WEEK 12 GAME SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 15
Wyoming Cowboys at Colorado State Rams* CBSSN 6 p.m. MT
Wyoming and Colorado State Meet in the 116th Edition of “The Border War”
The Oldest Rivalry for Both the Cowboys and Rams Has Been Played in Three Different Centuries — Battle for the Bronze Boot in 57th Year: The Wyoming Cowboys and Colorado State Rams will be playing for the 116th time this week in “The Border War”. The series is the oldest rivalry for both schools. Here are some notes on “The Border War” rivalry. •”The Border War” series has been played in three different centuries, dating back to Nov. 30, 1899, when CSU won the first meeting 12-0 in Fort Collins, Colo. •This year is the 125th anniversary of that first meeting. •Since 1968, the two schools have battled for the “Bronze Boot” traveling trophy. This year will be the 57th meeting in the “Bronze Boot” portion of the series. Wyoming leads the Bronze Boot portion of the series 31-25. •The Bronze Boot trophy was created from an actual boot worn in Vietnam by Dan Romero, a CSU ROTC instructor. •Since the end of World War II, Wyoming and CSU have played every season for 79 consecutive seasons from 1946 to this season. •Over the past 78 consecutive meetings, dating back to the 1946 season, Wyoming leads 46-32-0. •Colorado State leads the overall series 59-51-5.
Wyoming Cowboys Notes
Sargent Racks Up Yards:
Wide receiver Jaylen Sargent recorded a career-high six receptions along with a career-high 186 yards at New Mexico. He also added a score. It was the most receiving yards by a Cowboy since Robert Herron had 187 yards against San Diego State to close the 2012 season.
Waylee Makes His Return:
Cowboy running back Harrison Waylee made a splash in his first game back in the Brown and Gold. He finished the game rushing for 170 yards with one touchdown. He also went over 3,000 career yards, as he now has 3,046 yards
Ferrell Gets it Done on the Ground:
Running back Jamari Ferrell also had a career day. He rushed the ball a career-best 20 times for 89 yards including a score. He had a long of 23 yards in the contest.
The Turnover Titan Strike Again:
Nickel Wrook Brown is called the turnover titan by his teammates. He leads the team with three interceptions this season and six for his career. He recorded interception for a score in the fourth quarter at New Mexico for the first touchdown of his career in the Brown and Gold.
Big Day for the Offense:
The Wyoming offense had a big day in the win over New Mexico. Wyoming recorded 334 yard in the first half marking back-to-back half’s with 300 or more yards. Wyoming had 314 yards in the second half against Utah State. The Cowboys recorded 35 points in the first half for the most in an opening frame since scoring 35 against Hawaii last season. Wyoming recorded 604 yards of total offense for the most since recording 604 yards on Nov. 20, 2021 at Utah State.
Mr. Durr Makes Great Catch:
Freshman Chris Durr Jr. made an impressive one handed catch at New Mexico that was one of three catches on the day. The one-handed grab was second ESPN’s Top-10 Plays. A Ton of First Downs: The Wyoming Cowboys were moving the chains at New Mexico. Wyoming recorded 30 first downs in the game for the most in a game since having 34 against Hawaii on Nov. 23, 2013.
Through the Air:
Quarterback Kaden Anderson recorded 342 passing yards for the most by a Cowboy since Cam Coffman had 366 against New Mexico in 2015. The Wyoming redshirt freshman has now throw for the most yards by a freshman or redshirt freshman in the Mountain West era of Cowboy basketball.
Racking Up the Points:
The Cowboys scored 49 points in the win over New Mexico. It was the most points in a game since scoring 52 against Kent State in the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Parks Steps in on Kick Return:
Keany Parks stepped in for Tyler King one of the nation’s top kick returners and made an instant impact adding a 54-yard return setting up a score for the Cowboys. The Pokes rank No. 16 in the nation in kick return yards at 25.2 per game.
Colorado State Rams 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 a winning football program! With a 21-13 victory at Air Force on Oct. 19, the Rams went above .500 for the first time under head coach Jay Norvell and the first time since 2017. When the Rams marched into Reno on Nov. 2, they took home a 38-21 victory to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2017. • CSU’s offensive line has been one of the best in the nation, and the numbers back it up. In addition to paving the way for 180.9 rushing yards per game (T43 nationally), the Rams front unit has surrendered just eight sacks across the entire season, the eighth-best mark in the nation. Behind the Mountain West’s most seasoned player Jacob Gardner (53 starts in 53 career games) and Drew Moss (43 career starts), The Mob is creating nightmares for opposing defenses. • Colorado State will be without star wide receiver Tory Horton for the remainder of the season due to injury. In his place, Caleb Goodie has risen to the occasion with eight receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns across the three games Horton has not played. Goodie hit the century mark for the first time in his career against Air Force, which included a spectacular one-handed grab that he carried 85 yards to the house. • The turnaround of the CSU run game in 2024 cannot be understated. In 2023, the Rams mustered just 92.2 yards on the ground per game, which was the ninth worst mark nationally. This season the Rams are racking up 180.9 rushing yards per game, which has them among the top 45 in the nation. It is 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. • Colorado State set a Canvas Stadium – and program – record with 40,099 fans in attendance for the Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sept. 14. It also marked back-to-back sellouts after Ram Nation turned out for the home opener against Northern Colorado on Sept. 7. In total, Colorado State has sold out three of its first five home games of the season.
NOTING THE GAME
• The Rams and Cowboys are set to face off in the 115th installment of the Border War, a series in which CSU leads 58-51- 5. Despite a 32-24-1 advantage against Wyoming in Fort Collins, the Rams have won just one of the last four meetings against their rivals at home and have not won on home soil since 2020. • Colorado State is 1-8 since the 2015 season and four of the last five Border War matchups have been decided by 10-or-fewer points.
