Broncos Look for Lady Luck as Boise State Rolls Dice on Seven

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State will make its seventh appearance all-time in a Mountain West Championship Saturday as the Broncos will travel to Sin City to face UNLV. The game, being played at Allegiant Stadium, is set to kickoff at 1 p.m. MT/Noon PT on FOX.

Already holding the Mountain West record for most championship appearances, a win for Boise State would not just cap an improbable month for the Blue and Orange but would also register the program's fifth MW Championship, the most of any program in league history.

The Broncos have won 35 conference championships in program history while UNLV, which is making its first championship game appearance, is looking for its second-ever conference championship.

Saturday's game will be broadcast nationally on FOX with Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst) and Allison Williams (sidelines) on air while Bob Behler (play-by-play) and Pete Cavender (analyst) will call the action on the Bronco Radio Network with a simulcast airing on SiriusXM Ch. 382 and on the app.

Opening Kickoff

A streak could either be extended or come to an end Saturday. Boise State, which last claimed a conference title in 2019, has one final chance for this year's senior to win another title to make this the 25th consecutive group to win a conference championship. That is a streak that is the longest active streak in the country.
Boise State enters this week's action with an offensive line ranked 12th in the nation in sacks allowed, yielding only 1.08 sacks per game so far this year. That number is the third-best of a Boise State squad since 2012 (when the Broncos ranked sixth) and is just behind the 2022 mark when BSU allowed just 1.00 sacks per game to rank 10th in the nation. That line has also been the reason the Broncos rushing offense ranks 10th in the nation, averaging 207.7 yards per game.
Did you know that Boise State has the second-longest active bowl eligibility streak in the nation? The Broncos have been bowl eligible for 26 consecutive years, just one year behind Georgia's streak of 27 straight years (both streaks this season have already been extended).
What would a win mean for the Broncos? Currently in a tie for the most MW championships in league history, Boise State could take sole possession of that honor should the Broncos prevail over the Rebels. But it would also make national history as it would make Spencer Danielson the first interim head coach to ever win a conference championship game.
Luck seems to be on Boise State's side currently, something that's definitely a positive as the Broncos head to Las Vegas. Not only did the Blue and Orange have to win their final three games to be in a position to reach the title game, the Broncos needed help. Actually, a lot of help. In fact, probabilities show us that there was only a 0.1% chance the results would play out in the way Boise State needed them to play out.

