CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
UNLV REBELS vs BOISE STATE BRONCOS
REBELS vs. BRONCOS NOTES…
This will mark the first time these teams play in Boise since 2016 … BSU’s five-point win over UNLV in Las Vegas on Oct. 25 gave it a 10-3 lead in the overall series and the Rebs are looking for their first win over the Broncos since America’s Bicentennial … The two schools played for six straight seasons in the 1970s but ended the series when UNLV, which was a football independent, moved up to D-I status in 1978 … In a unique twist, these schools share a former head coach who left each side as the all-time winningest for both programs. Tony Knap, who died in 2011 at the age of 96, was 47-20-2 over six seasons at UNLV after leaving BSU, where he was 71-19-1 from 1968-75 (Chris Petersen passed Knap for wins in 2011).
SERIES BREAKDOWN
BSU LEADS 10-3
UNLV at BSU RECORD: 0-5
BSU at UNLV RECORD: 5-3
UNLV’s LARGEST WIN: 5 (1973 & ‘76)
BSU’s LARGEST WIN: 31 (45-14 in 1977)
UNLV REBELS NOTES
FRIDAY’S PREVIEW…
No. 19/19 UNLV (10-2/6-1), which just reached double-digit wins for only the third time in program history (1974, 1984), travels to face No. 10/10 Boise State (11-1/7-0) in the 2024 Old Trapper Mountain West Championship Friday night on FOX … The game will be a rematch of last year’s title tilt held in Las Vegas as head coach Barry Odom has directed his team to back-to-back championship games after the program had zero such appearances prior to his arrival … UNLV comes in riding its second four-game win streak of the season after a 38-14 victory over in-state rival UNR in the 50th Battle for the Fremont Cannon … After moving up two spots to a program-record No. 19 in the AP and Coaches polls on Sunday, the Rebels await Tuesday’s new listing in the CFP Committee Rankings after coming in No. 22 last week … UNLV’s only two losses this season were by a combined eight points (including one in OT) to two currently ranked opponents (the No. 10/10 Broncos and No. 23/25 Syracuse) … The Rebels have won a school-record eight consecutive road games dating back to last season … At 19-7, Odom is the first UNLV coach to be at least 10 games over .500 at the school since Tony Knap retired with a 47-20-1 mark in 1981 … The Rebels are 10-2 in true road games under Odom after only winning eight total road games in the previous six seasons (8-25) … UNLV is tied for fifth in the nation in turnover margin at plus-14 as the Rebel D has forced at least one turnover in 24 of 26 games under DC Michael Scherer … The Rebels, who have not committed more than one turnover in any game this fall, have scored an eye-popping 91 total points off TOs while allowing just 28 such points from opponents.
REBELATIONS…
Friday will mark just the second time in history that UNLV plays the same team twice in the same season as the 1994 Rebels lost at Central Michigan, 35-23, during the regular season and were matched with the Chippewas in the Las Vegas Bowl three months later, cruising by CMU, 52-24, in the rematch … UNLV’s 19 wins in 26 games under Barry Odom represent the most victories over any two-season span since the Rebels went a combined 18-5 in 1976-77 as a member of Division II … Offensively, WR Ricky White III just became the first Rebel to post two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in a career and on special teams leads the nation with his four blocked punts, which is more than any other FBS TEAM … Since UNLV’s change at QB, White has 65 receptions for 858 yards and eight TDs in the last nine games and has also gone for at least 100 yards in 10 of his last 16 regular-season games overall … Playing on the road as a ranked team for the first in history, UNLV’s 27-16 win at SJSU Nov. 22 capped a regular-season away mark of 6-0 … The only other seasons UNLV went undefeated on the road were its inaugural campaign in 1968 and its NCAA D-II semifinalist season of 1974 when the Rebels played just two away games apiece … The Rebels, who are bowl-eligible in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever, are 18-1 under Barry Odom when leading after the third quarter and 8-0 this fall when scoring first … UNLV made its first-ever appearance in the Coaches Poll on Sept. 15 and then joined the AP version for the first time two weeks later before an OT loss to Syracuse knocked them out. The Rebels returned to the rankings Nov. 13 and two days later joined the CFP list for the first time ever … With six more sacks vs. UNR, UNLV already has 10 more QB sacks than last year (26) with 36 on the season, which ranks second in the MW and is the most for the program since posting 39 in 1994 … After having just one 100-yard individual rushing game in 2023, the Rebs already boast 11 century-mark outings from five different players this fall, including thrice having two in the same game (vs. UNR and at USU and at Hawai’i) … Three-time 2024 MW Defensive Player of the Week Jackson Woodard is currently sixth in the nation with 17 tackles-for-loss and is fourth in the MW with 13 passes defended, including posting an eye-popping total of five at USU … UNLV is staging a historic season on the scoreboard as its 38.7 points-per-game average ranks seventh in the nation and is on target to shatter the school record of 34.9 PPG in 1980 … Under the current coaching staff, the Rebels have scored at least 40 points 13 times in 26 games and their three games scoring at least 50 points this season is only matched by the 1974 and 1980 squads … PK Caden Chittenden, who is one off the national lead in FGM, has set the league’s freshman single-season record for both fi eld goals (25) and kicking points scored (126). The Las Vegas native replaced First Team All-American Jose Pizano and is now just seven points behind Pizano’s school-record 133 points scored in 2023 and just four extra-points back of his UNLV-best 55 made last fall … After limiting fi ve of its opponents to less than 70 yards rushing, UNLV sits 10th nationally with 101.1 yards allowed per outing. To put that in perspective, the lowest season total for rush yards allowed since the Rebels moved to D-I in 1978 was 141.2 during the 2000 season that included a Las Vegas Bowl victory … UNLV leads the league in pass efficiency and sits second in pass efficiency defense … The Rebs are tied for sixth in the FBS with 17 team interceptions. In fact, since the beginning of 2022, UNLV’s defense has 48 picks, which is the most in the FBS during that span (Oklahoma is second with 46) … Cameron Oliver has three picks to give him 13 for his career, which puts him fourth in school history and tied for third among all active players.
MORE REBELATIONS…
With last Saturday drawing the second-largest crowd to watch the Rebels play at Allegiant Stadium (40,122), UNLV shattered its all-time home attendance mark by averaging 32,202 over six games. The previous record was 29,281 in six games in 2007 … The 504 net rushing yards UNLV gained vs. Utah Tech are the most of any team in the nation this season by nearly 50 yards … The Rebels lead the MW and rank fourth in the nation with 254.1 rushing yards per game. That average is the program’s highest in a full season since moving to D-I and the best since a record 303- yard average in 1974 … 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 … 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 … 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 44.6 this season, which would rank 20th in the nation if he had enough attempts to qualify for the NCAA stats. Nichols booted a 79-yarder last week vs. UNR, which went down as the second longest in program history and he is currently fifth in MW history for career average at 44.23 … UNLV QB Hajj-Malik Williams, who stands 13th in the country in pass efficiency, needs just 13 yards to become the Rebels’ single-season record-holder for rush yards by a QB. He has at least one rush and one pass TD in seven of his nine starts … Barry Odom has a 7-2 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). With 19, Odom also has the second-most overall wins after his first 26 games at the UNLV helm and the most since the Rebels moved to Division I.
BOISE STATE BRONCOS NOTES
OPENING KICKOFF
1 – For the third straight year and seventh time in the last eight years, Boise State will play in the Mountain West Football Championship as the No. 11/10/10 Broncos host No. 22/19/19 UNLV for the 2024 edition, presented by Old Trapper, at Albertsons Stadium on Friday at 6 p.m. MT. The game can be watched on FOX and heard on the Bronco Radio Network.
2 – With the voting officially open for the 928 Heisman Trophy electors, No. 2 Ashton Jeanty continues his #HEI2MAN campaign this week as he leads the nation in several categories. The junior is pacing the country in rushing yards (2,288), rushing touchdowns (28), total touchdowns (29) and all-purpose yards (2,390). Find out more about Ashton Jeanty’s record-setting season at HEI2MAN.com.
3 – Boise State is hosting the Mountain West Football Championship for the first time since 2022 and sixth time overall. The Broncos hosted it in 2014 and in three straight years from 2017-2019. Boise State is 3-2 all-time when hosting the Mountain West Football Championship. This year, Boise State has already set its total season attendance record, thanks to six sellouts, and is averaging 37,190 people at one of the toughest environments in college football – as evidenced by the Broncos’ .898 winning percentage on The Blue since 2000 (141-16).
4 – The Broncos enter the Championship with a 10-game overall winning streak and an 11-game home winning streak. The 10-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in FBS (Oregon, 13 games) while the 11-game home winning streak is the fifth-longest active streak.
5 – Boise State, which has never won back-to-back Mountain West titles, is looking to beat UNLV for the second time this season. The last time the Broncos beat an opponent twice in the same season was in 2019 against Hawai’i (W, 59-37 in regular season; W, 31-10 in championship).
A WIN WOULD…
• Give Boise State its 36th overall conference title in program history, 16th since 1996, and sixth in the MW. • Extend the Broncos’ winning streak to 11 games, which would be their longest in a single-season since 2009 (undefeated 12-0 season). • Give Boise State a perfect home record in a season for the first time since 2019 (7-0). • Be Boise State’s 12th straight win at home. • Be Boise State’s first in a conference championship game at home since 2019 and fourth in sixth overall MW championship games on The Blue.