DOWN-HILL RUNNERS
Colorado State has moved to a more balanced play calling with an Air Run offense. The Rams have had a 100 yard rusher in five games this season, including Avery Morrow who has hit the century mark in four consecutive games.
CONSISTENT FIVE
The difference between the front five in 2022 to 2023 is significant. Not just in stature, but in consistency. In Norvell’s first year, Colorado State started a different combination of the front five in half of the schedule. In 2023, however, the Rams started the same five linemen – in the same positions – in every game. They were one of only 12 teams to do so in the FBS last season.
OVERCOMING A DEFICIT
When Colorado State rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Hawai’i in 2022, Jay Norvell did something very few coaches before him had ever done by overcoming a double-digit halftime deficit. When he did it again to Boise State in 2023, his Rams overcame the largest halftime deficit since at least 1965. As of the Boise State game, there had been 212 such games where the Rams trailed by double-digits. Below are the 13 games over that span the Rams have mounted the comeback with Norvell owning two such games.
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors at Utah State Aggies*
Spectrum/T1Sports 1 p.m. MT
SERIES NOTES
• Utah State holds an 12-6 advantage in the all-time series. • The Aggies have won the last seven meetings in the series, including five by 20+ points. • USU has won three straight in Logan. UH’s last road win over the Aggies was in 2010 (45-7). USU holds a 6-2 advantage in games played in Logan. • The Aggies have won all six contests as Mountain West members. Prior to that while the schools were part of the Western Athletic Conference, UH won five of the seven contests. • Fifteen of the 18 all-time meetings have been decided by double-digits, including USU’s last three wins in Logan.
Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors Notes
GAME STORYLINES
• Saturday’s match-up is the 19th meeting between the teams with Utah State holding a 12-6 advantage. • The Aggies have won the last seven meetings in the series, five by 20+ points. • USU has won three straight in the series in Logan. UH’s last road win over the Aggies was in 2010 (45-7). USU holds a 6-2 advantage in games played in Logan. • The Aggies have won all six contests in the series as Mountain West members. Prior to that, the schools were in the Western Athletic Conference and UH won five of the seven contests. • Fifteen of the 18 all-time meetings have been decided by double-digits, including USU’s last three wins in Logan. The three games decided by single digits were all held in Honolulu (1927, 2011, and 2022). • The teams have played in Logan in late October or November six times with the Aggies winning four of the six match-ups (UH won in 2006 & ’10). • In UH’s Division I era (since 1974), the Rainbow Warriors have played 14 games in weather below 50 degrees at kickoff. UH is 3-11 in those games with wins over Wyoming in 2021 (44°), Nevada in 2019 (39°), and Utah State in 2006 (46°). • UH is 2-14 on the road under head coach Timmy Chang, including 1-3 this season. • UH (4-6, 2-3 MW) saw its two-game win streak come to an end last week after a 29-27 loss to UNLV in Honolulu. Brayden Schager threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 42 yards while Tariq Jones led the defense with a career-high 10 tackles. • USU (2-7, 1-3) is coming off a 49-28 loss at Washington State last week in Pullman, Wash. The Aggies generated 395 yards of total offense while Spencer Petras passed for 208 yards and two touchdowns and Herschel Turner rushed for 85 yards. • UH ranks No. 1 in the Mountain West in scoring defense (22.7 ppg) and total defense (346.2 ypg) and No. 3 in passing yards allowed (210.0 ypg). • USU features the No. 2 passing attack in the Mountain West and No. 14 nationally at 290.6 yards per game. The Aggies also rank No. 3 in the MW and No. 18 nationally in total offense, averaging 451.0 yards per game.
LAST MEETING vs. UTAH STATE
USU 41, UH 34 — Nov. 12, 2022 Ching Complex; Honolulu, O‘ahu
• Utah State won for the seventh straight time in the series. • The Aggies led 24-10 at the half and 41-24 late in the fourth quarter before UH scored 10 straight in pull within one score. • Hawai‘i had more yards of total offense (541 to 374) however committed four turnovers (3-INT, 1-FUM) to USU’s zero. • UH set season-highs in points scored (34), total offense (541), passing yards (306), rushing yards (235), tackles-for-loss (8) and sacks (4). • Brayden Schager threw for a then-career high 306 yards passing on 46 attempts. • Logan Taylor finished with 13 tackles for his fourth straight game with double-digit stops.
TEAM NOTES
• Three of UH’s six losses this season were decided by three points or less — UCLA (16-13) San Diego State (27-24), and UNLV (29-27). • Under head coach Timmy Chang, UH is 0-14 when scoring 17 points or fewer compared to 12-10 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’s 13-point fourth-quarter comeback against Fresno State was its largest since erasing a 14-point deficit against Fresno State at home on Oct. 2, 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.
Utah State Aggies Notes
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (2-7, 1-3 MW) continues Mountain West play this weekend as it hosts Hawai’i (4-6, 2-3 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised on Spectrum Sports Pay-per-View with Kanoa Leahey (play-by-play) and Rich Miano (analyst) on the call. To watch the game, download the Team1 Sports app on a tablet or mobile device. The stream is not available on desktop computers. • Utah State is 53-37 (.589) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 28-18 (.609) home record. USU has the third-best record against MW opponents since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (78-17) has the best record, while San Diego State (62-30) has the second-best record. Overall, USU is 50-25 (.667) in its last 75 home games. • Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 14th in the nation in passing offense (290.6 yards per game) and third in the MW and 18th in the nation in total offense (451.0 ypg). • Graduate QB Spencer Petras is first in the Mountain West and fourth in the nation in completions (27.00 per game), first in the MW and eighth in the nation in passing (290.4 yards per game), second in the MW and 11th in the nation in total offense (296.4 yards per game), third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in completion percentage (.652), and fourth in the MW and 43rd in the nation with 15 touchdown passes. • Graduate QB Spencer Petras has set career highs this year in completions (189), attempts (290), passing yards (2,033) and passing touchdowns (15), and he has done it in six-and-one-half games. • 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. • Senior S Jordan Vincent is first in the Mountain West and 12th in the nation in tackles per game (9.7). Vincent has seven double-digit tackle outings this season, which are the most in the MW and tied for the third-most in the nation. For his career, Vincent has 11 double-digit tackle games. • During its last two home games, which were against UNLV and New Mexico, Utah State’s offense has averaged 39.5 points and 543.5 yards of total offense (410.5 passing, 133.0 rushing). • With its loss at No. 20 Washington State last weekend, Utah State was eliminated from bowl contention. Overall, it will be just the third time since 2011 that USU will not play in a bowl game along with the 2016 and 2020 (COVID) seasons.
SCOUTING HAWAI’I
• Hawai’i is 4-6 on the season and 2-3 in Mountain West play following its 29-27 home loss to UNLV last weekend. The Rainbow Warriors are led by senior QB Brayden Schager, who is 222-of-384 (.578) passing for 2,467 yards (246.7 ypg) with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Junior RB Landon Sims leads the team in rushing with 306 yards on 60 carries (5.1 ypc/30.6 ypg) with one touchdown. And junior WR Nick Cenacle has caught 50 passes for 556 yards (11.1 ypr/55.6 ypg) and five touchdowns. Defensively, sophomore LB Jamih Otis has a team-best 47 tackles, which includes 2.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss. As a team, Hawai’i is averaging 22.0 points and 349.5 yards of total offense per game (247.2 passing, 102.3 rushing) and allowing 22.7 points and 346.2 yards of total offense (210.0 passing, 136.2 rushing). Hawai’i returns 15 starters (O-9, D-6) and 49 lettermen from last year’s team that went 5-8 overall and 3-5 in Mountain West play to finish tied for eighth place. Timmy Chang is in his third season as a collegiate head coach at Hawai’i and has a 12-24 record, including a 7-14 mark in the MW.
UTAH STATE AND HAWAI’I AS CONFERENCE FOES
• Utah State and Hawai’i have spent 18 years as league foes as both schools were members of the Western Athletic Conference from 2005-11 and have been members of the Mountain West since 2013 when USU joined the league. As members of the WAC, USU went 2-5 against the Rainbow Warriors with a 1-2 home record and a 1-3 road mark. Since joining the Mountain West, USU is 6-0 against the Rainbow Warriors with a 3-0 home record and a 3-0 road mark.
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 (78-17) has the best record and San Diego State (62- 30) has the second-best record.
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND HAWAI’I
The following are series notables between Utah State and Hawai’i dating back to 1927 and encompassing the last 18 meetings. • In 18 games in series history, Utah State has outscored Hawai’i by 158 points (619-461). • During their current seven-game winning streak in the series, the Aggies have outscored the Rainbow Warriors 303-137 for an average margin of victory of 26.5 points (43.3-19.6). • Utah State has held Hawai’i to less than 18 points in four of its last six meetings and in nine games in series history, and USU is 9-0 in those games. USU has scored at least 35 points in seven-straight games and has scored at least 30 points 13 times in series history and is 11-2 in those games. • Only three games in series history have been decided by one score, while 15 games have been decided by double digits, including 10 games by at least 20 points. • Ten of Utah State’s 12 wins in the series have been by double digits, while five of the Rainbow Warriors’ six wins have been by double digits. • Utah State has controlled the time of possession in nine of the last 13 meetings, including five of the last six. • The team with the most rushing yards has won 10 straight games in the series, while the team that controls the time of possession is just 7-6 in the last 13 meetings. • The team that leads at the half has won 12 of the last 13 games, while the team that scores first has won 11 of the last 13 games. • Hawai’i has had 13 100-yard receivers, seven 300-yard passers and five 100-yard rushers in the last 13 meetings, while Utah State has had seven 100-yard rushers, three 100-yard receivers and three 300-yard passers in the last 13 meetings. In fact, USU has had a 100- yard rusher in each of the last six games in the series, including two in the 2018 meeting. • There have been two shutouts in series history, a 48-0 USU win in 1966, which ranks as the 21st-largest winning margin in school history, and a 38-0 USU win in 2017.
Oregon State Beavers at Air Force Falcons
CBSSN 1:30 p.m. MT
Oregon State Against Air Force
• Oregon State and Air Force are meeting for the first time. • The Beavers last traveled to the state of Colorado in 2023, defeating Colorado, 26- 19, at Folsom Field in Boulder.
Oregon State Beavers Notes
Game Notes
• Oregon State makes its first trip in the month of November Saturday when the Beavers visit Air Force in Colorado Springs. Kickoff at Falcon Stadium is slated for 12:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. in Colorado). • The game will air live on the CBS Sports Network. Jordan Kent (play-byplay), Logan Ryan (analyst) and Tina Cervasio (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 first time ever.
Oregon State By The Numbers
6 – Scoring drives by the Beavers that have ended with less than a minute left in the first half of games this season.
14 – Rushing scores for Anthony Hankerson this season, tying him with Jacquizz Rodgers for seventh at OSU.
16 – OSU conversions on fourth, in 28 attempts. The Beavers rank sixth nationally for total conversions. The team’s 28 total attempts rank fifth.
35:06 – Oregon State’s average time of possession, which leads the nation.
53 – Career starts for Joshua Gray, who was recently invited to the East-West Shrine Game. The 53 starts are an OSU career record.
62 – Catches for Trent Walker this season. He needs eight for the 15th 70-yard reception season ever by a Beaver.
151 – Yards receiving on 11 catches by Walker against SJSU, both career highs.
219 – First downs by the Beavers, compared to 179 by opponents. OSU has 116 by rush.
870 – Total rush yards by Hankerson, just under 97 per game.