What You Need To Know

Don't Be a Negative Nancy
Or maybe we want that. For the past two games, Boise State has held its opponents to negative yardage on their first offensive possession. Both Utah State and Air Force took steps backwards against the Broncos in their first offensive series of the game.
When 2=1
Ashton Jeanty is the most dynamic player in the Mountain West and now it has become official. He is just the second sophomore ever to be named Offensive Player of the Year in the Mountain West and just the third Bronco to receive the honor, following Kellen Moore (2011) and Brett Rypien (2018). The national leader in total first downs recorded (84) and second in the nation in total missed tackles forced (83), despite missing two full games, he also is the only player in the nation with multiple 50+ yard rushing touchdowns and multiple 50+ yard receiving touchdowns, racing downfield for two of each.
At The Peak
Boise State had a total of 12 players recognized on Nov. 28 as the Mountain West announced its 2023 All-Conference Teams. In addition to being named the Offensive Player of the Year, Ashton Jeanty received First Team honors alongside Cade Beresford, Ahmed Hassanein and James Ferguson-Reynolds. Kage Casey, Andrew Simpson and Jonah Dalmas all claimed second team honors while Garrett Curran, A'Marion McCoy, Marco Notarainni, Seyi Oladipo and Alexander Teubner were listed as Honorable Mention. Jeanty is the first Bronco running back since Alexander Mattison in 2018 to receive first team honors and it marked the third straight year a Boise State offensive lineman received first team honors.
I'll Believe It When ~~Pigs~~ Broncos Fly
Don't think Pigs Broncos can fly? Let us prove you wrong. Boise State ranks 27th in the nation among the most improved passing offenses in the nation. The Broncos' pass attack, coordinated by alumnus Bush Hamdan, has improved from averaging 190.6 yards per game a year ago to 229.6 yards per game this season, an increase of 20.5%.
May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor
Former U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt is known for famously saying "As regards the extraordinary prizes, the element of luck is the determining factor." Lady Luck has surely been in the Broncos' favor this year in reaching the MW Championship Game, which is appropriately being held in Las Vegas this year. But just how improbable has Boise State's path to the MW Championship been? Following the Nov. 4 loss at Fresno State, the Broncos needed three-straight wins and help from various teams, but they got just that. Boise State defeated New Mexico, Utah State, and Air Force, extending their MW record to 6-2 and eliminating the Falcons from the MW race. Air Force's removal was also due to losses against Hawai'i and UNLV in the previous two games. San Jose State also won three-straight, defeating Fresno State, San Diego State, and UNLV. After its loss to SJSU, Fresno State was dropped by New Mexico, officially eliminating them from contention. UNLV's aforementioned win over Air Force came a week after they eliminated Wyoming, but their loss to SJSU led to the three-way tie that required computer rankings to break.
Using the ESPN probabilities that were available at kickoff for each game mentioned, it can be determined that there was a 0.1% chance of all 10 games ending with the result necessary to give Boise State a spot in the MW Championship.
Keep The Streak Alive
Forget putting it all on red or black, this Bronco team is going to put it all on Blue. A win by Boise State in the 2023 Mountain West Championship Game would mean the Broncos' 2023 senior class will become the 25th straight class at Boise State to win a conference championship. However, with the last title coming in 2019, a loss by the Broncos would end the nation's longest running streak. Boise State's 2023 senior class would be the 25th-straight group to graduate with at least one conference championship. Of the previous 24 straight classes leaving with rings, 19 left with multiple championships, including 11 with three-or-more. The last Boise State senior class to not win a conference championship was the class of 1998, a group which led Boise State from I-AA to I-A (now FBS). The streak of 24-straight classes is the longest active streak in the country, and the third-longest in NCAA history. BYU (30; 1975-2004) and Nebraska (28; 1975-2002) boast the longest streaks in NCAA history. Oklahoma's current streak is 24 and is guaranteed a 25th-straight season in 2024.
Fear The Thumb
Boise State has won four conference championships in the Mountain West, the most by a current member of the league, and tied with BYU, TCU and Utah for the most in conference history. A win over UNLV Saturday would push the Broncos over all others with a fifth MW title.
We're Just Carrying On an Old Family Tradition
There aren't many groups that are more tight-knit than The Brotherhood that is formed on The Blue, and that family atmosphere that is forged at Boise State is something that Hank Williams Jr. should have really crooned about. The Broncos have won 35 conference championships in its program history, matched with Tulsa for the sixth-most conference titles won by any current FBS team. That trails only Oklahoma (50), Nebraska (46), Michigan (44), Ohio State (39) and Southern Cal (37) in the most number of conference championships won. With Southern Cal joining the Big Ten alongside Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State, Boise State has the opportunity to move up the list. A win against UNLV would put the Broncos within one of Southern Cal and within only eight titles of Michigan, something no manifesto could have predicted.
Guess Who's Back? Back Again.
Boise State is making its seventh appearance in the Mountain West Championship Game, the most of any conference member. However, this year's title game will mark the first time Boise State will be competing in a true road game and only the second time to be playing in a MW Championship Game outside of the Treasure Valley. The only other time the Broncos didn't battle for the title on The Blue was in 2020 when COVID protocols forced the league to move the game to Las Vegas.
