WEEK 11 GAME SCHEDULE
Friday, November 8
New Mexico at San Diego State* FS1 7:30 p.m. PT
SERIES HISTORY
• Friday marks the 45th meeting between New Mexico and San Diego State, with the Aztecs owning a 29-15 series advantage. • San Diego State has won the last nine games played between the teams, although the Lobos won the eight encounters immediately prior to the Aztecs current win streak. • Despite the Aztec victories in the last nine games, New Mexico has still outscored San Diego State, 403-379 (23.7-22.3), in the last 17 games. • San Diego State owns a 14-8 lifetime record against New Mexico in San Diego. The Aztecs have won their last four home games in the series, dating back to a 20-17 Lobo win on Oct. 31, 2009. • SDSU and New Mexico met in 34 consecutive seasons from 1978 through 2011. That streak came to an end in 2012. On Friday, the Aztecs and Lobos will meet for the 41st time in the last 47 seasons. • Prior to the 2009 victory at home, which started the current nine-game winning streak, SDSU’s last win over New Mexico was Nov. 4, 2000 (SDSU 17, UNM 16). • San Diego State’s 29 victories are the second most for the program against any Division I opponent. The Aztecs’ 31 victories over rival Fresno State are first. • Just 17 points would have been enough to win 10 of the last 18 games between the teams. The losing team has scored a total of 258 points in the last 18 games combined (average of 14.3 points per game). • Of the last 25 series meetings, 10 have been decided by a touchdown or less. Of those 10 games, one game was decided by one point, five games were decided by three points, one game was decided by five points, one game was decided by six points and two games were decided by seven points. • The Aztecs won 13 consecutive games in the series from Nov. 17, 1984 through Oct. 19, 1996, with the streak broken on Oct. 11, 1997. • The composite score of the previous 44 meetings is San Diego State 1,149, New Mexico 1,086, making the average score SDSU 26.1, New Mexico 24.7. There is a 63-point difference in total points scored between the two teams in the 44-game history of the series. n The last 17 times there has been a difference in the amount of turnovers between the two teams, the team committing fewer turnovers is 13-4.
SERIES TIDBITS: San Diego State has defeated New Mexico in nine consecutive meetings for the first time in the Mountain West era and first time since a school-record 13-game winning streak from 1984-96… New Mexico has scored 101 points in the last seven meetings (14.4 ppg)… San Diego State has scored more than 24 points just seven times in the last 19 meetings, but in seven of the last eight… San Diego State has had a turnover advantage against New Mexico just three times since 2002… In the last 14 meetings, the Aztecs owns a -14 turnover margin… In the last 12 meetings, San Diego State has had an average field position disadvantage five times, including games with a margin disadvantage of -22, -20, -13 and -7… In 2011, the Aztecs rushed for five touchdowns as part of a 230-yard effort on the ground… In the last seven encounters against UNM, San Diego State has rushed for 1,667 and yards and 23 touchdowns… San Diego State has not trailed in a home game against New Mexico since 2009 (has not trailed in the last three home meetings).
New Mexico Notes
UNM vs. Ranked Teams
New Mexico is 6-61 all-time against ranked opponents dating back to the 1940 season. UNM is 4-26 at home vs. ranked opponents, 2-34 on the road and 0-1 on neutral fields. UNM’s last win over a ranked opponent was on October 25, 2003 when the Lobos won at No. 23 Utah 47-35. UNM’s last win over a top 10 program was also against Utah, a 23-21 win on November 5, 1994. UNM is 1-18 all-time against top-10 teams and 0-5 vs. top-five teams. UNM has lost 26 straight to ranked foes.
San Diego State Notes
SAN DIEGO STATE WELCOMES NEW MEXICO FOR SECOND STRAIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT GAME
• San Diego State returns home to face New Mexico on Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff for the Aztecs (3-5, 2-1 MW) and Lobos (3-6, 2-3 MW) is set for 7:30 p.m. PT. n SDSU is coming off a 56-24 loss at No. 15/19 Boise State last Friday night. San Diego State spotted the Broncos 28 points before scoring on a Gabe Plascencia 27-yard field goal early in the second quarter. • True freshman quarterback Danny O’Neil threw a pair of 30-yard touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to Jordan Napier and Mekhi Shaw. • San Diego State was 6-for-6 on fourth down in the game, matching the most conversions in FBS play without a fail since 2007. Four of the six fourth down conversions came on one drive alone, ending with the Napier 30-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-5. • Marquez Cooper rushed for 94 yards on just 16 attempts (5.9 avg.), while Napier had a game-high eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. n Cooper is the active leader in FBS play in rushing yards (4,698), all-purpose yards (5,379) and rushing touchdowns (42), and third in rushing yards per game (94.0, min. 25 GP) and total touchdowns (42). • Cooper, who has three straight 1,000-yard seasons (2023 at Ball State, and 2021-22 at Kent State under Sean Lewis), has rushed for 842 yards on the year in eight games (105.3 YPG) with nine touchdowns. • The Aztecs are the only team in the country with only one player scoring a rushing touchdown. • O’Neil, the first true freshman to start a season-opener in SDSU’s Division I history (since 1969), is 123-for-204 for the year with 1,395 yards, eight touchdowns and just four interceptions. • EDGE Trey White is off to a historic start to the season, on pace to challenge the FBS’s record for the most sacks per game in a season (NCAA defensive stats go back to 2000). White is averaging 1.44 sacks per game, just behind the NCAA FBS record for most sacks per game in a season behind 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). • White leads the country in sacks per game (1.44), tackles for loss per game (2.06), total tackles for loss (16.5) and total tackles for loss yards (94), and ranks second in total sacks (11.5) and fifth in total sack yards (61). n White is already tied for sixth in SDSU single-season history with 11.5 sacks along with current Kansas City Chief Cameron Thomas (11.5 in 2021), only trailing Mike Douglass (21.0 in 1976), Brett Faryniarz (13.0 in 1987), Andy Coviello (12.5 in 1991) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (12.0 in 1997 and 1999). n Earlier this month, White was added to the Bednarik Award Watch List for the most outstanding defensive player and was named to five midseason All-America teams. • As a team, the Aztecs are fourth in the country with 3.63 sacks per game. White is averaging more sacks per game (1.44) than 17 other TEAMS. • 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).
Saturday, November 9
San Jose State Spartans vs Oregon State Beavers
Series History
Series Record………………………OSU leads, 5-2
Last Meeting…………………….. 2023 (W, 42-17)
First Meeting………………………..1979 (L, 14-24)
Streak………………………………………………….. Won 5
Last 10……………………………………………………….5-2
In Corvallis ……………………………. OSU leads, 3-1 I
n San José…………………………… OSU leads, 2-1
Neutral site…………………………………………….None
San Jose State Spartans 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 for the first time in SJSU history. • With a win, the Spartans would be bowl-eligible for the third season in a row for the first time since having four straight seasons with winning records from 1989-92. • The Spartans are 11-4 in their last 15 games overall and are 9-2 in their last 11 conference games. • At 5-3, 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 20 first-time FBS starters through six games, the country’s third-most. • The Spartans have seven home games for the first time since 2006 and are 14-2 in their last 16 games at CEFCU Stadium and 20-5 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 19 turnovers this season, which is good for third in the nation. The Spartans’ 14 interceptions are good for third in the nation and first in the Mountain West. • The Spartans’ have an even turnover margin which is good for 69th in the country. • Against Nevada (10/5/24), the Spartans had no turnovers for the only time this season. • According to Stats Perform, Nick Nash has a receiving touchdown in eight consecutive games, the longest active streak in FBS and an SJSU record. It’s the longest streak to start a season in MW history. • Also according to Stats Perform, Nash has seven games this season recording at least 90 yards, the most by any FBS player. Nash had at least seven receptions in each of those seven games. The last MW player to have more games with 90+ receiving yards and 7+ catches in a single season than Nash was Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins in 2014 (nine). • This season, Nash leads all FBS players outright in receptions (80), receptions per game (10.0) and receiving touchdowns (12). 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 (124.4) and second in the country with 995 receiving yards. • Nash was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week (9/16/24) following his career-high 17 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 second in SJSU history with 21 receiving touchdowns and has only been a true wide receiver for 22 games. He is eight away from the record by Chandler Jones from 2010-13 and his 12 touchdowns are three away from the SJSU single-season record of 15 by Jones in 2013. • 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 tied for the most for an FBS wide receiver in a single game this season. • Nash has 10 or more receptions in four games this season, which ties an SJSU record (Evan Jurovich, 2007). • Pro Football Focus (PFF) has Nash ranked as the sixth-best wide receiver in the country with a grade of 87.4 and he’s rated as the top slot receiver in the country. • 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).
• Nash’s 80 catches this season are only nine away from the SJSU single-season record of 89 in 2011 by Noel Grigsby. Zay Jones has the FBS single-season record of 158 in 2016 for ECU. • According to Stats Perform, Nash is the first Mountain West player to have at least 10 receiving touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in a season. The last FBS player to have such a season was North Carolina’s Quinshad Davis in 2013. • The Spartans have the best passing offense in the Mountain West and are seventh in the country with 2,596 yards, which is 324.5 yards per game. • Only two games this season the Spartans haven’t hit 320 or more yards passing. • The Spartans’ most passing yards in a game last year was 325 and the most this season is 375 yards (Washington St., 09/20/24). • SJSU had a season-high 498 yards of offense against Wyoming (10/19/24). This was the most since the Spartans had 531 yards of total offense at New Mexico on Oct. 14, 2023. • 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. • Brown threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns against Kennesaw State (9/14/24). The 355 yards passing were the most for the Spartans since Dec. 20, 2022, when Chevan Cordeiro threw for 366 yards, and the four touchdown passes were the most for the Spartans since Cordeiro against Utah State (11/19/22). • Walker Eget started for the first time in his career against Wyoming (10/19/24) and went 20-for-38 with 318 yards and his first career touchdown. • Jordan Pollard led the Spartans with a career-high 17 tackles against Air Force (9/7/24) on his way to winning his first Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week award (9/9/24). • Pollard’s 17 tackles in the game are the eighth most in a game this season. • Pollard has 73 total tackles this season, which is good for third in the Mountain West and 22nd in the nation. • Pollard also had his first career carry at Wash. State (9/20/24) thanks to a fake punt as he ran nine yards for the first down. • Niumatalolo won his first game at SJSU with a 42-24 win over Sac. State (8/29/24), and he is the first SJSU head coach to win his SJSU debut since Ron Caragher in 2013, also against Sac State and one of three to win their first game at SJSU this century. • Niumatalolo’s 42 points scored in the win over Sac. State (8/29/24) were the most for an SJSU head coach in their debut since Jack Elway had 48 in a tie against Utah State on Sept. 8, 1979. • Soane Toia continues to be one of the top-graded defensive tackles in the country by PFF with a 77.7 grade and he was named to their week two college football team of the week. • DJ Harvey had an 85-yard fumble return for his first career touchdown, his first ever fumble recovery, his first career sack, plus his second career interception with seven tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss against Colorado St. (10/12/24). • Harvey is the 33rd-ranked cornerback in the country according to PFF with an 82.2 grade. • Rocket Rahimi picked off his fourth pass of the season at Fresno State (10/26/24) and is second in the Mountain West and fifth in the nation. • Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Derrick Odum is one of two coaches to stay on staff (Wide Receivers Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Kevin McGiven). Odum is going into his eighth season as defensive coordinator at SJSU which is the fourth longest stint for an FBS defensive coordinator currently in the country behind Iowa’s Phil Parker (13), Iowa State’s Jon Heacock (9), and Utah’s Morgan Scalley (9). Odum is the only one with two different head coaches. • Odum was named the MW coordinator of the week by 247 Sports following the Spartans first ever win at Air Force (9/7/24) while holding the Falcons offense to 197 yards, one touchdown; and only 54 passing yards. • The Spartans have 54 tackles for loss which is good for third in the Mountain West and 25th in the nation. • Kicker Kyler Halvorsen has made 67 extra points in a row which is an SJSU record. • The Spartans recovered a successful onside kick at Washington State (9/20/24). Last season the Spartans recovered three onside kicks. • SJSU’s tight ends have combined for 36 catches and three touchdowns with 368 yards receiving. • The Spartans have three Friday games this season which is the most for the Spartans since 2013, ironically they also ended the regular season with Friday home games on Nov. 22 and Nov. 29. On 11/22/13 the Spartans hosted Ken Niumatalolo and Navy at CEFCU Stadium. • Eleven of the Spartans’ 12 regular season games will be on national television including their second season in a row hosting a CBS nationally televised game. It’s the most nationally televised regular season games for the Spartans since 2021. • The last time the Spartans had three home games to finish the season was in 1979. • Redshirt senior wide receiver Justin Lockhart was named to the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list earlier this offseason. Lockhart didn’t play in 2023 due to an injury and in 2022 he had 36 receptions for 578 yards and a touchdown in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl which was the top play on SportCenter that evening. Lockhart scored his first touchdown of the 2024 season against Sac State (8/29/24). • SJSU is the only school in the Mountain West Conference playing both Oregon State and Washington State on the road. Boise State is playing both but at home. • From the 2023 season, only two players return who scored offensive touchdowns last season (Nash, Malikhi Miller). SJSU also returns two players who scored special teams touchdowns a season ago (Matthew Coleman, Justin Stearns). Defensively, the Spartans return one player who scored a touchdown last season (Michael Dansby). Miller hasn’t played in a game this season for the Spartans. • The Spartans have 49 new players this season, which ranks 30th in FBS football. Included in the 49 new players are 30 transfers which ranks 14th most in FBS football. • The Spartans have 52 returning players which puts them only behind North Texas (46) and Colorado (51) for the fewest returning players in FBS football. • SJSU has only 14 players in their final year of eligibility which is tied for third with Iowa State in the country behind Troy (12) and Illinois (12). • Out of the 14 players in their final year of eligibility, only four played their entire career at SJSU. Only Troy (0), SDSU (1), Colorado (1), ODU (3), and Colorado (3) have less. • The Spartans have 101 players on the roster this season which is near the lowest in FBS, last season it was 106. • SJSU had 28 players jump in the transfer portal with half of them ending up at FBS schools and eight going to power four schools. • The Spartans played a very competitive MW schedule last season by playing the teams who finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th & 8th in the conference. The Spartans finished second. This season the Spartans play the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 12th place ranked teams in the MW preseason poll plus Washington State and Oregon State on the road. • SJSU rushed for 200 plus yards in four straight games for the first time since 2000 prior to SDSU (11/18/23) and ran for 200 or more yards six times in 2023 which was the most since 2000 as well. The Spartans have gone 13-0 when rushing over 200 yards since 2017.
• Nash led the Spartans last season with 48 receptions for 728 yards and eight touchdowns. No other wide receiver had more than one touchdown last season and the closest to catches was 26 with 347 yards. • Nash is going into his sixth season at SJSU as he started his career as a quarterback here. Even though he was part of the 2019 class, Nash is 25 years old and isn’t even in the top 18 oldest players in college football. The oldest player in college football is Luke Larsen at ECU who is 32 yards old and born on 7/18/92. • Last season was the first time since 1986-87 the Spartans had been to back-to-back bowl games. • Nash earned his first Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week honors following his three touchdown performance against No. 6 USC (8/26/23) and his second touchdown was the No. 2 play on SportsCenter. • The Spartans’ worst loss last season was to Boise State who went 8-6 (.571). Four of the Spartans’ six losses a year ago were either to teams who won their conference championship game or were in the Pac-12. • In January of 2024, Beca Perez became the first female Director of Player Personnel in SJSU history. She is one of two female DPP’s currently in FBS college football (Zaire Turner – Notre Dame). • Perez started her football career at SJSU as student assistant in 2018 and graduated from SJSU in 2020. Perez also spent time at Army (2022) and most recently at Stanford (2023), where she worked for a year as the Assistant Director of Recruiting for Stanford football. • In 2021, Perez was the recipient of the Women’s Sports Foundation Scott Pioli & Family Fund for Women Football Coaches and Scouts. This is given annually to female football coaches and scouts to defy the gender gap and support their development, education, and training. • Last season, the Spartans had the 14th best pass defense in the nation and best pass defense in the MW averaging just 183.0 yards per game. Against Sac State (8/29/24) the Spartans had six pass breakups. • Last season was the first time the Spartans had ever hosted two ranked teams in the same season and the first since 2018 they had played three ranked teams in the same season. • Redshirt sophomore Matthew Coleman returned his first career punt for a 75-yard touchdown against Cal Poly (9/9/23). Coleman was named MW Freshman of the Week and it was the first punt return TD for the Spartans since Tre Jenkins took one back against Utah State on Nov. 10, 2018. • In 2023, it was the first time the Spartans have had seven or more wins in back-to-back seasons since 1987 and in three of four seasons since 1982. • Since 2020, the Spartans have gone 31-22 (24-12 in conference). From 2020-23, it was the best four year span for the Spartans since winning 26 games from 2012-15. • The Spartans have five Polynesian coaches on their 2024 staff. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann, offensive line coach John Estes, inside linebackers coach Bojay Filimoeatu, defensive line coach Al Lapuaho and senior offensive analyst Billy Ray Stutzmann. • Estes, Filimoeatu and Lapuaho all spent time in the NFL as players. Craig Stutzmann played in the CFL. • Estes played with Hawai’i great Colt Brennan during his collegiate career. Niumatalolo and both Stutzmann brothers also played at Hawai’i. • Offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Craig Stutzmann comes from Texas State where he was one of six finalists for FootballScoop’s National Wide Receivers Coach of the Year last season running his “Spread-and-Shred” offense. Stutzmann also served as a member of the Green Bay Packers Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program in the summer of 2022. • Tight ends coach/run game coordinator Mike Judge comes from the Miami Dolphins where he was an offensive assistant since 2019. Judge started his career under Bill Belichick in 2005 with the New England Patriots. • Cornerbacks coach Greg Burns joins the Spartans from UCLA where he was on the coaching staff since 2021 as a defensive analyst. Burns has been a defensive backs coach for over 20 years, including recent duties on staff at not only UCLA, but Oregon State in 2018, USC in 2019 and in 2020 at Arizona. Burns’ brother, Dexter, played football at SJSU in the 1990’s.
Oregon State Beavers Notes
Game Notes
• Oregon State returns to the field Saturday when the Beavers start the month of November by hosting San José State at Reser Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m. PT. • The game will air live on The CW. JB Long (play-by-play), Michael Bumpus (analyst) and Heidi Watney (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 teams are meeting for the eighth time, and fifth in Corvallis. OSU has won five straight, including a 42-17 victory at CEFCU Stadium last season.
Oregon State By The Numbers
3 – Oregon State’s turnover margin of plus-3 in its four wins this season. The Beavers have a negative-six turnover margin in their four losses.
11 – Punts of 50-plus yards for Josh Green, who is credited with just 23 attempts on the season. He has trapped opponents inside their 20 11 times.
13 – Overall touchdowns for Anthony Hankerson, tied for eighth in a single-season at Oregon State.
19 – Home wins for the Beavers over the last 23 games at Reser Stadium.
26 – OSU drives of 10 or more plays this season.
34:31 – Time of possession on average, which is No. 1 nationally. OSU’s best TOP the last 25 seasons was 32:45 in 2005.
216.6 – Average rush yards per game for OSU, ranking the Beavers 12th nationally. Oregon State has scored 24 touchdowns on the ground.
749 – Rush yards for Anthony Hankerson this season. He is aiming for the 19th 1,000-yard season in OSU history.