Talk About The Ground Game
• Oregon State heads into Saturday’s matchup 15th in the nation averaging 212.8 rush yards per game. The Beavers average 44 carries per game, ninth-most nationally. • OSU has scored 25 rushing touchdowns, which are tied for 13th.
Time Of Possession
• Oregon State held the ball for 39:45 against San Jose State, claiming time of possession battle for the eighth time in nine games this season. • Oregon State leads in time of possession nationally, with its 35:06 just ahead of Army’s 34:52. Air Force, this week’s opponent, ranks eighth nationally at 33:00. • Oregon State’s possession time of 41:07 at San Diego State on Sept. 7 marked the program’s single-game record, bettering 41:04 against Fresno State in 1992. • The Beavers have held the ball for 315:50
Air Force Falcons Notes
THE GAME
• Air Force and Oregon State will be meeting for the first time. • Air Force will recognize this year’s seniors, who will be participating in their final home game this week. The class has posted a 31-17 overall record and 17-12 mark in the Mountain West. The class has gone to three bowl games, winning them all. The group has defeated a pair of Power 4 programs and defeated a ranked team with a 31-21 win over #24/25 James Madison in the 2023 Armed Forces Bowl. The class won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy in 2022 and won the state championship that year with wins over Colorado and Colorado State. • Air Force is 2-3 at home this season and 78-28 in Falcon Stadium under head coach Troy Calhoun.
AIR FORCE AT HOME
• Air Force is 78-28 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 FORCE VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
• Air Force is 53-31 against non-conference opponents under head coach Troy Calhoun. • The Falcons are 32-5 at home, 11-19 on the road and 10-7 in neutral site games. • Air Force is 1-3 this season. • Air Force is 14-5 over the last four seasons vs. non-conferences foes.
AIR FORCE AND OREGON STATE THE ONLY TWO
Air Force is one of just two schools nationally where the head coach, offensive and defensive coordinators are all at their alma maters. Head Coach Troy Calhoun, Offensive Coordinator Mike Thiessen and Defensive Coordinator Brian Knorr are all graduates of the Academy. Oregon State is the only other school, with head coach Trent Bay, Offensive Coordinator Ryan Gunderson and Defensive Coordinator Keith Heyward all being alums.
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.
#12 Boise State Broncos at San José State Spartans*
CBSSN 4 p.m. PT
#12 Boise State Broncos Notes
OPENING KICKOFF
1 – On a seven-game winning streak and playing its first road game since Oct. 25, #13/13/13 Boise State will play against San José State in a battle of two of the top-four teams in the Mountain West standings. Both teams are aiming for a spot in the MW Championship, as Boise State can clinch a spot in the title game with a win and a UNLV loss while San José State can pick up an important tiebreaker against the Broncos, if needed. The game can be watched on CBS Sports Network and heard on the Bronco Radio Network.
2 – 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 (1,734), rushing touchdowns (23), total touchdowns (24) and all-purpose yards (1,827).
3 – Boise State is nationally ranked for the eighth week in a row and earned its highest CFP ranking ever in program and Mountain West history when it was slotted in at No. 12 last week. The Broncos have a .850 winning percentage (119-21) all-time when ranked by the Associated Press. That is the best winning percentage of any team when ranked by the AP
4 – Boise State and San José State represent some of the top offenses in the Mountain West as the Broncos are first in the conference — and fourth in the nation — in total offense while the Spartans are fourth in the Mountain West — and 37th in the country. Both sides combine for 923.1 yards per game of total offense this season.
5 – The Broncos have been relentless in their pursuit of the quarterback all season long as they enter this week second in the country in total sacks (40) and sacks/game (4.44). They have 183 total pressures this year, according to PFF, and are led by Ahmed Hassanein (41) in that category.
WHAT’S THE RUSH?
Boise State, which owns the second-best rushing offense in the country (268.6 ypg), has run for 200+ yards in eight 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. The last time Boise State had more than eight 200-yard rushing games in a season was 2014, when it had nine. New Mexico (6) is the only other Mountain West team this season with five or more games of 200 rushing yards. The Broncos have rushed for at least 175 yards in 18 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the nation. The next-closest FBS program is Army West Point (14).
ESTABLISHING THE RUN GAME
The current average of 268.6 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 lead the FBS in yards per carry, averaging 6.73. This would be the fifth-highest single-season total in the FBS since 1996. This year, the Broncos have 10 individual 100-yard rushing performances, tied for second in program history. This was previously achieved in 2006, 2009, 2016 and 2022. The program record of 11 was set in 2014.
IN TOTALITY
While the Boise State offense has been churning in the run game, it also ranks among the best in total offense as the Broncos are fourth in the nation with 496.2 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 is averaging 43.8 points per game, the most since 2011, when the Broncos averaged 44.2. At the current rate, Boise State will finish the regular season with 526 points, the team’s highest regular season total since 2010, when the Broncos finished with 560 points.
GETTING OFFENSIVE
In addition to being fourth in the country in total offense, Boise State is third in the country in yards per play (7.17) and eighth in total yards (4,466). The Broncos are one of only 10 FBS teams with 4,400 or more total yards entering Week 12. Of the 10 FBS teams with 4,400+ yards, Boise State and North Texas (4,221 total yards) are the only two teams who have played nine games. The other eight teams have played 10 games.
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 183 total pressures, which combines sacks, hits and hurries. This is tied for eighth in the FBS. There are 15 Broncos with multiple pressures and 21 Broncos with at least one. Ahmed Hassanein has a team-high 42, tied for eighth in the country.
SACK ATTACK
Boise State continues to get to the quarterback, recording two more sacks against Nevada on Nov. 9. The Broncos rank second in the nation with 4.44 sacks per game. The 40 total sacks eclipse the total from the last four seasons and matches the number from 2019. The Broncos’ next landmark is 47 sacks, the final total from 1999 and 2014. 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 (7.5). They are one of two duos in the FBS with at least 7.5 sacks each, joined by Suntarine Perkins (10.0) and Princely Umanmielen (9.5) from Ole Miss.
