLV, finishing with 116 yards on 10 catches for his first 100-yard game as a Bulldog. • Kicker Dylan Lynch did not have a field goal in the game at UNLV, snapping an 18-game streak with at least one field goal for the junior kicker.
Oregon State Beavers at Nevada Wolf Pack
CBSSN 4:30 p.m. PT
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s meeting will be the fifth all-time between the Wolf Pack and Beavers, and the first since Nevada’s 37-35 victory at Mackay Stadium in 2018. Oregon State leads the overall series, 3-1. While it is just the fifth all-time meeting between the programs, it has been over a century since the first. The Wolf Pack traveled to Corvallis for a Thanksgiving Day contest on Nov. 26, 1903, which the Beavers won, 15-0.
Oregon State Notes
Game Notes
• Oregon State hits the road for the first time in October Saturday when visiting Nevada at Mackay Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. PT.
• The game will air live on the CBS Sports Network. John Sadak (play-byplay), Ross Tucker (analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline) will call the action.
• The game will air live on the Beaver Sports Radio Network. For a list of affiliates, turn to page two of these notes.
• Every game this season can be heard live on the Varsity Network, a free application available via computer browsers, smartphones and tablets. After downloading the application, search for Oregon State.
• The matchup marks just the fifth all-time meeting between the teams and second this century. OSU last matched up with Nevada in 2018 in Reno.
Oregon State By The Numbers
4 – Wins in five games, putting the Beavers at 4-1 for the second consecutive season and third since 2021.
6 – OSU’s rank nationally for rushing yards per game at 264.4. 8 – OSU conversions on fourth, in 14 attempts.
17 – Rushing touchdowns, tied for eighth nationally. 17 – Drives of 10 or more plays through the first five games for OSU.
32 – Tackles for Skyler Thomas, which leads the team and sets a career-high for the redshirt junior.
35 – Days between road games for the Beavers, who shut out San Diego State, 21- 0, on Sept. 7. 36:37 – Oregon State’s national-best time of possession on average.
51.4 – Third-down conversion percentage, good for 15th nationally.
79 – First downs by rush, accounting for 64.7 percent of the Beavers’ 122 this year.
1,078 – Career rush yards for Anthony Hankerson in 25 games between Oregon State and Colorado.
Against Nevada
• Oregon State and Nevada last played in 2018, a 37-35 win by the Wolf Pack. The Beavers, however, hold a 3-1 advantage in the series, winning in Corvallis in 1903 and 1998 and in Reno in 1999. • OSU passed for 459 yards in the 2018 matchup, with Isaiah Hodgins catching 14 passes for 200 yards. Those 14 receptions are tied for the OSU single-game record while the 200 yards rank 10th. • Timmy Hernandez also caught 11 passes for 116 yards. That game marked the last time OSU had two receivers top 100 yards in the same game. • Ken Simonton totaled 199 yards in a 28- 13 win in 1999. He also ran for three scores in the win. • Simonton also ran for 121 yards while James Battle caught three passes for 99 yards in the 48-6 win in Corvallis in 1998.
Four In Five
• Oregon State is 4-1 on the year for the second consecutive season and third time since 2021. • OSU has won at least four of its first five games nine times since 2000. The Beavers have advanced to a bowl game in seven of those previous eight seasons, with the 2014 campaign the exception. • Head coach Trent Bray has been a player or coach in eight of the nine seasons.
Nevada Notes
NEVADA CLOSES NON-CONFERENCE SLATE WITH OREGON STATE
Nevada closes its regular-season non-conference slate this Saturday, hosting Oregon State for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff. Saturday’s contest against the Beavers will be broadcast on truTV and the Max app, with John Sadak (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst), and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline) on the call. The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game on KOZZ 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada, online at www.thevarsitynetwork.com and on the Varsity Network app. John Ramey (play-by-play) and Mike Edwards (analyst) will be in the booth, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 3:30 p.m.