Against San José State
• Oregon State and San José State are meeting for the eighth time and fifth in Corvallis. • OSU is 5-2 all-time in the series, carrying a five-game win streak into Saturday’s matchup. Three of those five wins came in Corvallis, including the last meeting, a 35-21 victory in 2015. • The Spartans won the first game between the two, 24-14, in 1979 but later forfeited the matchup. • OSU led 21-3 at halftime in last season’s 42-17 win at CEFCU Stadium. The Beavers matched that with 21 points in the second half. • OSU limited SJSU to 279 yards of offense in last season’s win. • The Beavers were 35-21 winners in the 2015 matchup at Reser Stadium. Storm Woods ran for 151 yards in that victory and OSU, despite trailing 21-14 at half, posted 21 third-quarter points for the win. It was punctuated with a 41-yard interception return by Caleb Saulo. • Offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson coached at SJSU from 2017-20. He served as the quarterbacks coach during his tenure and was a 2019 Broyles Award nominee. The Spartans ranked fourth nationally in passing in 2019 (338.0) and 19th in 2020 (298.4).
Nevada at 14/12 Boise State* FOX 6 p.m. MT
SERIES HISTORY
Boise State leads the all-time series with the Wolf Pack by a 31-14 margin, although the Wolf Pack captured the last meeting on The Blue. Back on Oct. 2, 2021, Nevada beat the Broncos, 41-31. Saturday, Nevada will go for its third-straight win at Albertsons Stadium, as prior to the 2021 meeting, the Wolf Pack beat Tulane, 38-27, in the 2020 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Nevada Notes
NEVADA HEADS TO BOISE
Nevada makes its first trip to Boise State in three years this weekend, facing the No. 12/14 Broncos Saturday at 5 p.m. PT. Saturday’s contest will be broadcast on FOX, with Devin Gardner (play-by-play), Tim Brando (analyst), and Josh Sims (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 4 p.m. PT.
ABOUT BOISE STATE
Boise State enters the weekend on a six-game winning streak after suffering its only loss of the season in Week 2 at Oregon. The Broncos have steadily climbed the national polls since, coming in at No. 12 (AP) and No. 14 (USA TODAY Coaches Poll) Sunday. Running back Ashton Jeanty leads the country in rushing yards (1,525), rushing touchdowns (20), and rushing yards per game (190.6), as the Bronco offense churns out a national-best 267.9 yards per game. The Broncos also boast the nation’s third-best scoring offense, averaging 45.8 points per game.
PLENTY OF HISTORY BETWEEN THE TWO
The rivalry between Nevada and Boise State encompasses 53 years (the first meeting was in 1971) and four conferences (Big Sky, Big West, WAC, Mountain West). With Saturday’s meeting being the 46th all-time between the schools, it is a little-known fact that this series is the most played in Boise State’s history, and the second-most in Nevada history (Nevada has played Fresno State 56 times). The most famous meeting of the teams came Nov. 26, 2010, in Reno, when No. 19 Nevada overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to beat No. 3 Boise State, 34-31, in overtime. That game featured an incredible 27 future NFL players (14 for Nevada, 13 for Boise State).
BATTLE OF TWO OF THE MW’S TOP QBs
Saturday’s meeting between Nevada and Boise State will feature two of the Mountain West’s most efficient quarterbacks in Brendon Lewis and Maddux Madsen. Heading into Saturday’s contest, Madsen is second in the conference with a 153.9 efficiency rating while Lewis is third at 140.6. Overall, the QBs have combined for 28 passing touchdowns (17 for Madsen, 11 for Lewis), while Lewis, with 660 rushing yards, is a total offense machine at 244.7 yards per game.
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST IN THE RED ZONE
Nevada’s red-zone performance on offense has been a significant turnaround in 2024. On offense, the Wolf Pack has converted 30 of 32 red-zone trips into points, the 93.8-percent rate ranking 11th in the country and second in the Mountain West. Of Nevada’s 32 trips, 27(!) have resulted in touchdowns, an 84.4-percent rate. That rate has, so far, well out-distanced the Pack’s 2023 rate in which it only scored 16 touchdowns on 35 red-zone trips (45.7 percent).
Boise State Notes
UNLV at Hawai‘i* CBSSN 4 p.m. HT
SERIES INFO
• The teams have been playing for the Island Showdown Trophy (nicknamed Ninth Island Trophy) since 2017. • Sponsored by The California Hotel, the trophy includes both a pineapple — a Vegas-style gold pineapple — and a variation of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. • UH leads the overall series 19-14 including a 13-3 advantage in Honolulu. • UH has won three straight in Honolulu and seven of the last eight. • The home team has won 13 of the last 15 match-ups in the series. • The teams have played 17 times in conference play with UH holding a 9-8 advantage (3-2 in WAC and 6-6 in Mountain West). • The series began in 1969.
UNLV Notes
SATURDAY’S PREVIEW…
Following its second bye week of the fall, No. RV/RV UNLV (6-2/2-1) heads to face Hawai’i (4-5/2-2) in the annual Ninth Island Showdown sponsored by The California Hotel … The rare afternoon start on the islands (4 pm HT) for the Rebels will mark the first time a UNLV game at UH will be televised nationally (CBS Sports Network) … The Rebels have won their first four road games in a season for the first time ever and set a school record on Oct. 19 with their sixth-straight away victory at Oregon State … UNLV has only won as many as five road games in a season just one time as the 1984 Rebels went 5-1 away from Las Vegas … UNLV, which made its first-ever appearance in the Coaches Poll on Sept. 15 (reaching as high as No. 23) and then joined the AP version for the first time two weeks later, is again receiving votes in both polls this week … UNLV, which has started 6-2 for the second straight season, won its first four games this fall for the first time since 1984 when Randall Cunningham was playing QB … The 15 wins in 22 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 … The Rebels are 8-2 in true road games under head coach Odom after only winning five total road games in the previous five seasons (5-22) … All-American WR Ricky White III leads the nation with his school-record three blocked kicks this season (all punts) … UNLV is tied for fourth in the nation in turnover margin at plus-11 as the Rebel defense has forced at least one turnover in 20 of 22 games under DC Michael Scherer … The Rebels have scored an eye-popping 74 total points off turnovers while allowing just 14 such points from opponents.
REBELS vs. RAINBOW WARRIORS NOTES…
Hawai’i leads the overall series 19-14 but the Rebels have won 11 of the last 20 meetings, including last year’s meeting in Las Vegas, 44-20 … Amazingly, the home team has won this matchup in 13 of the last 15 years with only the UNLV 2016 win in Honolulu and the UH 2019 win in Las Vegas bucking the trend … Six of the last 11 games have been decided by one score … Among FBS teams, only UNR is as old a Rebel rival as Hawai’i — both schools first played UNLV in 1969, which was just the second year of the Rebel program … UNLV has four players who graduated from Aloha State high schools: QB Cameron Friel (Kailua HS), LB Blesyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu (Campbell HS) and DBs Rashod Tanner (Moanalua HS) and Kela Moore (Ewa Beach HS) … UH head coach Timmy Chang faced UNLV twice as a record-setting QB for the Warriors, throwing for a combined 716 yards but losing both times to the Rebels (2000 and 2003) … UNLV DL coach Ricky Logo was an assistant coaching the same position at UH from 2018-19.
MORE REBELATIONS…
The Rebels are 14-1 under Barry Odom when leading after the third quarter … Three-time 2024 MW Defensive Player of the Week Jackson Woodard is currently fourth in the nation with 1.5 passes defended per game after posting an eye-popping total of five at USU (2 INT, 3 PBU) … UNLV is posting a historic season on the scoreboard as its 41.1 points-per-game average ranks fifth in the nation and represents the highest number during any eight-game stretch in program history … 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 12 times in 22 games and their three games scoring at least 50 points this season is only matched by the 1974 and 1980 squads … Saturday’s game will feature the top two scoring defenses in the MW as Hawaii (22.0) ranks first with UNLV (23.4) right behind … The 41 points UNLV scored in the first half at USU on Oct. 11 were the most scored in any half by the Rebels vs. an FBS opponent … The 59 points scored vs. Fresno State on Sept. 28 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 its opponents to less than 7 0 yards rushing, UNLV sits first in the M W and 29th nationally with 114.5 yards allowed per outing … UNLV also leads the league in pass efficiency and sits second in pass efficiency defense … Since UNLV’s change at QB, WR Ricky White III has 41 receptions for 545 yards and six TDs in the last five games and has gone for at least 100 yards in nine of his last 13 regular-season games … After bringing in eight in the last five games, the Rebs are tied for seventh in the FBS with 13 team interceptions. In fact, since the beginning of 2022, UNLV’s defense has 45 interceptions, which is the most in the FBS during that span (Oklahoma is second with 43) … With the win at Oregon State, the Rebels earned three victories over “A5” opponents in the same season for the first time … 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 … Rookie booter and two-time MW Special Teams Player of the Week Caden Chittenden already shattered the school record for field goals in a season by a freshman as his 18-of-21 numbers show him leading the nation with 2.25 field goals per game … 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 Purvis sprinted 98 yards to the end zone vs. CSU 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 44.8 this season, which would rank 20th in the nation if he had enough attempts to qualify for the NCAA stats. Nichols’ career average of 44.2 ranks fifth in conference history.
Hawai‘i Notes
GAME STORYLINES
• At stake this week is the Island Showdown Trophy which UNLV currently owns possession after a 44-20 victory last season in Las Vegas, Nev. 4 The Island Showdown Trophy, which was created in 2017, is one of four rivalry trophies that UH plays for against Mountain West opponents. Hawai‘i owns possession of only one of those trophies — Kuter Trophy (vs. Air Force). • The teams will meet for the 34th time in a series that began in 1969. UH leads the all-time series, 19-14. • The teams have played every year since 2009. • The home team has won 13 of the last 15 match-ups in the series. 4 In games played in Honolulu, UH holds a 13-3 advantage, having won the last three match-ups and seven of the last eight. 4 The teams have played 17 times in conference play with UH holding a 9-8 advantage (3-2 in WAC and 6-6 in Mountain West). • UH (4-5, 2-2 MW) notched its second straight win after a 21-20 come-from-behind victory at Fresno State last Saturday in Fresno. Hawai‘i overcame a 20-7 deficit and scored the winning touchdown with 15 seconds left on Nick Cenacle’s 3-yard catch from Brayden Schager. • UNLV (6-2, 2-1) was idle last week and last played on Oct. 25, falling to Boise State, 29-24 in Las Vegas. The Rebels’ two losses this season have been by a combined eight points. • UH is 3-2 at home this season while UNLV is 4-0 on the road. • UH defensive back Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen and defensive lineman Anthony Sagapolutele, both began their collegiate careers at UNLV. Mendiola-Jensen played two seasons (2021-22) while Sagapolutele played one season (2021). • UNLV offensive coordinator Brennan Marion was UH’s wide receivers coach in 2020. • UH has allowed an average of 15.6 points in five home games this season. Hawai‘i leads the Mountain West in scoring defense (22.0 ppg) and ranks second in total defense (333.0 ypg). UNLV ranks No. 2 in the MW and No. 5 nationally in scoring offense (41.1) and No. 2 in the MW and No. 6 nationally in rushing offense (243.5).
TEAM NOTES
• Under head coach Timmy Chang, UH is 0-14 when scoring 17 points or fewer compared to 12-9 when scoring more than 17 points. • UH enjoyed its largest margin of victory in 3+ seasons at Ching Complex and its largest under Timmy Chang with its 29-point win over Northern Iowa, Sept. 21. • The 21-point win over Nevada was the largest at home over a Mountain West opponent since moving into the Ching Complex in 2021. • UH has won its last 22 games against FCS teams dating back to 2001 including wins over Delaware State and Northern Iowa this season. The average winning margin victory during the streak is 25.8 points per game. • UH had its most penalties and fewest penalties on the road this season, committing a season-high 14 penalties for 122 yards in a loss to Sam Houston (the most by a Hawai‘i team since 2004) and had a season-low four penalties for 30 yards at Washington State.
HAWAI‘I IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Hawai‘i is playing its 13th season in the Mountain West in 2024. 4 UH is 33-67 (.330) all-time in the MW — 19-32 (.373) at home and 14-35 (.286) on the road. • Hawai‘i has appeared in one Mountain West Championship game during the 2019 season.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
• The 2024 season marks UH’s fourth home season at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex, which has a seating capacity of 15,194. • UH is scheduled to move into the new Aloha Stadium in 2028. The old Aloha Stadium served as Hawai‘i’s home stadium from 1975-2020. • UH has a 14-11 (.560) all-time record in Ching Complex. Hawai‘i went 4-2 in its inaugural season of 2021; finished 3-4 in 2022; were 4-3 last season; and are 3-2 this season. • Under head coach Timmy Chang, UH is 10-9 at home, including 5-5 in conference games.
OFFENSE NOTES
• UH has surrendered a combined 22 sacks in the last five contests. The eight sacks by Boise State were the most UH allowed since surrendering nine versus Louisiana Tech in the 2018 Hawai‘i Bowl. • UH is tied for No. 126 in sacks allowed per game (3.33). • The 36 points scored against Northern Iowa is the most UH has scored under Timmy Chang, exceeding the 35 points scored in the season opener versus Delaware State. • UH’s 528 yards of total offense against UNI was its second-most under Chang, only exceeded by its 541 yards versus Utah State in 2022. • Hawai‘i rushed for 242 yards against Nevada which was the most in three seasons under Chang, exceeding the previous high of 235 yards against Utah State in 2022.