GOING FOR IT – PART I
Boise State was 0-for-2 on fourth down attempts in the first three games of the season, but since converting the lone fourth down in the win against Washington State on Sept. 28, the Broncos have converted 11 straight fourth downs. Against San Diego State on Nov. 1, Boise State was 2-for-2 on fourth down attempts. Boise State, which is 11-for-13 on fourth downs this season, has its most fourth down conversions in a season since 2018 (13-for-22). It did not attempt a fourth down vs. Nevada.
GOING FOR IT – PART II
The Broncos are second in the nation in fourth down conversion rate this season (84.6%). The Broncos have scored in eight of their 11 drives with a fourth-down conversion (7 TDs, 1 FGs), with two drives that did not feature a score being drives that ended in kneel-downs to end their respective games (Oct. 25 at UNLV, Oct. 5 vs. Utah State). The other was a drive that resulted in a punt in the third quarter at Hawai’i on Oct. 12.
San José 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 24-13 win at Oregon State (11/9/24), the Spartans are 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 12-4 in their last 16 games overall and are 9-2 in their last 11 conference games. • At 6-3, the Spartans have the best record out of every California FBS school and are the first California school to clinch bowl eligibility. • 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 end the regular season with three straight home games for the first time since 1979. • 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 22 turnovers this season, which is good for third in the nation. The Spartans’ 16 interceptions are good for second in the nation and first in the Mountain West. • According to Stats Perform, San Jose State’s defense has had at least one interception in each of its last nine games, the third-longest active streak in FBS (Iowa and BYU, 10 each). The last longer streak by a MW team was an 11-game stretch by Boise State spanning 2014 and 2015. • The Spartans have a +2 turnover margin, which is good for 52nd in the country. • Against Nevada (10/5/24), the Spartans had no turnovers for the only time this season. • Also, according to Stats Perform, Nick Nash has a receiving touchdown in nine 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 eight games this season, recording at least 90 yards, the most by any FBS player. Nash has at least seven receptions in seven games this season, with 90 or more receiving yards. 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 (86), receptions per game (9.6), receiving touchdowns (13), receiving yards (1,156) and receiving yards per game (128.4). 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 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 22 receiving touchdowns and has only been a true wide receiver for 23 games. He is seven away from the record by Chandler Jones from 2010-13 and his 13 touchdowns are two 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 87.6 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.
#21 Washington State Cougars at New Mexico Lobos
FS1 7:30 p.m. MT
SERIES HISTORY
Washington State has won the previous two meetings with New Mexico, winning 23-13 in a 2003 meeting in Pullman and a 2004 contest 21-17 in Albuquerque. WSU last played in Albuquerque in the 2013 New Mexico Bowl, a 48-45 defeat to Colorado State.
#21 Washington State Cougars Notes
NO. 19 COUGARS HEAD TO NEW MEXICO FOR SATURDAY NIGHT MATCHUP
No. 19 Washington State opens a two-game road stretch with a Saturday night matchup at New Mexico. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (PT) on Fox Sports 1.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State enters the week ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press with a 8-1 record for the first their best start since 2018 and are bowl eligible for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. The Cougars own the nation’s eighth-best scoring offense (39.3) while the defense is No. 20 in the country with 17 takeaways. Quarterback John Mateer is fifth in the country in total offense (329.1), sixth in passing touchdowns (22) and cornerback Ethan O’Connor is No. 22 in the country with three interceptions. Head coach Jake Dickert owns a 23-17 career record and is in his third full season.
COLLEGE GAMEDAY RECORD
Dating back to the 2003 season, ESPN College GameDay has had the WSU flag appear throughout the show. The streak reached 314 last week at Alabama – LSU. The first appearance came in Austin, Texas (10/4/03) and the streak began two weeks later in Madison, Wisc. (10/18/03). Two flags – Ol’ Crimson and Gray – have been flown in the background of the GameDay set. The Gray flag was added in 2014 after Whitey was retired in honor of Steve Gleason’s “No White Flags.” Appearance No. 217 was its first in Pullman (10/20/18), a 34-20 win over Oregon.
TEAM NOTES
• WSU is 8-1 for the 1st time since 2018, has won 6 straight games at Gesa Field, seeking first 9-1 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 8 100-yard rushing games this season, most since 2005 (11), owns 2 300-yard games (TTU, USU) • 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
MATEER PUTTING UP BIG DUAL THREAT NUMBERS
• 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 are the 3rd-most by any player in the FBS this season • Mateer went 22-of-27 for 295 yards and 3 TD in the win over Hawai’i, the 85.0 completion percentage was 4th-best in WSU single-game history • Mateer completed 18-of-24 passes 179 yards and 4 TD, rushed for 1 TD in win over Utah State • Mateer has 4 games of 5 TD responsible for this season – Portland State (6), San Jose State (5), at San Diego State (5), Utah State (5) • Mateer had a rush TD and pass TD in 7 of the 9 games this season • Mateer’s 630 rush yards are the most by a Cougar QB in single-season history (482, Ty Paine, 1971) • Mateer’s 11 rush TD are tied for most rush TD by a Cougar QB in WSU single-season history (Samoa Samoa, 1980) • Mateer is the ONLY quarterback in the country with 20+ pass TD and 10+ rush TD (22 pass, 11 rush) – Mateer is 2nd Cougar QB with 20 pass TD – 10 rush TD, Timm Rosenbach (1988, 24 pass, 10 rush) • Mateer is responsible for 202 points this season, 2nd-most nationally (222, Cam Ward – Miami) • Mateer’s 22 TD passes are 6th-most nationally • Mateer’s 14.1 yards per completion are No. 11 nationally • Mateer’s 329.1 yards of total offense-per-game are 5th-most nationally • Mateer’s 11 rush TD are 6th-most by a QB nationally • Mateer’s 29 rushes of 10+yards are 5th-most by a QB nationally, 4th-most 20+yard runs (8) by a QB • Mateer’s 45 missed tackles forced are the most by a QB nationally • Mateer owns the 3rd-best PFF rushing grade (85.0) by a QB nationally • Mateer has been named to watch lists for: Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, Maxwell Award.