B-LEW MAKING ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST CASE
Quarterback Brendon Lewis is having a career season in 2024 and ranks among the top of the Mountain West among fellow signal-callers. Through Week Five, and six games total, Lewis leads all Mountain West QBs, and ranks 21st in the nation, with a 69.0 completion percentage. A top dual-threat quarterback, Lewis is second in the Mountain West in total offense (1,443 yards), and fourth in passing efficiency (140.33) and touchdown passes (nine). He also ranks in the Mountain West top-10, and leads all quarterbacks, in rushing yards (362) and rushing touchdowns (three).
SCORING WITH THE ARM AND LEGS
Saturday at San José State, Brendon Lewis accounted for all four Nevada touchdowns as he threw for two (both to Jaden Smith) and ran for two more. It was the third time at Nevada and fourth time in his career that he’s had a passing and rushing touchdown in a single game. And, it made him the first Wolf Pack QB to account for at least two passing and two rushing touchdowns in a single game since Tyler Stewart had two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns against New Mexico on Oct. 10, 2015.
MULTI-THREAT RUSHING ATTACK
Nevada ran for 190 yards in Saturday’s game at San José State, and currently ranks fourth in the Mountain West at 192.83 rushing yards per game, and also with 5.01 yards per attempt. The Wolf Pack ground game has accounted for 11 of the Pack’s 20 touchdowns, with Patrick Garwo III leading the way with five. Nevada, in fact, is one of two MW teams (along with Colorado State) to have two players in the conference’s top 10 in rushing yards–Savion Red (456) and Brendon Lewis (362) rank fifth and seventh, respectively. Red also ranks second in the conference with 7.24 yards per attempt.
JADEN SMITH BREAKING OUT
Wide receiver Jaden Smith caught two touchdowns Saturday–his first two-score game with Nevada, and the third of his career (one at Nevada, two at Tarleton State in 2022)–while finishing with six catches for 89 yards. On the year, Smith, a transfer from Tarleton State where he was an All-WAC selection in 2022, leads the Wolf Pack in both receiving touchdowns (three) and receiving yards (407).
RED-ZONE TOUGHNESS ON BOTH ENDS
Nevada’s red-zone performance on both offense and defense has been a significant turnaround in 2024. On offense, the Wolf Pack has converted 21 of 22 red-zone trips into points, the 95.5 percent rate ranking 11th in the country. Of those 22 trips, 20(!) have resulted in touchdowns, an 91.7-percent rate. That rate has, so far, well outdistanced the Pack’s 2023 rate in which it only scored 16 touchdowns on 35 red-zone trips (45.7 percent). On defense, the Pack ranks third in the Mountain West with opponents succeeding in scoring on a red-zone trip just 84.2 percent of the time (16-for-19). More impressively, Nevada has limited its opponents to just 10 touchdowns on those 19 trips.
CONTROL THE BALL, CONTROL THE GAME
Entering this weekend’s action, Nevada ranks seventh in the country and leads the Mountain West in time of possession, holding onto the ball for an average of 33:41 per game
Boise State Broncos vs Hawai’I Rainbow Warriors
CBSSN 5 p.m. HT
SERIES vs. BOISE STATE
• BSU leads the overall series 15-3 and have won nine straight in the series dating back to 2008. • BSU has won 15 of the last 16 meetings dating back to 2001 — all as conference foes (WAC: 2001-10; MW: 2012-20). • The Broncos have won four straight match-ups in Honolulu by an average of 31.0 points and hold a 7-3 edge in the series. • Among the 18 all-time match-ups, BSU was ranked in 11 of those meetings. UH is 1-10 against ranked BSU teams (#14 UH def. #17 BSU in 2007 in Honolulu). • The teams met in the 2019 Mountain West Championship game in Boise, Idaho with the Broncos winning 31-10. • The teams have met five times in Mountain West play since 2012 with the Broncos winning all five meetings by an average of 31.2 points.
