No. 10 Boise State defeated No. 20 UNLV, 21-7, to clinch the 2024 Old Trapper Mountain West Championship, Friday night.
The Broncos (12-1, 7-0 MW) won a MW title in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. The victory also marks the sixth MW Championship for the program.
Ashton Jeanty turned in his usual HEI2MAN-worthy performance, finishing the game with 209 rushing yards and a touchdown. The junior running back became the program's all-time leading rusher with 4,655 yards, breaking a 44-year old record previously held by Cedric Minter (1977-80), who totaled 4,475.
The Boise State defense also held the Rebels (10-3, 6-1 MW) to seven points, the lowest amount in MW Championship Game history. The Broncos notched six sacks in the contest to bring their season total to 51, the most in a single season in program history since the FBS era began in 1996.
The Blue and Orange put themselves on the scoreboard first when Maddux Madsen found Latrell Caples in the end zone for a 24-yard strike. Madsen used his legs in the second frame to put the Broncos up 14 with 2:40 remaining in the half.
After a quick defensive stop, the Broncos received the ball back with 47 seconds left in the half. Jeanty did the rest, rattling off a 75-yard touchdown rush - his fifth 70+ yard touchdown rush of the season - to give Boise State a three-touchdown advantage as the two teams went to the locker room.
UNLV responded out of the break, with Kylin James running for an 86-yard run midway through the third. Seyi Oladipo chased the Rebel running back down at the 5-yard line to prevent the touchdown. The Bronco held strong, preventing UNLV from scoring on four-straight plays.
The Rebels found the end zone with 9:06 left in the fourth quarter. UNLV got the ball back with two minutes later, but once again turned the ball over on downs to solidify the victory.
Notables
- Boise State won back-to-back Mountain West Championships for the first time in program history.
- Boise State won its sixth MW Championship and 36th overall conference title in program history. The Broncos have claimed 16 conference titles since 1996.
- Ashton Jeanty was named the game's offensive MVP while Seyi Oladipo earned the game's defensive MVP.
- Jeanty broke the 44-year record for most career rushing yards in Boise State history as he passed Cedric Miller (1977-80) with 4,475 yards. He picked up 209 rushing yards this game, bringing his career total to 4,665.
- Jeanty scored his 29th rushing touchdown of the season, passing Jay Ajayi (2014) for the program's most rushing touchdowns in a single season.
- Jeanty recorded his 21st career game with over 100 rushing yards, passing Cedric Minter (1977-80) for the most 100-yard rushing performances in program history.
- Jeanty moved to second place in program history for career rushing touchdowns with 50. He is now tied with Brock Forsey (1999-2002) and Jay Ajayi (2012-14). He is also the fourth player in MW history with 50 career rushing touchdowns.
- Jeanty's 75-yard touchdown rush in the second quarter marked his fifth 70+ yard rushing touchdown of the year, tying LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU, 1999) for the most in a single season in FBS history.
- Boise State extended its winning streak to 11 games, its longest in a single season since 2009 when the team finished 12-0.
- The Broncos finished the season with a perfect home record (7-0) for the first time since 2019.
- Boise State has won 12 consecutive games at Albertsons Stadium.
- The announced attendance was 36,663, a Mountain West Championship Game record.
- UNLV scored seven points in the contest, the lowest point total by a single team in a MW Championship game in league history.
- Boise State finished the game with 51 sacks on the year, breaking the program record in the FBS era.
Top Broncos
- Ashton Jeanty finished with 209 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
- Maddux Madsen finished 18-of-27 for 158 passing yards and one touchdown.
- Seyi Oladipo recorded 10 tackles in the win, including 2 TFLs, one sack. The senior added a forced fumble in the first quarter.
- Ty Benefield and Rodney Robinson each notched eight tackles in the win.
- Matt Lauter hauled in five passes for 62 yards.
What's Next
Boise State will have its postseason fate revealed during the College Football Playoff selection show on Sunday, Dec. 8. The show will begin at 10 a.m. MT and will be broadcast on ESPN.