New Mexico Lobos Notes
The Opening List
It’s safe to say that we are all witnessing a special season by true sophomore quarterback Devon Dampier. Also I’m legally obligated by my bosses at this point to remind you that your last chance to witness him at home this year is on Saturday night at 7:30 pm as UNM hosts Washington State. Dampier, who now has an actual shot at becoming a 3,00-yard pass and a 1,000 yard rusher in the same season has now done something no Lobo quarterback has ever done. While the Lobo men’s basketball team pulled off the rare triple double-double (with three players recording double-doubles, Dampier has now recorded four double-triples on the season. Also I made “double-triple” up, but it should catch on. Dampier on Saturday rushed for 127 yards and threw for 175 yards, the third time in four games that Dampier has thrown and rushed for triple digits in the same game. Not only is it the first time that a Lobo has ever done that in the same season … it’s the first time a Lobo has ever done it period. The previous mark for UNM for a career was three times, as both Kole McKamey and Lamar Jordan did it three times. As far is a single season goes … well it had never happened more than twice, let alone four times. Dampier is certainly laying claim to first team All-Mountain West honors at quarterback with his efforts, and the list of Lobo quarterbacks that have thrown at least 100 yards and thrown for at least 100 yards in game (and all of Dampier’s games of such) are the subject of a triple-digit, arms and legs edition of the Opening List:
You Better Score Early…
Remember about a month ago when the questions to Bronco Mendenhall were about allowing three 20+ point fourth quarters? That’s not a question any more. Against New Mexico State, the Lobos allowed 23 points in the fourth quarter, 21 to Montana State in the fourth and 20 to Air Force in the fourth. But, in the last three games, the Lobos defense is allowing an average of 3.3 points in the second half. After allowing none to Colorado State, the defense allowed just seven to Wyoming (there was a pick-six against UNM which doesn’t go against the defense) and against San Diego State, the only second half points were a field goal. The Lobos have now had three games this season in which the defense has allowed 345 yards or fewer (see?). UNM allowed 345 to Fresno State and 334 to Colorado State.
Red Zone Offense is Great, but What About the Other 80 Yards (The Silver Zone????)
New Mexico’s red zone offense has been very good all season long, scoring 36 times in 40 trips (and one of those non-scoring trips was against San Diego State when it took a knee). UNM’s scoring is 90% which is 33rd in the nation and fifth in the Mountain West, and UNM’s 27 red zone touchdowns is tied for 20th nationally. But, if the 20-yard line and in is the red zone, emblematic of the scoring zone, what are the other 80 yards? For UNM, that’s the silver zone, and that might be as scary a scoring zone as the red zone, especially when running the ball. UNM has 27 red zone touchdowns, but outside of the red zone, the Lobo rushing attack is LETHAL. According to PFF, UNM has 14 rushing touchdowns 20+ yards this season, and that is the most in the FBS. Amazingly, 13 of the 14 have come in the last six games. Eli Sanders has seven of the touchdown runs (31, 35, 20, 34, 75, 51, 68) and Devon Dampier has five of them (24, 24, 33, 40, 85). Javen Jacobs (51) and Naquari Rogers each have one (29).
San Diego State Aztecs at UNLV Rebels*
CBSSN 7:30 p.m. PT
REBELS vs. AZTECS NOTES…
UNLV has played SDSU more than any other original MW team (32 times) and the Aztecs lead the series 22-10 …The programs, however, did not meet last season after facing off during the previous 24 years … Four of the last five meetings in this series have been decided by one score as the Rebels look to defeat the Aztecs at home for the first time since 2013 … UNLV Director of Player Development & Community Engagement Hunkie Cooper, a UNLV Athletics Hall of Famer, previously spent eight seasons coaching WRs at SDSU.
San Diego State Aztecs Notes
SAN DIEGO STATE HEADS TO UNLV FOR SATURDAY NIGHT SHOWDOWN
In Coming off a close 21-16 loss to New Mexico on Friday night, San Diego State hits the road to take on UNLV Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network and San Diego Sports 760. • The Aztecs (3-6, 2-2 MW) rallied from a 14-3 first-quarter deficit on Friday to take a 16-14 lead with the third field goal of the night for Gabe Plascencia late in the third quarter. • It was SDSU’s largest deficit overcome since trailing by 14 points to San Jose State on Nov. 12, 2022, and eventually winning, 43- 27. • UNM, however, answered with a 9-play, 65-yard drive, culminating with an 8-yard touchdown pass with 13:07 left to play. • San Diego State punted on its next two possessions and New Mexico ran out the clock to finish with the win. • It was the first time the Aztecs lost to the Lobos since 2008, snapping a nine-game winning streak in the series. • UNM scored on runs of 51 yards and 68 yards, part of a 188-yard first quarter. New Mexico, which came into the game averaging just under 35 points per game, totaled just 287 yards the rest of the way with the lone fourth-quarter touchdown. • SDSU fell to 2-3 on the season in one-score games (all happening over its last six). The five one-scores games have been decided by a total of 15 points. Total score of those five games: San Diego State – 117; Opponents – 120. • The Aztecs fell to 38-5 over their last 43 games when leading after the end of the third quarter. n SDSU had 26 first downs, its most since logging 31 vs. No. 24 UTSA in the 2021 Frisco Bowl, and had five more first downs than the Lobos, its highest advantage against an FBS opponent since having nine more than New Mexico on Nov. 18, 2022, in Albuquerque. • San Diego State ran its most plays (88) since running 99 against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 28, 2013, and had more time of possession than its opponent for the first time this season. • Additionally, the Aztecs had their most third down conversions (11) since having 11 at San Jose State on Nov. 4, 2017, while recording their highest third down percentage (55.0) since having a 55.8 mark at No. 14 Brigham Young