Lucky 13
Saturday's game at Allegiant Stadium might be the first trip to the new venue for Boise State but it is far from the Broncos' first trip to Sin City. In fact, this week's MW Championship Game will mark Boise State's 13th game played in Las Vegas all-time with the Broncos going 7-5 in those previous games. That includes five appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl with the Broncos winning all five.
Ahmed the VIII
Ahmed Hassanein has at least one solo sack in eight-straight games, matching Will Anderson (Alabama, 2021) for the longest FBS streak since Carl Nassib recorded a solo sack in 10-straight games for Penn State in 2015. The junior has 12.0 sacks this season, tying for the sixth-best single-season total in school history alongside Kamalei Correa (2014).
Ashton Jeanty, MD
With a dominating game over Air Force on Nov. 24, Ashton Jeanty became the first FBS player with 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a season since Kenny Gainwell (Memphis) achieved the feat in 2019. Even more impressively, Jeanty did it in 10 games, instead of 12, and became the first FBS player to hit 1,000/500 in 10 games since I'Tavius Mathers (Middle Tennessee) in 2016.
This AA Isn't The Minor Leagues
That's because the combo of Ahmed Hassanein and Andrew Simpson is all majors. The Bronco duo have combined for 30.5 tackles for a loss this season but even more impressive is that 23.5 of those 30.5 TFLs (77%) have come since Oct. 7 when the Broncos rallied back to defeat San Jose State.
Ashton Runs Past the L
Ashton Jeanty is the ONLY player in the FBS with multiple 50+ yard rushing touchdowns AND multiple 50+ yard receiving touchdowns, racing downfield for two of each.
50-yard TD reception against Washington (Sept. 2)
58-yard TD run against San Diego State (Sept. 22)
75-yard TD reception against Air Force (Nov. 24)
50-yard TD run against Air Force (Nov. 24)
Boise State Makes Overall Gains
It's not just a passing game that has improved. The Broncos overall have made tremendous strides under the direction of offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan with the nation's 22nd most improved offense. That's because the Blue and Orange have jumped nearly 100 spots, from a total offense ranked 102nd nationally last season by averaging 386.9 yards per game to a total offense ranked No. 28 in the country by averaging 437.2 yards per game this season.
Sealed With a Kiss
Did you know that Boise State is 14-0 when George Holani surpasses the century mark on the ground?
Baba Noel Came Early
While not dressed in a red suit and sporting a beard that isn't white, Ahmed Hassanein is trying to play the role of Santa Claus that has arrived way too early. Since Sept. 30, Hassanein has tallied a Mountain West-leading 12.5 sacks, two more than the next best tally in the league. Hassanein, the first college football player to come from Egypt, is averaging 1.56 sacks per game over that span while Colorado State's Mohamed Kamara has only averaged 0.94 sacks per game with a total of 7.5 sacks to his credit.
30 Rock
The Broncos posted an impressive streak during the 2023 season, scoring 30 or more points in nine consecutive games, averaging 36.6 points per game during that span. It was Boise State's longest 30-point streak since the 2011 squad scored 30-plus in all 13 games, averaging 44.2 points per game that season.
Can He Be The First?
Despite the long odds, Boise State interim head coach Spencer Danielson has achieved a feat only recorded once before. Boise State and Danielson have become just the second team all-time to have an interim head coach lead his team to its conference championship game. The only other time that has happened was back in 2015 when Southern Cal, led by interim head coach Clay Helton, reached the Pac-12 Championship Game. Now Danielson can make history by becoming the first interim head coach to win a conference championship game if the Broncos can subdue the Rebels on Saturday.
Say It Lauter for the People In The Back
Matt Lauter traveled to Logan, Utah on Nov. 18 with zero touchdown catches to his credit. He left two more than he had before. Lauter, originally Boise State's back-up tight end, caught two passes for scores in a 45-10 rout of the Aggies and became the first Boise State tight end to record two receiving touchdowns in a single game since Jake Roh did so at Colorado State on Nov. 11, 2017.
Jeanty Moves to Four Digits
As part of an 85-yard performance on Nov. 18 at Utah State, Ashton Jeanty passed an impressive threshold during his sophomore season as he ran past the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the year. This marks the 19th time a Bronco has ran for 1,000-plus yards in a season. It is also one of six 1,000-yard rushing performances by a Boise State underclassman with five of those being recorded by sophomores. The lone exception? Georgia Holani churned out 1,014 yards in 2019, his freshman campaign.
B is for Boise
Score an 80% on an exam in college and you are likely to receive a "B" grade but in college football, 80% is much better than just a "B". Boise State has successfully converted 80% of its 4th Down Conversions this year, the second-best rate in the country. That also marks the highest conversion rate the Broncos have recorded since at least 2012, the year when national statistics for 4th Down Conversions began to be available. The next highest mark for the Broncos came in 2015 when 63% of the 4th Downs were converted, ranking Boise State 22nd nationally. The same success rate for the Broncos takes place on the other side of the ball. Boise State's defense is allowing opponents to just a 38.9% success rate on 4th Down Conversions, ranking the Broncos 17th in the nation. That is the highest ranking for Boise State nationally since 2019 when BSU ranked 14th nationally, allowing 37.9% of 4th Downs to be converted.
No Spares, Only Strikes
With Boise State's dominating 45-10 win at Utah State on Nov. 18, the Broncos reached six wins and became bowl eligible for the 26th consecutive season. That marks the second-longest active streak in the country, just one season behind Georgia.