WHAT’S THE RUSH?
Boise State, which owns the sixth-best rushing offense in the country (253.5 ypg), has run for 200+ yards in nine games this season. It marks the third straight season in which the Broncos have at least seven 200-yard rushing games in a single season. This number leads the Mountain West and ties the most in a Boise State FBS season (2014).
ESTABLISHING THE RUN GAME
The current average of 253.5 rushing yards per game is the highest average in the program’s FBS era (since 1996), with the next-closest being 229.8 yards per game, achieved in 2004. The Broncos rank second in the FBS in yards per carry, averaging 6.36. This year, the Broncos have 13 individual 100-yard rushing performances, a single-season program record. The previous record of 11 was set in 2014. Per Stats Perform, Boise State has outrushed its opponent in 11 games, with Tennessee (12) being the only FBS team to do so more.
GROUND GAME
Boise State’s total of 3,042 rushing yards is the highest single-season number of the program’s FBS era (since 1996), passing last year’s total of 3,008. The Blue and Orange have 40 rushing touchdowns this season, the team’s most in a regular season since the 2004 Broncos had 46.
IN TOTALITY
hile the Boise State offense has been churning in the run game, it also ranks among the best in total offense as the Broncos are fifth in the nation with 478.3 yards per game. Boise State has four games of 500+ total yards this season, which already equals its total from the last two seasons combined and are its most in a season since 2013 (4). The program’s FBS record for most 500-yard games of total offense during a season is six set in 1996.
OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT
Boise State ranks third nationally with 40.6 points per game, the most since 2011, when the Broncos averaged 44.2. Boise State finished the regular season with 487 points, the team’s highest regular season total since 2011, when the Broncos finished with 519 points. The current total of 487 points surpasses the season total from each of the last eight seasons. In addition to being fifth in the country in total offense, Boise State is third in the country in yards per play (6.91) and fifth in total yards (5,739). The Broncos were one of 10 FBS teams to eclipse 5,500 total yards during the regular season.
UNDER PRESSURE
Boise State’s pass rushers have been incredibly effective in reaching the quarterback this season. According to Pro Football Focus Ultimate, the Broncos have 206 total pressures, which combines sacks, hits and hurries. This ranks them 16th in the FBS. There are 17 Broncos with multiple pressures and 23 Broncos with at least one. Ahmed Hassanein has a team-high 51, ranking seventh in the country. He also has 13 quarterback hits, ranking fourth in the nation.
BRONCOS IN THE BACKFIELD
Boise State continues to wreak havoc in opponents’ backfields, ranking second in the nation with 45 sacks. The 45 total sacks are the most since 2014, when the Broncos had 47 sacks. The 1996 and 2010 squads each had 49 sacks, the program record for the FBS era, which began in 1996. Leading the attack for the Broncos are Jayden Virgin-Morgan (9.0) and Ahmed Hassanein (8.5). They are one of two duos in the FBS with at least 8.5 sacks each, joined by Suntarine Perkins and Princely Umanmielen (10.5 each) from Ole Miss. The Broncos also have 93 tackles for loss, tied for sixth in the country.
DOWN, NOT OUT
Boise State has not trailed much this season, but it faced a 14-0 deficit after the first 24+ minutes of the game at San Jose State. The Broncos came back, however, and secured their largest deficit overcome since Oct. 7, 2023 vs. San Jose State (trailed 27-7, won 35-27). On Nov. 23, Boise State trailed for over 21 minutes against Wyoming, but rallied from a 13-10 deficit in the fourth quarter to win, 17-13. The Broncos have trailed in four of their 11 wins this year, and have only spent a combined 87:37 of game time trailing in games (12% of game time).
GET THE BALL OUT
Boise State has recovered eight fumbles this season, including two or more in three different games. The Broncos are first in the conference and 20th in the country with 12 fumbles forced.
LAUTER CONTINUES TO PRODUCE
Matt Lauter had three receptions for 45 yards against Oregon State, bringing his season totals to 38 catches for 461 yards. He is the first Boise State tight end since Jake Roh (2017) to record 35+ catches and first Bronco tight end since Jeb Putzier (2001) to register 450+ receiving yards.
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK
The Broncos have mastered controlling the clock in the fourth quarter as of late. They have totaled possession in the fourth quarter for 99:47 this season, or 55% of the possible time. Since the win at UNLV, in which the Broncos ended the game with a 14-play, 8:07 drive, Boise State has held the ball for nearly 60% of the possible time in the fourth quarter.