Boise State Notes
1 Ashton Jeanty continues his HEI2MAN campaign (and rampage through opposing defenses) this week when the No. 17/22 Broncos head to Hawai’i. Last week, the Boise State junior became just the eighth player to reach 1,000 rushing yards in only five games. Find out more about Ashton Jeanty’s record-setting season at HEI2MAN.com.
2 Boise State enters this game ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25 poll and 22nd in the US LBM Coaches Poll. The Broncos have a .846 winning percentage (115-21) all-time when ranked by the Associated Press. That is the best winning percentage of any team when ranked by the AP.
3 Appropriate for No. 3 on this list is Boise State’s success rate on 3rd down. The Broncos have converted 56.3% of their third down conversions this year, a mark that ranks No. 3 in the nation and leads the Mountain West. Only Miami [Fla.] (.603) and Army West Point (.582) have better numbers on 3rd down.
4 Boise State heads to the islands to face Hawai’i and its run and shoot offense with a gunslinger of its own. Maddux Madsen currently has the best QB pass efficiency rating of any Mountain West QB at 150.15.
5 We saved No. 5 for the appropriate Group of 5 note. The 2024 season marks the first of the expanded College Football Playoff era with a 12-team bracket. The highest-rated conference champion of the Group of 5 will automatically earn a berth into the CFP postseason this year and several national pundits have predicted the Broncos could be one of the top teams vying for that spot.
SCOUTING HAWAI’I
• Hawai’i enters this week with a 2-3 (0-1 MW) record following a heartbreaking 27-24 loss at San Diego State last week. • The Rainbow Warriors’ two wins so far this season have come against FCS teams – a 35-14 win over Delaware State on Aug. 24 and a 36-7 victory over Northern Iowa on Sept. 21. • Hawai’i ranks sixth in the nation on fumbles lost, having only lost one so far this year. The Broncos will need to pry a little harder. • UH ranks 12th in the nation in team tackles for loss (7.6), providing a formidable challenge for the Boise State offensive line. • Hawai’i also ranks 12th in punt returns (17.29), putting a premium on special teams. • Leading that special teams return unit is Tylan Hines, who ranks third nationally in combined kick returns (327) and seventh in the country in punt returns (17.3). • The University of Hawai’i was originally created by the Territory of Hawai’i in 1907 as a land grant college of agriculture and mechanical arts and held its first classes in 1907. In 1912 it moved to its present location in Mānoa Valley and was renamed the College of Hawai’i. • This is not your father’s Hawai’i team. The 2024 edition of the Rainbow Warriors ranks 28th in the nation in total defense, limiting opponents to an average of 309.4 yards per game. They also rank 32nd in scoring defense, allowing an average of 19.0 ppg. Meanwhile Boise State has not scored less than 34 points in a game this season. So what happens when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force? • Hawaiian football first began competition in 1909. From that point through 1923, the UH teams were called the “Deans.” It is not true that the teams used that nickname to suck up to the educational administration for a little extra time on their term papers. • In the final game of the 1923 season, the football team upset Oregon State, with a rainbow appearing over the stadium during the game. Sportswriters began referring to UH teams as the “Rainbows,” and the tradition was born that Hawaii could not lose if a rainbow appeared. • Rainbows, however, had magical powers long before football came to the islands. Hawaiian chiefs considered them sacred and used them as signs of a chief’s presence. A rainbow hovering over a newborn child indicated that he was of a god-like rank. So if rainbows have magical powers, does that make UH the Pacific’s version of Hogwarts? • Green and white became the school’s colors when a group of faculty wives were deciding on decoration and color schemes for the school’s social calendar. At the time, materials took weeks to be shipped to the islands, making materials of many colors scarce. The wives reasoned that basic white would always be available and green decorations could constantly be provided by Hawai‘i’s lush growth of tropical plants. • Hawai’i is believed to be the only FBS team in the country without their own equipment truck. If you aren’t sure why, please read that last sentence again, only more slowly.
