5. UNLV wide receiver Ricky White
When the Rebels have needed a big play this year, White has been the one to deliver it most often throughout 2023. This has been especially true in recent weeks: His 29 receptions in November were the second-most in the Mountain West, but his 589 receiving yards, collected as part of an ongoing five-game streak of 100-plus yards, were the most anywhere in the country. As was pointed out by Parker Fleming, he comes into conference championship weekend with the highest team target share of any player who’ll see the field on Saturday, so he will be a factor one way or another.
4. Boise State defensive end Ahmed Hassanein
The Broncos will head into Saturday with a notable pass-rushing advantage thanks to Hassanein’s breakout campaign. He’s one of only 12 FBS defenders to have collected a dozen sacks in the regular and, like White, he also finished with a flourish: The junior’s six November sacks were the second-most in the country. That could pose a challenge for a UNLV offensive line that has cut the number of sacks they’ve allowed by more than half, from 37 in 2022 to 17 this fall, and be the element that curtails the Rebels’ potency in critical situations.
3. Boise State cornerback Jaylen Clark
If Ricky White seems all but certain to get the ball, which Broncos defender will be tasked most often with slowing him down? The six-foot-two Clark has been the de facto number-one cornerback all season, starting every game but the season finale against Air Force, and would seem to be the most physical presence capable of stymieing the six-foot-1 White. He’s seen 65 targets and, per PFF, has allowed a 52.3% completion rate that’s the sixth-lowest among the 33 Mountain West defensive backs who have seen at least 30 balls thrown their way.
2. UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava
Maiava’s emergence as the 2023 season unfolded was one of the Mountain West’s most unexpected narratives, and his play down the stretch has been something to behold: Since the start of November, the Las Vegas native leads the conference in averaging 261.8 passing yards per game and is tied for first with seven touchdowns against just two interceptions. He’s only averaged 25 attempts in the last four games, but he’s made them count more than just about anyone else around.
It hasn’t been without some potential red flags, though, and it’s those warning signs that could rear their ugly head on Saturday. According to Pro Football Focus, Maiava managed an 8.6% big-time throw rate from Weeks 10 to 13, the best figure among starting quarterbacks in the Mountain West, but he also had a 6.5% turnover-worthy rate that’s also the highest in the conference during that stretch. All it might take is one mistake for Boise State to seize an advantage, but the Mountain West freshman of the year could have it in him to play one more mistake-free contest.
1. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty
No surprises here. It’s not that the Broncos missed him much when was sidelined for two games with injury, but they didn’t waste much time re-establishing the super sophomore as the offense’s centerpiece once he was healthy again: He earned eight yards per play on 13 touches against Utah State, then exploded for over 100 rushing and receiving yards in the victory over Air Force.
UNLV has been mostly sound about defending the run all year, but the Rebels were pushed by Air Force and San Jose State in their last two contests, and both the Falcons and Spartans managed over five yards per carry. If things break right, this could be the game that cements Jeanty in the national consciousness as one of college football’s top overall weapons.
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