on Dec. 12, 2020. • RB Marquez Cooper ran for 123 yards with his first career receiving touchdown. It was his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season and 21st of his career. • Cooper is the active leader in FBS play in rushing yards (4,821) and all-purpose yards (5,508) and is third in rushing touchdowns (42) and rushing yards per game (94.5, min. 25 GP), and tied for third in total touchdowns (43). • Cooper has three career 1,000-yard seasons, including 1,080 and 1,326 while at Kent State in 2021 and 2022, respectively, and 1,043 last year at Ball State. With 35 more yards, Cooper would be the first player in NCAA FBS history with 1,000-yard rushing seasons with three different teams. • Cooper needs just 35 yards to become the first Aztec with a 1,000-yard season since Greg Bell in 2021 (Bell had 1,091 yards in 14 games) and the 19th different Aztec with a 1,000-yard season (27 times overall). n SDSU is the only team in the country with only one player scoring a rushing touchdown. • QB Danny O’Neil, the first true freshman to start a season-opener in SDSU’s Division I history (since 1969), has completed 149 of 245 passes (60.8 pct.) for 1,590 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions, while posting a 124.2 pass efficiency rating. • 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 1.28 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 ranks second in the country in total tackles for loss (16.5) and tackles for loss per game (1.83), third in total sacks (11.5), sacks per game (1.28) and total tackles for loss yards (94), and eighth in total sack yards (61). He leads the Mountain West as well in all of those categories. 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). • Last 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 sixth in the country with 3.22 sacks per game. White is averaging more sacks per game (1.28) than 11 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. • That was the first of back-to-back MW championships for the Aztecs, who have three in league history (2012, 2015 and 2016). • Saturday’s game marks the 33rd meeting between San Diego State and UNLV with the Aztecs owning a 22-10 lead in the series. n SDSU has won four straight, eight of the last nine (8-1), 11 of the last 13 (11-2) and 17 of the last 21 (17-4) encounters with the Rebels. • San Diego State’s four consecutive wins is tied for the longest win streak in the series (also 2014-17). • This will mark the 27th time in the last 29 seasons UNLV and Aztecs have faced off. • The Rebels come into the game with a 7-2 record, including a 3-1 mark in Mountain West play. n Following Saturday’s clash at UNLV, SDSU plays at Utah State on Nov. 23.
UNLV Rebels Notes
SATURDAY’S PREVIEW…
UNLV (7-2/3-1) returns home for the first time in three weeks to host San Diego State (3-6/2-2) Saturday night on CBS Sports Network … The Rebels are attempting to start 8-2 overall for the second consecutive season under head coach Barry Odom after winning their school-record seventh consecutive road game last Saturday, 29-27, at Hawai’i … UNLV has won its first five road games in a season for the first time ever. The Rebs only won as many as five road games in a season just one time previously as the 1984 squad 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 won its first four games this fall for the first time since 1984 when Randall Cunningham was playing QB … The 16 wins in 23 games under 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 9-2 in true road games under Odom after only winning eight total road games in the previous six seasons (8-25) … All-American WR Ricky White III leads the nation with his school-record four blocked punts this season, which is more than any other FBS TEAM in 2024 … UNLV is tied for third in the nation in turnover margin at plus-12 as the Rebel defense has forced at least one turnover in 21 of 23 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 74 total points off TOs while allowing just 14 such points from opponents … Caden Chittenden, who leads the nation with 2.22 field goals PG, needs just two more to tie the league’s freshman single-season record of 22 set by redshirt frosh Matt Araiza of San Diego State in 2019.
MORE REBELATIONS…
The Rebels are 15-1 under Barry Odom when leading after the third quarter and 5-0 this fall when scoring first … Both UNLV and SDSU are tied for second in the nation with just one lost fumble this fall … With six more takedowns at Hawai’i, UNLV has already surpassed its QB sacks total from last year (26) with 28 on the season, which ranks third in the MW … After having just one 100-yard individual rushing game in 2023, the Rebs already boast eight century-mark outings from five different players this fall, including twice having two in the same game (at USU and at Hawai’i) … Three-time 2024 MW Defensive Player of the Week Jackson Woodard is currently fifth in the nation with 1.3 passes defended per game after posting an eye-popping total of five at USU (2 INT, 3 PBU) … UNLV is staging a historic season on the scoreboard as its 39.8 points-per-game average ranks seventh in the nation and represents the highest number during any nine-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 23 games and their three games scoring at least 50 points this season is only matched by the 1974 and 1980 squads … 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 70 yards rushing, UNLV sits first in the MW and 22nd nationally with 112.0 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 48 receptions for 637 yards and seven TDs in the last six games and has gone for at least 100 yards in 10 of his last 14 regular-season games … After bringing in nine in the last six games, the Rebs are tied for sixth in the FBS with 14 team interceptions. In fact, since the beginning of 2022, UNLV’s defense has 46 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 … 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 43.3 this season, which would rank 34th in the nation if he had enough attempts to qualify for the NCAA stats … UNLV QB Hajj-Malik Williams, who stands ninth in the country in pass efficiency, needs just 164 net yards after just six starts to become the Rebels’ single-season record-holder for rush yards by a quarterback.