RUNNING BRONCOS
Boise State enters this week’s game averaging 8.18 yards per rush this season, marking the second-highest average through five games by any FBS team this century. The only other team to average at least eight yards per carry at this stage of a season was Stanford (8.44) in 2017.
Hawai’I Notes
GAME STORYLINES
• This week’s match-up is the 19th all-time meeting between the schools and first since the 2020 season. It also marks the first meeting in front of a Hawai‘i crowd since 2016. The 2020 game was played without fans at Aloha Stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions. • BSU leads the all-time series 15-3 and have won the last nine meetings dating back to 2008. UH’s last win over the Broncos came in 2007, when it won 39-27, en route to a WAC title and undefeated regular season. • The Broncos have won 15 of the last 16 match-ups since 2001 — all as conference foes (WAC: 2001-10 and MW: 2012-20). • BSU has won the last four games in Honolulu (2009, ’12, ’16, and ’20) by an average margin of 31.0 points. BSU holds a 7-3 all-time advantage in Honolulu. • UH (2-3, 0-1 MW) opened Mountain West play last week with a 27-24 loss at San Diego State. The Rainbow Warriors took a 24-20 lead in the fourth quarter before the Aztecs scored the game-winning touchdown with 7:05 left. • BSU (4-1, 1-0) won a shoot-out with Utah State, 62-30, last week in Boise, Idaho to open conference play as the Broncos generated nearly 600 yards of total offense. Ashton Jeanty rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half. • Jeanty is the nation’s leader in rushing yards (1,031), rushing yards per game (206.2), rushing touchdowns (16), and rushing yards per carry (10.85). • BSU leads the nation in scoring offense (50.6) and is the Mountain West leader in total offense (537.6) while UH leads the MW in scoring defense (19.0) and total defense (309.4). • UH has an 11-48 all-time record against nationally ranked teams, including 10-26 at home. Hawai‘i’s last win over a ranked team was against 18th-ranked Fresno State in 2021, which marks the only previous time a ranked team has visited Ching Complex. • UH has out-scored its opponents 39-10 in the first quarter and have pitched three first quarter shutouts in five games. • UH quarterback Brayden Schager needs 167 passing yards for 8,000 in his career. Only four other Hawai‘i quarterbacks have reached that mark. He also needs 200 yards to move past Cole McDonald for fourth on the school’s all-time passing list.
LAST MEETING vs. BSU
BSU 40, UH 32 — Nov. 21, 2020
Aloha Stadium; Honolulu, O‘ahu
• The eight-point margin was the closest in the last nine games. The Broncos had won each of the previous eight by 20 points or more. • BSU led 19-3 at the half and 33-9 in the third quarter before the Warriors out-scored the Broncos 23-7 to finish the game. • Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 90 yards while Calvin Turner scored three touchdowns – all in the second half. • UH saw its five-game home win streak come to an end. • UH did not commit a turnover in the game. • After Jared Smart’s 4-yard TD catch and successful two-point conversion pulled UH to within eight with 4:52 left, the Broncos managed to hold possession for the remainder of the game to squeeze out the win.
MOUNTAIN WEST NOTES:
• All 12 Mountain West programs are in action in Week 7, with five Conference games and two nonconference contests on the schedule. UNLV, which is receiving votes in the US LBM Coaches (AFCA) Poll, visits Utah State on Friday to get the action started, while No. 22/17 Boise State heads to Hawai‘i to cap Saturday’s slate. Colorado State is the final MW team to open league play when it hosts San José State on Saturday.
• Boise State moved up four spots to No. 17 in the AP poll and moved into the AFCA poll at No. 22.
