Mountain West Championship
UNLV (10-2, 6-2) at Boise State (8-4, 6-2)
Friday, 8 p.m. ET (Las Vegas)
UNLV and Boise State will meet for the Mountain West title for the third consecutive season, thanks to a composite average of four nationally recognized metrics used to settle a four-way, first-place tie with San Diego State and New Mexico.
The Broncos, who won this game last year, 21-7, in Boise and 44-20 in 2023 in Las Vegas, lead the series, 12-3. Boise State has won 10 in a row against the Rebels dating back to 1976. It’s the fifth time in 25 months the two teams have played. Boise State scored 28 consecutive points to start the second half en route to a 56-31 victory on Oct. 18 in their last matchup to improve to 7-0 all-time against the Rebels on their blue home turf.
After losing back-to-back games to the Broncos and visiting New Mexico, the Rebels and first-year head coach Dan Mullen rallied to close out the season with four straight wins over Colorado State, Utah State in double overtime, Hawaii and Nevada to hit 10 wins. It marked the first time in school history the Rebels registered double figures in victories in back-to-back seasons.
Boise State, meanwhile, rebounded from back-to-back losses to Fresno State and at San Diego State to close with wins over Colorado State and at Utah State, the latter by a 25-24 score when Dylan Riley scored on a six-yard touchdown run with 2:26 remaining. Redshirt sophomore Max Cutforth, filling in for injured starter Maddux Madsen, threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns in the win and garnered Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week honors.
–Players to Know:
UNLV
QB Anthony Colandrea — The junior dual-threat transfer from Virginia was named conference Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, the first Rebel to earn that honor since Hall of Famer Randall Cunningham did it in both 1983 and 1984 in the Big West Conference. Led the conference in passing yards (3,050), touchdown passes (22) and total offense (300.42 ypg).
RB Jai’Den Thomas — Explosive runner who led the nation in yards per carry (7.43) while rushing for 944 yards and 12 touchdowns.
DB Aamaris Brown — The transfer from South Florida set a school record with interceptions in four consecutive games, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
BOISE STATE
QB Maddux Madsen — Boise State coach Spencer Danielson announced Monday that Madsen would be back in the starting lineup after missing the final three games of the season with a lower-leg injury suffered in the first quarter of a 30-7 loss at Fresno State. Threw for 1,994 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions in nine games, including 253 yards and four TDs in the Oct. 18 win over UNLV.
RB Dylan Riley — Earned second team all-Mountain West honors after rushing for 1,016 yards on 164 carries (6.2 avg.) and 10 touchdowns. Rushed for a season-high 201 yards and one TD on 15 carries in the first meeting with UNLV.
OT Kage Casey — The 6-foot-5, 316-pound junior is a two-time first team all-Mountain West pick and anchors the top offensive line in the league. Has made 40 consecutive starts at left tackle and is considered a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