Fresno State at Air Force* FS1 7:45 p.m. MT
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: 3-7-0
In Fresno: 2-3-0
In Colorado: 1-3-0
Neutral: 0-1-0
Streak: AFA +3
Last Meeting: AFA def. FS 43-24 in Colorado on Oct. 12, 2019
Last FS Win: Nov. 24, 2012 at home (48-15)
Fresno State Notes
SETTING THE STAGE
• Fresno State will play its final Mountain West road test this weekend at Air Force. • The loss to Hawai’i last weekend snapped the Bulldogs’ mini winning streak at two games, which came after a two-game losing skid. • Fresno State will look for its first win against Air Force since 2012. • Fresno State looks for its first win on the road against Air Force since 1997. • Current Fresno State interim head coach Tim Skipper was a freshman on that 1997 team. Jethro Frankin, J.D. WIlliams, Kevin Coyle and John Baxter were all on staff during that 1997 win. • This contest will feature two head coaches that are coaching at their respective alma maters. • As Mountain West opponents, Fresno State is just 1-3 against Air Force. • Fresno State has a bye week following Saturday’s game, its second bye week of the season after five games in a row. • With a win on Saturday, Fresno State would become bowl eligible for the fourth straight season. • The Bulldogs have won their last five bowl games, an active streak that is third in the nation behind Georgia and Minnesota with seven each. • Skipper would be the fourth first-year head coach to lead the Bulldogs to a bowl game, joining Alvin Pierson (1945), Tim DeRuyter (2012) and Jeff Tedford (2017). Tedford is the only one to have led the team to a victory, defeating Houston in the Hawaii Bowl that season. That win by Tedford and Co. sparked the Bulldogs’ current bowl game winning streak. • Junior linebacker Phoenix Jackson was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Hawai’i. • Jackson is the fifth Bulldog to earn a player of the week nod this season. • The highlight play of the night for Jackson was his 89-yard interception return for a touchdown. It was his first interception of the season (second of his career), and the first pick-6 for the Bulldogs since 2022. • Fresno State’s defense has 13 total interceptions so far this season. The 13 picks are from seven different players. • Fresno State will be without CB Cam Lockridge for the first half of the Air Force game. Lockridge was ejected for a targeting call in the second half against Hawai’i. • Fresno State’s offense produced only 176 yards of total offense against Hawaii. It was the first time the Bulldgos were held to fewer than 200 yards of total offense since a 19-14 loss at UConn on Oct. 1, 2022 when Fresno State had 187 total yards of offense. • The 176 yards of total offense were the fewest for Fresno State since it had 89 total yards in a loss at San Diego State on Oct. 4, 2015. • Fresno State saw action against Hawaii from offensive lineman Jacob Spomer who had been out for nearly a full calendar year with injury. The Bulldogs’ offensive line has seen six different starting lineup rotations in nine games played this season. • Fresno State QB Mikey Keene had his third game without an interception this season, completing 80.6 percent of his pass attempts against Hawai’i.
DEEP DIVE
• Fresno State and Air Force will meet for the first time since 2019 on Saturday. • Fresno State and Air Force will be meeting for the 11th time in program history • Air Force currently leads the series after compiling a 7-3 record all time against Fresno State • The Bulldogs are 1-3 all time on the road against Air Force, and their only win in Colorado Springs came on October 18, 1997 where they defeated the Falcons 20-17 • In their last meeting on October 12, 2019, the Bulldogs lost to the Falcons on the road in Colorado Springs by a final score of 43-24. • After the Bulldogs joined the Mountain West in 2012, they have played four conference games against Air Force, and they are 1-3 in those previous matchups • Coming into this meeting, Air Force is currently riding a three game winning streak against Fresno State • Within the previous ten matchups between the two teams, Fresno State has given up over 30 points to Air Force in seven of those previous contests • Fresno State is averaging 26 points a game against Air Force in the series, while Air Force is averaging 32.2 points a game in the series • Fresno State’s largest margin of victory over Air Force came in their last victory against them on November 24, 2012 where they defeated the Falcons at home by a final score of 48-15. The win in 2012 secured Fresno State a portion of the MW title, in its first season in the league. • Air Force currently sits at the bottom of the Mountain West standings after losing their first four conference games against San Jose State, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado State. • Air Force enters this contest with a 1-3 record at home after defeating Merrimack and losing to San Jose State, Navy, and Colorado State • Prior to this matchup, Air Force lost to their rival #21 Army on the road by a final score of 20-3
Air Force Notes
THE GAME
• Air Force football is honoring Air Force Special Operations Command with the 2024 edition of the Air Power Legacy Series uniform, which the team will wear this week vs. Fresno State. The Falcons debuted the uniform for the Navy game earlier this season. Please turn to page 15 for more information/photos. • Air Force and Fresno State are meeting for the 11th time overall, 10th as conference foes. The Falcons lead the overall series, 7-3, including a 6-3 mark in conference games. Air Force is 3-1 at home, 3-2 at Fresno and 1-0 in neutral site games. • Falcon Stadium has the second-highest elevation (6,621 ft) among FBS programs, trailing only Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium, which is at 7,220 ft.
AIR FORCE AT HOME
• Air Force is 77-28 in Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun. • Air Force had a school-record 15-game winning streak from 2014 to Oct. 22, 2016. • Air Force went 20-4 at home from 2014-17, posting the most wins in a four-year span, breaking the record of 19 set from 1982-85 and 1998-2001 when the program went 19-4. • Air Force set a record for the best three-year run from 2014-16 with a 17-1 record, breaking the mark of 15-2 from 1983-85. • The Falcons have finished undefeated at home six times overall in school history, four coming under Calhoun.
AIR IS RARE
• Falcon Stadium has the second-highest elevation (6,621 ft) among FBS programs, trailing only Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium, which is at 7,220 ft. • Four of the top five elevations belong to Mountain West schools. The MW also has the largest gap among FBS programs, as Hawaii’s T.C. Ching Complex sets at just 18 ft. San Diego State’s Snapdragon Stadium is just 46 ft, and San Jose State’s CEFCU Stadium is at 82 ft.
SEASON NOTES
• The attendance of 39,441 for the Navy game was a sellout, which is the first at Air Force since 2011 vs. Army (46,709). The sellout is the first against Navy since 2010 (47,565). The mark was the highest in the MW in week six. • Air Force improved to 28-0 all-time vs. teams from the Football Championship Division with the season-opening win over Merrimack. Head Coach Troy Calhoun improved to 18-0 all-time vs. FCS teams. • Air Force improved to 48-19-2 in season openers, including a 42-8 mark at home. The Falcons have won 18 straight and 19 of the last 21 with the only losses coming at No. 11 Tennessee in 2006 and No. 13 California in 2004. Air Force has won 19 of the last 20 season openers at home. • Air Force has an 18-game winning streak in season openers is the third-best active streak in the nation, trailing only Ohio State (25) and Alabama (23). • Air Force improved to 12-0 all-time in the month of August with the Merrimack win. Head coach Troy Calhoun improved to 4-0 in August.