• The Mountain West has the strongest nonconference schedule in the FBS. MW teams have 35 nonconference games scheduled this season against Autonomous 4 opponents, the most of any FBS league (counting Notre Dame, Oregon State and Washington State as A4 teams), with the next-closest totaling 27. The MW has four (4) games against the ACC, eight (8) against the Big 12, six (6) against the Big Ten and two (2) against the SEC in addition to 15 contests against Oregon State and Washington State, most of which are part of a scheduling agreement that will see all 12 MW schools face either the Beavers or Cougars. Fifteen of the MW’s games against Autonomous 4 opponents this season will be played at home.
• MW teams have played seven one-possession games against A4 opponents this season, with four of those games settled in overtime or on the final play of regulation.
• It’s a new era for the College Football Playoff in 2024, as the five highest-ranked FBS conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked at-large teams will earn spots in the 12-team postseason playoff. With unprecedented access to the CFP, the Mountain West will be well-positioned to earn a shot at competing for a national title.
• Since 2018, the MW has the best winning percentage over Autonomous 5 teams (26.67) among its peer conferences. MW teams have collected 32 wins over such teams in that span, also the most among its peer conferences.
REBELS SPECIAL ON SPECIAL TEAMS
UNLV leads the FBS this season with three blocked punts. Two of them have come from All-American wide receiver Ricky White III, who is the first UNLV player with multiple blocked punts in a season since 2006.
MW TAKEAWAYS
UNLV has intercepted at least one pass in seven straight games dating back to last season, tied with Cal for the longest active streak in the FBS. Over the last three seasons, the Rebels have had a pick in 24 games, second in the FBS to Oklahoma (26). Both teams have 42 interceptions since 2022. UNLV is second in the FBS with 10 total so far this season and ranks third with a 1.60 turnover margin. San José State ranks fourth in the FBS this season with 13 forced turnovers, while UNLV is 11th with 11 and Fresno State is 15th with 10. UNLV’s Jalen Catalon (four) and Fresno State’s Cam Lockridge (three) rank second and third, respectively, in the FBS in interceptions.
BRONCOS PLAY DEFENSE, TOO
Boise State leads all FBS teams with 4.20 sacks per game this season.
MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ASHTON JEANTY, BOISE STATE Junior, Running Back
Jacksonville, Fla./Lone Star (Texas) HS
Ran for 186 yards and three touchdowns on just 13 carries in Boise State’s 62-30 win over Utah State, collecting those numbers in only two quarters of action. Averaged 14.3 yards per carry, the second-best single-game mark in program history. Scored a 63-yard TD on Boise State’s first offensive snap of the day and later added scores of 75 and 6 yards. Forced five missed tackles and tallied 168 yards after contact.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
TREY WHITE, SAN DIEGO STATE Sophomore, Edge
San Diego, Calif./Eastlake HS
Had five tackles, including four solo stops, in San Diego State’s come-frombehind 27-24 win over Hawai‘i. Totaled 4.0 tackles for loss for 27 yards, including 3.0 sacks for 26 yards against a Hawai‘i squad allowing just two sacks per game. Helped keep the Rainbow Warriors from scoring on each drive in which he recorded a sack. His four TFLs were a Snapdragon Stadium record, while his sack total tied a stadium-best.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
RICKY WHITE III, UNLV Senior, Wide Receiver
Marietta, Ga./Marietta HS/ Michigan State
White’s special teams efforts led to a pair of touchdowns in UNLV’s 44-41 overtime setback to Syracuse. With the score tied at 14 in the second quarter, White broke through on a Syracuse punt attempt, forcing the punter to abandon the effort and get tackled at the Orange’s 9-yard line. UNLV scored a TD two plays later. With UNLV trailing by a score in the third quarter, he blocked a punt that the Rebels recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Became the first Rebel with two blocked punts in a season since 2006.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
DANNY O’NEIL, SAN DIEGO STATE Freshman, Quarterback
Indianapolis, Indiana/Cathedral HS
Led San Diego State to a come-from-behind 27-24 win over Hawai‘i, going 24-for-33 for 224 yards and a touchdown. Completed his first 10 passes in the contest and finished with a career-high 24 completions. Helped SDSU score on five of its 10 drives.
