History on The Blue: Boise State tops UNLV to win Mountain West title, lock up CFP bid

The Broncos did it! Boise State wins the Mountain West title and clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff with a 21-7 win over UNLV. pic.twitter.com/VK7x3qX58w

— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) December 7, 2024

BOISE – Ashton Jeanty rushed for 209 yards and a touchdown and the Boise State football team won the Mountain West Championship with a 21-7 win over UNLV on Friday night at Albertsons Stadium.

With the win the Broncos locked up a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff and will likely earn a first round bye into the quarterfinals. The full bracket will be announced on Sunday morning.

“So proud of this team,” coach Spencer Danielson said. “This is a very special moment I’ll never forget.”

Jeanty, the Offensive MVP, scored on a 75-yard touchdown run in the second quarter – his fifth touchdown run of at least 70 yards this season. He surpassed Cedric Minter for the career Boise State rushing record during the game, and pulled within 132 yards of Barry Sanders’ record for the most rushing yards in a season in NCAA history.

The Broncos led 21-0 at the half and cruised in the second half to win back-to-back Mountain West titles for the first time in program history.

Boise State (12-1) played in front of a sellout crowd of 36,663 fans – a Mountain West record for a championship game. It was the seventh sellout this season for the Broncos – a program record.

“Good luck to anyone who comes here and thinks they’re going to win the game,” UNLV coach Barry Odom said. “I think they’re one of the best teams in college football right now, and I think they’ll do a great job representing this conference. They’re built to make a run.”

Down come the goal posts! pic.twitter.com/EhqnxwrNXq

— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) December 7, 2024

Seyi Oladipo earned Defensive MVP honors after finishing with 10 tackles, including two tackles-for-loss, and a forced fumble. His hustle play to track down UNLV running back Kylin James on an 86-yard run and keep him out of the end zone turned out to be one of the plays of the game when the Rebels ended up not scoring any points on the drive.

Boise State’s defense had six sacks and a turnover while holding UNLV to a season-low seven points. The seven points is also the fewest scored in a Mountain West Championship game.

Maddux Madsen was 18 of 27 for 158 yards and a touchdown for the Broncos and also scored on a 14-yard touchdown run.

Bronco Nation News has full postgame coverage including highlights, videos of the postgame celebration, interviews, a 3-hour postgame show and more. Check them out below:

POSTGAME SHOW