Utah State Aggies vs Washington State Cougars
AGGIES AND COUGARS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State and Washington State will be meeting for the fifth time this weekend as the series is tied 2-2. USU has won the last two games against WSU with a 26-23 road win on Sept. 4, 2021, and a 34-14 neutral field win in Spokane on Sept. 30, 1961. Washington State won the first two games in the series with a 33-0 home win in 1949 and a 46-6 road win in 1950.
Utah State Aggies Notes
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (2-6, 1-3 MW) plays its final non-conference game of the season at future Pac-12 opponent and 20th-ranked Washington State (7-1, 0-0 Pac-12) on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 8:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised on The CW (Xfinity Ch. 15/656HD, DISH Ch. 17, DirecTV Ch. 42) with Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (analyst) and Nigel Burton (reporter) on the call. • Utah State is 4-4 in its last eight road games and has scored at least 27 points in each of those four road wins. Over the last four years, USU is 13-10 (.565) in road games. • Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 10th in the nation in passing offense (300.9 yards per game) and third in the MW and 13th in the nation in total offense (458.0 ypg). • Graduate QB Spencer Petras is first in the Mountain West and fourth in the nation in completions (26.83 per game), first in the MW and eighth in the nation in passing yards (304.2 per game), second in the MW and 11th in the nation in total offense (308.8 yards per game), and fourth in the MW and 45th in the nation with 13 touchdown passes, which is a career high. Petras is also just five completions and 56 passing yards shy of setting career highs in both of those categories. • Graduate QB Spencer Petras has one 400-yard passing game and three 300-yard passing games this year, both of which are the most by any quarterback in the Mountain West. • Utah State is 6-69 all-time against Associated Press-ranked teams, but has won five of its last 20 games, including its 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State in the 2021 Mountain West Championship game, which was its last win against an AP top-25 team. The highest-ranked team USU has ever defeated was at No. 18 BYU (35-20) in 2014. • Utah State is playing a nationally ranked team for the fourth time this season as it lost at No. 13 USC (48-0), lost at home to No. 12 Utah (38-21) and lost at No. 21 Boise State (62-30). It is the third time in school history that USU has played four nationally ranked teams in the same season along with the 2001 and 2008 campaigns.
SCOUTING WASHINGTON STATE
• No. 20 Washington State is 7-1 on the season following its 29-26 win at San Diego State two weekends ago. The Cougars are led by junior QB John Mateer, who is 148-of-242 (.612) passing for 2,153 yards (269.1 ypg) with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. Mateer also leads the team in rushing with 575 yards on 124 carries (4.6 ypc/71.9 ypg) and 10 touchdowns. And junior WR Kris Hutson has caught 40 passes for 522 yards (13.1 ypr/65.3 ypg) and two touchdowns. Defensively, senior LB Kyle Thornton has a team-best 46 tackles, which includes 5.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Washington State is averaging 38.1 points and 448.4 yards of total offense per game (168.4 rushing, 280.0 passing) and allowing 26.9 points and 424.4 yards of total offense (154.1 rushing, 270.3 passing). Washington State returns 10 starters (O-6, D-4) and 35 lettermen (O-16, D-17, S-2) from last year’s team that went 5-7 overall and finished tied for ninth in the Pac-12 with a 2-7 record. Jake Dickert is in his fourth season as a collegiate head coach at Washington State and has a 22-17 record.
UTAH STATE AGAINST THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE
• Utah State is 3-5 (.375) all-time against current members of the Pac-12 Conference as it is 2-2 against Washington State and 1-3 against Oregon State, and winning each of its last two games, both of which came during the 2021 season.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is 19-7 (.731) in games played during the month of November over the last seven seasons, and 9-7-1 (.559) all-time in known games played on Nov. 9
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 181-199-8 (.476) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 41-28-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 38-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 20-21-1 record vs. San José State, an 18-9 record vs. UNLV, a 17-14 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 53-37 (.589) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 28-18 (.609) record in home games and a 25-19 (.568) record in road games. • Utah State (53-37) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (77-17) has the best record and San Diego State (62- 29) has the second-best record.
Washington State Cougars Notes
NO. 20 COUGARS RETURN TO GESA FIELD TO HOST UTAH STATE SATURDAY NIGHT
No. 20 Washington State returns to Gesa Field to host Utah State Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on The CW.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State enters the week ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press Top-25, with a 7-1 record for the first time since 2018 and bowl eligible for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. The Cougars own the nation’s No. 12 scoring offense (38.1) while the defense is No. 26 in the country with 15 takeaways. matching their 2023 total. Quarterback John Mateer is fourth in the country in total offense (341.0), No. 17 in passing touchdowns (16) and cornerback Ethan O’Connor is tied for No. 18 in the country with three interceptions. Head coach Jake Dickert owns a 22-17 career record and is in his third full season.
COUGAR QUICK GAME
TEAM
• WSU is 7-1 for the 1st time since 2018, has won five straight games at Gesa Field, seeking first 8-1 start since 2018 • WSU is bowl eligible for the third time under Jake Dickert and for the eighth time in last nine full seasons • WSU owns 3 fourth-quarter comeback wins this season (San Jose State, at Fresno State, at San Diego State) • WSU owns 7 100-yard rushing games this season, had 4 last season, 6 in 2022 and 7 in 2021 • WSU’s 2024 roster features 49 newcomers including 15 transfers with 13 from four-year schools • Jake Dickert and Bill Doba (2003-07) are the only WSU HC with 2 Apple Cup wins in 1st 4 seasons since 1960’s
MOUNTAIN WEST NOTES
• Ten Mountain West teams take the field in Week 11, with San Diego State hosting New Mexico on Friday to kick things off. No. 14/12 Boise State hosts Nevada on FOX on Saturday, while Utah State visits No. 20/20 Washington State in nonconference action. Hawai‘i welcomes UNLV, Fresno State visits Air Force and San José State heads to Oregon State to round out the schedule. • Boise State is ranked for the seventh straight week, sitting at No. 12 in the Associated Press poll and No. 14 into the US LBM Coaches (AFCA) poll. UNLV is receiving votes in both polls. • With Boise State, Colorado State and UNLV already bowl eligible, two more MW teams can join them in Week 11, as Fresno State and San José State are both sitting on five wins. • 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 11 one-possession games against A4 opponents this season, with four of those games settled in overtime or on the final play of regulation. • Since 2018, the MW has the best winning percentage over Autonomous 5 teams (27.20) among its peer conferences. MW teams have collected 34 wins over such teams in that span, also the most among its peer conferences. • 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. • Mountain West squads have a total of 21 nonconference games this season against teams that have been ranked or receiving votes at the time of the game or future opponents who or are currently ranked or receiving votes in the US LBM (AFCA) and/or AP top-25 polls, including eight at home.
MOUNTAIN WEST NOTES
MW OWNS THE RUN GAME
Jeanty’s rushing prowess has been well-documented, but the Mountain West on the whole has dominated the run game across the FBS this season. Three MW squads are in the top 10 in the FBS in rushing, led by Boise State at fourth with 267.9 yards per game. UNLV is sixth at 243.5 per contest and New Mexico is eighth at 230.9. Together, MW teams are averaging a combined 168.6 rushing yards per game this season, the most by any FBS conference with more than two teams. Colorado State is averaging 180.7 rushing yards per game this season compared to 92.8 per game in 2023, the sixth-largest increase by any FBS team and largest by any MW team. The Rams have also gone from 10 rushing touchdowns last season to 15 already in 2024. There have been 18 200-yard individual rushing efforts this season, and six of them have come from MW players, including three by Jeanty. No other league has produced more than two. Against Wyoming in Week 10, New Mexico’s Devon Dampier (207) and Eli Sanders (205) became the first FBS QB/RB teammate duo to each have 200-plus rushing yards and multiple rushing touchdowns in the same game since West Virginia’s Pat White and Steve Slaton in November 2006 at Pitt.
BRONCOS DOMINANT ON THE BLUE
Boise State has won all four of its home games this season by at least 20 points, the longest active streak in the FBS. The last MW team to win each of its first five home games by 20-plus points was TCU in 2010, who finished that season 13-0.
ROAD REBS
UNLV has won a school-record six straight road games dating back to last season. The Rebels are 4-0 on the road this year and have outscored their opponents 133- 86 in those contests. UNLV visits Hawai‘i in Week 11.
UNLV 3-1 AGAINST A4 COMPETITION
UNLV has beaten Big 12 teams Houston (27-7) and Kansas (23-20) this season, becoming the first nonconference team ever to have multiple road wins against Big 12 competition in the same season. UNLV’s 27-7 win at Houston in Week 1 was the largest for a MW school against a Big 12 opponent since Utah’s 68-27 win at Iowa State in 2010. Those are the only two times a Mountain West team has won a road game against a Big 12 school by 20-plus points. The Rebels fell in overtime to Syracuse in Week 6 before beating Oregon State in Week 8, 33-25.
NASH RECEIVING PRAISE
This season, San José State receiver Nick Nash leads all FBS players in receptions (80), receptions per game (10.0) and receiving touchdowns (12) and is second in receiving yards (995) and receiving yards per game (124.4). Nash has a receiving TD in eight consecutive games, the longest active streak in the FBS and tied for the third-longest in MW history. It’s also the longest such streak to start a season in MW history. Nash is the first Mountain West player to have at least 10 receiving touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in a season. Nash has an FBS-best seven games this season recording at least 90 yards and had at least seven receptions in each of those seven games. The last MW player to have more games with 90-plus receiving yards and seven-plus catches in a single season than Nash was Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins in 2014 (nine).
SACK CENTRAL
Boise State leads the FBS in sacks with 4.75 per game, while San Diego State is fourth at 3.63. Of the 12 FBS teams this season with multiple games having at least six sacks, three play in the MW in Boise State, San Diego State and UNLV, with the Broncos sharing the national lead with Duke and Ole Miss with three such games. The Aztecs’ Trey White continues to lead the FBS this season in sacks per game (1.44), tackles for loss (16.5) and TFLs per game (2.1).
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
San José State (14) is third and Fresno State (13) and UNLV (13) are seventh in the FBS in passes intercepted, with the Spartans ranking third with 19 turnovers gained and the Bulldogs ranking sixth with 18. UNLV ranks fourth in turnover margin at 1.38. Boise State has four turnovers this season, with only Army (one) having fewer among FBS teams. Dating back to last season, Boise State has gone nine straight games without having multiple TOs and UNLV has gone eight straight. Only Clemson (10 games) has a longer active streak than BSU’s. Fresno State’s Cam Lockridge is tied for second in the FBS with five interceptions, while Nevada’s Michael Coats Jr., SJSU’s Robert Rahimi and UNLV’s Jalen Catalon and Jackson Woodard are tied for fifth with four INTs apiece. Boise State’s Andrew Simpson, Fresno State’s Korey Foreman, SDSU’s Chris Johnson and Utah State’s DJ Graham II are tied for seventh with three forced fumbles each.
MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MADDUX MADSEN, BOISE STATE Sophomore, Quarterback American Fork, Utah/American Fork HS
• Was 24-for-32 for 307 yards and four touchdowns in Boise State’s 56-24 win over San Diego State. • Set career-highs in completions, yards and touchdowns. • Added 25 rushing yards on four attempts for a career-best 332 yards of total offense. • Guided the Bronco offense to 34 first downs, the seventh-most in the program’s FBS era, and 541 yards of total offense. • Was 10-for-14 for 164 yards and four TDs on throws of 10-plus yards
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
PHOENIX JACKSON, FRESNO STATE Junior, Linebacker Modesto, Calif./Central Catholic HS
• Stuffed the stat sheet in Fresno State’s 21-20 loss to Hawai‘i, recording a team-best nine tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and an interception return for a touchdown. • The two TFLs tied his career high and went for five lost yards. • Had his first interception of the season in the third quarter, returning it 89 yards for a score with 3:58 left in the frame. • Recorded the first forced fumble of his career in the fourth quarter, which Fresno State recovered for the first multi-takeaway game of his career.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JORDAN NOYES, COLORADO STATE Graduate, Kicker Dartford, Kent, England/Gad’s Hill/Utah
• Scored 12 points in Colorado State’s 38-21 win at Nevada, connecting on all three of his field-goal attempts and converting three extra points. • Nailed a career-long 60-yard field goal with just over five minutes to play in the second quarter. It was the second-longest field goal in MW history, tied for the second-longest in program history and the longest ever at Mackay Stadium. It was also tied for the second-longest field goal in the FBS this season. • Also hit from 21 and 35 yards. • Coupled with a 58-yard make earlier this season, he’s now the only CSU kicker with multiple kicks of 58 yards or more in a season and now has two of the four longest makes in MW history. • Helped the Rams become bowl eligible for the first time since 2017.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
KADEN ANDERSON, WYOMING Redshirt Freshman, Quarterback Southlake, Texas/Southlake Carroll
• Making his first career start, threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, both career-bests, in Wyoming’s 49-45 win at New Mexico. • Completed 20 of his 29 pass attempts. • Added a rushing score for four total TDs. • His 342 yards were the most for a Wyoming freshman in the program’s MW era and the most by any Cowboy QB since 2015. • Paced the Cowboys to 49 points and 604 yards of total offense, both of which were the most for Wyoming since the 2021 season.