MOUNTAIN WEST NOTES
• Ten Mountain West teams are in action in Week 12, starting with Colorado State hosting Wyoming for the Border War on Friday on CBSSN. Utah State hosts Hawaii, No. 12 Boise State visits San José State and UNLV welcomes San Diego State in Conference play, while Air Force hosts Oregon State and No. 21 Washington State heads to New Mexico in nonconference action. • Boise State checked in at No. 12 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. The Broncos are also No. 13 in both the Associated Press and US LBM Coaches (AFCA) polls this week. UNLV is receiving votes in both of those polls. • With a win over SJSU and a UNLV loss on Saturday, Boise State would clinch a spot in the 2024 Old Trapper Mountain West Football Championship. If BSU and UNLV both win, that would leave open the possibility of a three-way tie atop the standings at 6-1 between those squads and Colorado State, which would be settled by CFP or computer rankings since all three squads don’t meet each other this season. • The Boise State at San José State game has the potential for plenty of offensive fireworks, as the Broncos boast the nation’s leader rusher in Ashton Jeanty and the Spartans claim the nation’s leading receiver in Nick Nash. • 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. 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 (27.56) among its peer conferences. MW teams have collected 35 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 is well-positioned to earn a shot at competing for a national title.
GOING BOWLING
Four MW teams are going bowling so far. UNLV topped Oregon State for its sixth win of the season in Week 8 and will be going bowling in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. Boise State downed UNLV in Week 9 to become bowl eligible for the 27th consecutive season, the second-longest active streak in the nation behind Georgia’s current 28-season run. Colorado State defeated Nevada 38-21 in Week 10 to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2017. San José State dropped Oregon State in Week 11 to become bowl eligible for the third straight season.
MW OWNS THE RUN GAME
It’s not just Jeanty. 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 No. 2 with 268.6 yards per game. UNLV is sixth at 248.7 per contest and New Mexico is eighth at 237.8. Boise State ranks first in the FBS this season in yards per rush (6.73), while New Mexico (6.65) ranks second. Those would be the fifth- and ninth-highest marks in a single season by any FBS teams since 1996. Individually, Lobo quarterback Devon Dampier leads the FBS in yards per carry at 7.93.
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 19 200-yard individual rushing efforts this season, and seven of them have come from MW players, including four by Jeanty. No other league has produced more than two.
Dampier and Eli Sanders are one of three FBS teammate duos with 800-plus rushing yards each this season (Army’s Bryson Daily and Kanye Udoh, Jacksonville State’s Tre Stewart and Tyler Huff). Dampier’s 858 rushing yards are the most by a MW quarterback in a season since Nevada’s Cody Fajardo in 2014 (1,046).
ROAD REBS
UNLV has won a school-record seven straight road games dating back to last season. The Rebels are 5-0 on the road this year for the first time in school history and have outscored their opponents 162-113 in those contests. UNLV has one more road game on its schedule, a Week 13 battle at San José State.
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.
SACK CENTRAL
Boise State is second in the FBS in sacks with 4.44 per game, while San Diego State is sixth at 3.22. Of the 16 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 and Rebels sharing the national lead with Duke and Ole Miss with three such games. The Aztecs’ Trey White is third in the FBS this season in sacks per game (1.28) and total sacks (11.5) and second in tackles for loss (16.5) and TFLs per game (1.8).
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
San José State (16) is second, UNLV (14) is sixth and Fresno State (13) is 11th in the FBS in passes intercepted, with the Spartans third with 22 turnovers gained and UNLV third in turnover margin at 1.33.
San José State’s defense has had at least one interception in each of its last nine games, the third-longest active streak in FBS (Iowa and BYU, 10 each). The last longer streak by a MW team was an 11-game stretch by Boise State spanning 2014 and 2015.
UNLV has committed just five turnovers and Boise State just six to rank third and fifth, respectively, in the FBS. The Rebels have committed no more than one turnover in any of their nine games this season. The only MW team to ever have a longer such streak to begin a season was San José State in 2022 (11).
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
ASHTON JEANTY, BOISE STATE Junior, Running Back Jacksonville, Fla./ Lone Star (Texas) HS • Rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns on a career-high 34 carries in No. 12 Boise State’s 28-21 win over Nevada. • Scored on runs of 4, 1 and 2 yards and had a long rush of 46 yards. • Forced eight missed tackles and totaled 122 yards after contact. • Gained 13 first downs. • Turned in his third game of the 2024 campaign with at least 200 yards rushing and three rushing TDs, tied for the most in a season in MW history
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DJ HARVEY, SAN JOSÉ STATE Junior, Cornerback Palmdale, Calif./Virginia Tech • Had seven tackles, including two tackles-for-loss and a sack, an interception return for a touchdown and a pass breakup in San José State’s 24-13 win at Oregon State, which made SJSU bowl eligible for the third season in a row. • With the Spartans trailing 13-10 early in the fourth quarter, intercepted a pass and returned it 16 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. • On the ensuing Oregon State drive, broke up a pass on fourth down to force a turnover on downs. • After another SJSU touchdown, Harvey picked up a sack on the Beavers’ next drive. • Also had a tackle for loss on Oregon State’s first offensive play of the third quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MATTHEW DAPORE, AIR FORCE Senior, Placekicker Springboro, Ohio/Springboro HS • Scored a season-best 12 points in Air Force’s 36-28 win over Fresno State, making a career-best three field goals and connecting on all three extra-point tries to help the Falcons snap a seven-game losing streak. • Hit a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to draw Air Force within four at 21-17. • Added a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 36-yarder in the fourth, the latter of which made it a two-score game with just 1:56 to play. • Became Air Force’s career scoring leader on the afternoon, breaking the previous record with his final field goal, which moved his total to 257.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
LAJUAN OWENS, NEW MEXICO Redshirt Freshman, Left Tackle Keller, Texas/Tulane • Led an offensive line that did not allow a sack or a hit on New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier in the Lobos’ 21-16 win at San Diego State. • Played 59 total snaps with no sacks, hits, pressures or hurries in 27 called pass plays. • Was graded at 75.3 in pass blocking by PFF. • Helped UNM to 475 yards of total offense, including 300 yards on the ground. • Helped pave the way for a pair of 100- yard rushers in Dampier and Eli Sanders. Sanders broke touchdowns of 51 and 68 yards in the first quarter, both to Owens’ side and with Owens throwing key blocks to spring him.