Longest Active Bowl Eligibility Streaks

Rank	Seasons	Team	Streak Began
1.	*27	Georgia	1997
2.	*26	Boise State	1998
3.	*25	Oklahoma	1999
	*25	Clemson	1999
5.	*22	Wisconsin	2002
6.	*20	Alabama	2004
7.	*18	Oklahoma State	2006
8.	*14	Toledo	2010
9.	13	Mississippi State	2010
10.	*11	Ohio State	2013
11.	*10	Memphis	2014
* - indicates streak has continued into 2023 season

Scouting UNLV

UNLV enters this week's contest with a 9-3 record (6-2 MW), hoping to upend Boise State's championship hopes while winning their first MW Championship.
Despite all the glitz and glamour in Sin City, all that glitters is not necessarily gold for the Rebels. UNLV enters this week looking to win its second conference championship ever and first since 1994.
If you think we're forgetting something, we are certainly not. Yes, UNLV won the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference in 1984 but later had to forfeit the title due to using ineligible players. No, that team was not coached by Jerry Tarkanian.
Speaking of coaches, Barry Odom is in his first season in Las Vegas. It is his fifth year overall as a head coach, guiding Mizzou from 2016 to 2019, compiling a record of 34-28 as a head coach. Following the 2019 season, he took himself out of (his) Missouri and went to Arkansas before heading to Vegas.
While he's still barely into his (likely) long tenure at UNLV, Odom is already achieving one notable feat. With a 9-3 record, he is the first UNLV head coach to have a winning percentage in his tenure since Tony Knap posted a .696 mark (47-20-2) from 1976-81. We don't blame UNLV for hiring a Boise State coach to find someone who knows how to win.
UNLV faces rival Nevada (Reno) annually in football and the winner gets the Fremont Cannon. The trophy was built in 1970 and is a replica of a 19th-century Howitzer cannon that accompanied American explorer and politician John C. Frémont on an expedition to the American West and Nevada in the mid 19th century. The trophy is the heaviest and most expensive in college football. So yeah, leave it to someone in Las Vegas to go way overboard on something simple.
UNLV was originally founded in 1959 as a southern regional extension division of the University of Nevada. When it initially began operations, it used a classroom at Las Vegas High School. The moral of this story is no one should look disapprovingly upon Boise State's history as a junior college.
The university's endowment is $367.6 million. While that may be about double Boise State's endowment, we're pretty sure some former university president got lucky and rolled a seven to double that number.
In 2004, UNLV - which originally was a regional campus - opened a regional campus of its own on Shadow Lane near the University Medical Center. Sadly, they chose to name it the Shadow Lane Campus and not the Inception Campus.
UNLV's basketball team is known as the Runnin' Rebels while all other programs are just known as the Rebels. Knowing that important fact, we now expect UNLV to live up to its nickname and pass on every down on Saturday.
UNLV's mascot is based on the university's split from their literal Northern rival, University of Nevada (Reno) and not on any direct reference to the actual Confederacy. As UNLV was once a Southern campus of the University of Nevada (Reno) when it became its own university, UNLV was seen as literally the South splitting from the North. That makes sense as we don't recall the Battle of Henderson marking as a turning point in the Civil War.
UNLV's original mascot, Beauregard, was a wolf in a Confederate gray uniform. So perhaps the textbooks at that high school weren't as accurate as we would have hoped for.

A Win Would...

Register Boise State's fifth Mountain West Championship, the most of any school.
Secure Boise State's fourth MW Championship Game win.
Solidify the 26th consecutive winning season for the Broncos, the longest active streak in the nation.
Give Spencer Danielson a 3-0 record all-time as an interim head coach.
Mark the eighth win for the Broncos in their past 10 trips to Las Vegas.
Make Spencer Danielson the first interim head coach to win a conference title game.
Be better than a loss.

For complete coverage of Boise State Football, download the Bronco Sports App or follow the team on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X.

--BroncoSports.com--

Broncos Look for Lady Luck as Boise State Rolls Dice on Seven

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cade Beresford

Kage Casey

Garrett Curran

Jonah Dalmas

James Ferguson-Reynolds

Ahmed Hassanein

George Holani

Ashton Jeanty

Matt Lauter

A’Marion McCoy

Marco Notarainni

Seyi Oladipo

Andrew Simpson

Alexander Teubner

Broncos Look for Lady Luck as Boise State Rolls Dice on Seven

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cade Beresford

Kage Casey

Garrett Curran

Jonah Dalmas

James Ferguson-Reynolds

Ahmed Hassanein

George Holani

Ashton Jeanty

Matt Lauter

A’Marion McCoy

Marco Notarainni

Seyi Oladipo

Andrew Simpson

Alexander Teubner

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