UNLV, Boise State Clash for the Mountain West Championship
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
UNLV (10-2) @ Boise State (8-4)
Location: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Date/Time: Friday, December 5th, 2025
Broadcast: Fox
Lines: Boise State -4.5, O/U 59.5
The Mountain West Championship game is here, and UNLV and Boise State are facing off for the third straight season. UNLV is looking for its first conference championship since 1994. In the final Mountain West matchup between the Rebels and the Broncos, UNLV is looking to walk away with its first victory against Boise State since 1976.
UNLV
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea is ready to lead this offense after winning the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year award, an award he deserved. Colandrea led the UNLV offense to scoring over 37 points per game, ranking 12th in the nation. Colandrea is one of only four quarterbacks in the FBS with 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards. Colandrea is also only 30 yards short of passing former UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava to be 3rd for most passing yards in a season by a UNLV quarterback. He has 22 passing touchdowns and eight rushing touchdowns.
Running back Jai’Den Thomas had 103 rushing yards and four touchdowns on just 11 carries last week against Nevada, becoming the second Rebel to have two four-touchdown rushing games in a career. Thomas earned All-Mountain West 1st Team honors for his performance this season. He has 944 rushing yards, averaging 7.4 per carry with 12 touchdowns.
Thomas saw his workload increase during the Nevada game, but running backs Jaylon Glover and Keyvone Lee are still solid options out of the backfield. Glover averaged 7.2 yards on his five carries last week against Nevada.
All-Mountain West 2nd Team receiver Jaden Bradley headlines the wide receiver room. He has 834 yards on 51 receptions and four touchdowns this season. There are still a plethora of options for Colandrea to throw to. Wide receiver Troy Omeire caught a touchdown last week against Nevada. Wide receiver DaeDae Reynolds earned All-Mountain West Team honorable mention for his impressive 431-yard, five-touchdown season. Other names include wide receiver Koy Moore, DeAngelo Irvin Jr., and JoJo Earle.
The UNLV defense has been the most significant blemish, but lately the unit has been successful. The defense gives up an average of 28 points per game throughout the season, but over the past four games, it has given up only 15 points per game.
Linebacker Marsel McDuffie led the Rebels in tackles with 94 tackles and earned All-Mountain West 2nd Team honors alongside defensive back Aamaris Brown. He set a UNLV record by hauling in four interceptions in four straight games to begin the season. The defense forces 1.6 takeaways per game, which is 17th best in the nation, and plays like that can swing momentum in a game.
BOISE STATE
Boise State isn’t a stranger to big games, especially the Mountain West Championship. The Broncos have been in this game in eight of the past nine seasons and are now looking to become the first team in Mountain West history to win three consecutive conference championships. Boise State also beat UNLV earlier this season, 56-31, and is looking to repeat that dominant performance.
The Broncos’ offense is led by quarterback Maddux Madsen, who missed most of November with a lower leg injury. Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson confirmed that Madsen would get the start. Madsen has just under 2000 passing yards and 15 touchdowns on the season, averaging 13 passing yards per completion, which is ranked 23rd best in the FBS.
Boise State has a nasty running back tandem. The tandem is headlined by running back Dylan Riley, who has over 1,000 yards on the season, which is second-best in the Mountain West. Riley had 130 all-purpose yards last week against Utah State to add onto his impressive season and to reach the 1000-yard mark. Riley was also named to the All-Mountain West 2nd Team.
Running back Sire Gaines has also been strong for the Broncos, rushing for 731 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. The third man is running back Malik Sherrod, who has 579 yards and five touchdowns.
The top two receivers for Boise State are Latrell Caples and Chris Marshall. Caples had 515 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while Marshall had 467 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The defense has been phenomenal at stopping the pass for Boise State. The Broncos allow about 170 passing yards per game, which is the 11th fewest in the nation. Boise State has 14 interceptions on the season and has held five quarterbacks to their season low in passing yards.
Defensive backs Ty Benefield, A’Marion McCoy, and Jeremiah Earby lead that effort. Benefield leads Boise State in tackles with 92 and is one of just four players in the nation with 90+ tackles and 7+ tackles for loss. Earby and McCoy both have four interceptions this season. Benefield and McCoy earned All-Mountain West 1st Team honors, while Earby was on the All-Mountain West 2nd Team.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Restrict Explosive Plays
The biggest reason UNLV lost the last time these two teams faced off was explosive plays. Riley had three 30+ yard runs, and Boise State scored five of its eight touchdowns from 20+ yards out. UNLV’s defense doesn’t need to be perfect; it needs to erase explosive plays.
2. Force a Turnover
UNLV can flip the script with a turnover. There are real questions about whether Madsen should even play in this game because of his injury. He also hasn’t played in over a month, which can lead to mistakes, and UNLV needs to take advantage of that. Then the Rebels have to capitalize on the opportunity and score.
3. Stay Patient vs Boise’s Pass Defense
The Broncos’ passing defense is legit. Three All-Mountain West defensive backs and plenty of stats to back up why they’re legit is scary. Colandrea needs to be patient. He can’t force passes into the secondary. He has to rely on checkdowns and quick passes to Bradley and Reynolds. Colandrea threw a pick-six to McCoy earlier this season, and it was a big difference-maker in that game. If Colandrea stays patient, UNLV has a much better chance in this game.
PREDICTIONS
The blue turf is on Boise State’s side. However, UNLV has looked a lot better in recent weeks, but Boise State was without Madsen. The most significant factor in this game is whether Madsen can play like himself. I expect this game to be much closer than the earlier game this season, but I don’t think UNLV will have enough to beat the Broncos. Boise State will beat UNLV 34-31.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos