Category: Boise State

Boise State Secures 82-50 Home Win Over San Jose State

Game Recap: Boise State 82, San Jose State 50 Boise State Secures 82-50 Home Win Over San Jose State Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire The Broncos take care of business in lopsided 32-point win over Spartans. The conference title race is as …

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 Game Recap: Boise State 82, San Jose State 50

Boise State Secures 82-50 Home Win Over San Jose State

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

The Broncos take care of business in lopsided 32-point win over Spartans.

The conference title race is as close as it’s ever been. With only four games left in the regular season on average, losing for teams who currently find themselves in the top-half of the standings could be a death sentence for their at-large hopes.

So, as what could be the game that decides that aforementioned title race come a few weeks from now taking place about 292 miles southeast of the ExtraMile Arena. Those hoping Boise State would have a hiccup against San Jose State on Tuesday night were watching. A tall task given the Broncos are were 21-0 against the Spartans in Boise heading into this one. While those hoping they tightened their hold on a top-3 conference finish with a blow out win were too.

Either way, somebody was going to end their night disappointed and Leon Rice’s group was on a mission to keep those sentiments outside of Boise.

The last time these two programs met in San Jose earlier this year the Spartan’s gave Boise State quite a scare. Behind a 30 point outing from MJ Amey Jr., Tim Mile’s group had the Broncos on the ropes heading into halftime. Down 40-33, their visitors went on to outscore them 45-29 to secure the 78-69 victory. Tuesday night’s matchup had a different feel entirely.

Even though the Broncos were double-digit favorites coming into this one, that didn’t mean the Spartans weren’t going to come out swinging. A Trey Anderson three opened things up for San Jose State. While back to back Tyson Degenhart layups gave the Broncos their first lead of the game at 4-3.

After a Myron Amey Jr. layup put Tim Miles’ group back on top. That would be the last time they held the lead for the rest of the game. An ensuing 7-4 run kept the home squad out front.

Boise State began to break away with a 6-0 run, Trey Anderson would respond with a jumper of his own. That would be the last time the Spartans would score over the next six minutes. The Broncos went on a 17-2 run over that next six minutes of play. Which really decimated what little momentum the Spartans had before a Tibet Gorener three pointer ended their scoring drought.

As impressive as that sounds, it wouldn’t end there. It would only be a part of a larger 24-3 run. Everyone showed out offensively for the Broncos. The seldom played freshman RJ Keene threw his name in the mix with five straight points of his own in just six minutes of play.

For the Spartans the shooting nightmare couldn’t come sooner. As they found themselves down by twenty points (33-13) with 2:51 left to go in the half. Amey Jr. would put a single point on the scoreboard after going 1-2 from the charity stripe, but his squad could not make a field goal no matter where they tried on the floor.

Boise State wouldn’t pile it on much more after that. Heading into halftime up 38-16 over their visitors. San Jose State didn’t attempt a single free throw until the final three minutes of the half. They also shot a horrid 6-27 (22.2%) from the floor, mostly in part due to their shot selection. Taking a whopping 14 three pointers, which was 51% of their total shots.

Even though it wasn’t one of the most efficient offensive performances ever. Boise State didn’t need anything remotely close to efficient to display their dominance. Shooting 52% from the floor, finding most of their success inside the arc (10-16, 62.5%).

Leading the charge for the Broncos in the first half was Tyson Degenhart with 9 points (2-3 FGs, 5-6 FTs). With O’Mar Stanley not far behind him with 8 points of his own to go along with 6 rebounds. Leon Rice had eight different players score a field goal in the first twenty minutes.

The Broncos didn’t take their foot off the gas as they emerged from halftime either. A quick 5-0 run felt like a replay of the first-half until the Spartans responded with a quick 5-0 run of their own. Both sides would go on to treat fans inside ExtraMile Arena to a three point barrage I’ve rarely seen in college basketball. As San Jose State would shoot 2-3 from deep as the Broncos answered. Making three of their next four attempts in that same time.

Even as the Spartans found some offensive rhythm, Boise State stayed hot enough to effectively make that run irrelevant to the overall score. Both squads began to cool off after that, with a few field goals on both sides to keep the scoreboard operator involved.

Boise State found themselves up 57-32 heading into a media timeout with 11:57 left in the game. A quick 5-0 run capped by yet another Tibet Gorener three pointer shrunk the lead back to twenty points. O’Mar Stanley would make a second chance layup off of an offensive board on the other end, his 3rd of the game. That sparked a 7-0 run only to be muddled with an extracurricular tie up after the whistle.

That resulted in a double technical and saw two players on each side dealt technical fouls (which canceled each other out). Myron Amey Jr. would end another San Jose State scoring drought with a made field goal & 1 free throw within about thirty seconds of play.

As both coaches began to utilize their bench with a little less than five minutes to go, Roddie Anderson III received an and one to put Boise State up 70-45. Each side would continue to exchange a few buckets as the Broncos would let time expire to secure their 82-50 win at home.

“Obviously it’s good for metrics but you can’t take these kinds of wins for granted in the Mountain West,” said Chibuzo Agbo. “Really good teams can still lose these kinds of games on any given night in this conference so it felt good to get it done.”

San Jose State looked like a JV team in the first-half, which couldn’t be overcome. No matter how much more impressive their 34 point second half was. They ended the night having shot 10-28 (35.7%) from deep, thanks in part to Myron Amey Jr. (3-7 3FGs) & Tibet Gorener (4-9 3FGs, 12 points).

Boise State on the other hand had a very efficient & well rounded offensive night. Shooting 29-54 (53.7%) from the floor & 10-25 (40%) from three-point range & 14-17 (82.4%) from the charity stripe.

All night it was a team effort, with ten different Bronco’s seeing time on the floor & all scoring at least one field goal. Four starters posted double-figures, in Stanley (10 points), Agbo (14 points), Rice (14 points) & Degenhart (15 points).

As impressive of a night it was for Leon Rice’s group offensively, they did just as good of a job defensively. Forcing 14 turnovers, logging 7 steals as a team & only sending the Spartans to the line 5 times total. Not to mention playing a part in San Jose State only having five players score a point.

Player Spotlights

Boise State F-Tyson Degenhart

Stat line: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals & 4 assists on 4-9 shooting (44.4%) from the floor & 7-8 (87.2%) from the line in 30 minutes of action

Boise State’s 32-point point win on Tuesday night was definitely a team effort. And I don’t think Degenhart’s 15 points would have necessarily been the line between win or loss. But he turned in a fine performance nonetheless and should be highlighted for it.

He had his way offensively down low against San Jose State. And was a part of a frontcourt defensive effort that made the paint a no go zone for Spartans all night.

San Jose State G–Myron Amey Jr.

Stat line: 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals & 2 blocks on 8-15 shooting (53.3%) from the floor & 3-7 (42.8%) from the line in 32 minutes of action

Amey Jr. has been a reliable scoring threat for Tim Miles and Co all season. Taking the leap many onlookers of the conference thought he was capable of and tasked with replacing former MWC POY Omari Moore. Even though the Spartans have fallen down the conference standings this season, Amey Jr.’s offensive production isn’t the reason why.

His 21 point performance Tuesday night was his 23rd double-digit outing this season & his 8th 20+ point performance of the season. Amey Jr. also made his impact on the other side the ball as well, forcing five recordable turnovers & being involved in plenty of others.

Two Takeaways:

  • San Jose State is obviously at the tail end of a rebuilding year. The Spartans are without their best frontcourt player in Robert Vaihola, who could have provided a scoring presence in the paint. And have relied on plenty of freshman & a few transfers to make meaningful impacts in their first season’s in San Jose. The ceiling for this team at the moment is snagging a win (or two) in their final remaining four games of the season. In hopes of building some winning momentum before the conference tournament in Las Vegas.
  • Boise State were the favorites by far coming into this home matchup against a program from the Mountain West’s cellar at the moment. Yes, any team can win any given night still. So team’s need to stay focused & execute in very winnable games like this. The Broncos did just that and in doing so, sit alone in second place in the conference just 0.5 games behind league leader Utah State.

Next Up:

The Broncos begin a two game road trip on Saturday against a sneakily dangerous Wyoming team in Laramie. The Cowboys have done their share of giant slaying this conference season, so Boise State shouldn’t take them lightly, especially inside the Arena-Auditorium.

That game tips off at 5:30 PM MT on February 24th and can be seen on the Mountain West Network.

While the Spartans head back home to prepare to host San Diego State on Friday February 23rd. The Aztecs are coming off of a tough loss to league leaders Utah State Tuesday night but are one of the always dangerous Mountain West teams year in & year out.

That game tips off at 7:00 PM PST and can be seen on FS1 as the lone Mountain West game of the night.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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No. 19 New Mexico Fall To Boise State 86-78 Inside the Pit

Game Recap: Boise State 86, No. 19 New Mexico 78 New Mexico receives first home loss of the season to Broncos. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Boise State travels to Albuquerque to hand No. 19 New Mexico their first home loss of the season. …

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 Game Recap: Boise State 86, No. 19 New Mexico 78

New Mexico receives first home loss of the season to Broncos.

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Boise State travels to Albuquerque to hand No. 19 New Mexico their first home loss of the season.

Albuquerque, NM–The Mountain West has turned into the bridge between high major and mid-major basketball. With the conference consistently ranked just behind or inside the coveted six high major conferences on KenPom.com in recent years.

With that jump in metric respect comes what fans and media around the conference like to call, the Mountain West Gauntlet. In short, it means that any team on any given night could fall. And taking a brief look the conference season thus far is all the proof you’ll need.

But, that high stakes basketball certainly gives way to entertaining and must watch action around the conference week in and week out. Take Tuesday night’s late night clash between the No. 19 New Mexico Lobos & Boise State Broncos.

Both squads were not immune to that aforementioned gauntlet as conference play begun. Richard Pitino’s Lobos began with a 1-2 record while Leon Rice’s Broncos have some high quality wins to go along with some less than stellar losses.

The Broncos have won four times inside the Pit, most recently back in 2022. But maybe more interesting, the last time Boise State faced a ranked New Mexico team in the Pit was back in 2013. Yes Leon Rice was the coach back then as well, so he’s familiar with the territory more than most.

Though with the Lobos coming into this match ready to defend an undefeated record on their home court and being renowned as one of the hottest teams in the country, fans were in for a treat.

The Lobos opened things up like they have done all January, with high energy, hustle & a zoned in focus. That gave them an early 10-2 lead over the Broncos and warranted a timeout from Leon Rice. Boise State responded with five straight points out of that timeout to silence the Pit crowd for just a moment.

The Broncos used that momentum to trade buckets with their hosts for the next five minutes or so. Mustapha Amzil came off of the bench with some instant offense.

With Coach Rice’s group making the adjustment to battle with their hosts down low where they have a deep array of bigs to choose from. It worked as the Broncos took their first lead of the game in the 9:49 minute mark with a Jace Whiting layup in a wide open lane.

They would go on a 6-0 run to further extend their lead in a ever so quiet Pit. The Broncos would shoot just 3-10 from deep but 8-10 down low during that stretch.

A Donovan Dent three pointer reignited the Lobo offense and cut the deficit down to one with just over five minutes of play in the half. Both squads would once again trade buckets to finish out the half. To the tune of a 41-38 Bronco lead. Thanks to their solid interior offense in the middle of the half and Max Rice’s three pointers.

The second-half began in similar fashion. A Broncos squad that was looking to do battle in the paint. The Lobos regained the lead just two minutes into the second half, going up 45-43 after a JT Toppin three pointer.

Both sides would continue to exchange buckets, in three point form, layups and free throws. The offense was everywhere on both sides and these two programs looked like one of the more even matchups in the Mountain West.

The Broncos were reluctant to give up their lead and found necessary buckets to maintain it. The only problem, Donovan Dent. The Lobo sophomore had his way with both Roddie Anderson III & Jace Whiting. Making drive after drive to keep the Lobos winning hopes alive.

Jamal Mashburn Jr. came off the bench to give Dent a much needed breather. And right off of the bench he sank a game tying three pointer to make things even at 67 a piece with about seven minutes on the game clock.

The Broncos answered with a Max Rice three and O’Mar Stanley field goal to regain their lead. A formula that treated them well all night. It continued to work all the way until the final buzzer.

It was the Lobos first loss inside the storied Pit this season. One fans and media alike saw coming eventually, but it still hurts regardless of the mental preparation. Boise State gave Leon Rice his fifth win inside the Pit during his tenure.

“Max Rice just continues to hurt us, O’Mar Stanley was such a great addition from the portal for them.” mentioned Richard Pitino “We got six days off until Wyoming, so we have to rebound & learn from this.”

Player Spotlights

Boise State G–Max Rice

Stat line: 35 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals on 12-20 shooting from the floor, including 7-14 (50%) from deep in 38 minutes on the floor

Rice gave Boise State their advantage in the first half with his three point shooting. Posting 11 points on 4-8 shooting (3-7 from deep). It wasn’t pretty but it was a difference maker. He continued to do the same in the second half. While even taking his game inside with his mismatched defenders on his hip and scoring in the process.

Max Rice was fun to watch, hitting threes, dishing to bigs and making cuts when those bigs got in trouble. The rest of his Boise State teammates had their woes but when your hand is as hot as Rice’s was, that doesn’t matter. His 35 points were a new career high, his previous of 30 points was also against the Lobos in Boise.

New Mexico G-Donovan Dent

Stat line: 31 points, 2 assists on 12-18 from the floor in 36 minutes on the floor

Jaelen House went to the bench early with 2 fouls, 2 points & no field goals early. Mashburn Jr. wasn’t his usual self either with a little too much size defensively for Boise State. So, in comes Donovan Dent.

With fearless drives filled with acrobatic plays, speed & strength. Which paired well with his confidence and play making abilities for others. Without him Leon Rice’s group would have had double-digit lead going into half-time.

Dent had an absolute showing in the second-half. Scoring 18 points off of 7-9 shooting, all two point field goals by the way. Cutting through the Boise State defense like butter. Dent’s 31 points were his new career high.

Three Takeaways

  • These games are necessary to experience in order to build a championship team and NCAA Tournament team. New Mexico realized that tonight. That sometimes the other teams size will be a factor and shots won’t fall for you. But that’s when your stars need to step up or relinquish that title.
  • This was the first game I’ve seen an opponent take the Lobos out of their game. They usually, force turnovers, score in transition & play tough defense. Either on the interior or perimeter, not always at the same time. Boise State did their job by taking them out of this style of play early. Not to mention the points lacking from their normal group of scorers and contributors. You can’t win when House goes 1-15 from the floor, that’s not all on him, but that usually spells doom.
  • Boise State came into the Pit and luckily had Max Rice with them on the flight over. The other broncos played key roles but Rice had one of the hottest hands I’ve seen in the Pit in recent memory. They’ll head home with a quality win in one of the toughest places to do so in the country. I can’t say much more about their performance than, good job Max Rice. Let’s hope he can keep that rhythm for the remainder of conference play. If so, the Broncos have found their go to scorer and are that much more dangerous.
  • I wanted to add a surprise 4th takeaway for those who have made it this far. Anyone can win, any given night.

Next Up:

The Lobos take the time to get right and take the weekend off before their next game. New Mexico hasn’t had a one game week so far this season and after such a hot turnaround beginning in January, it’s much needed.

After that, they’ll head on the road to face an always problematic Wyoming Cowboys squad in Laramie. That contest tips off at 6:30 PM MT on Tuesday February 6th and can be seen on the Mountain West Network.

The Broncos return home with a quality win to host a dangerous Air Force team on Saturday. One with plenty of scorers capable of master mining the upset.

Every game counts in this year’s edition of the Mountain West, so a home game against a bottom-half conference foe is a must win for Leon Rice. That game tips off on Saturday February 3rd at 2:00 PM MT and can be watched on the Mountain West Network.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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New Mexico vs. Boise State: Game Preview, How To Stream, Odds, More

New Mexico vs. Boise State: Game Preview, How To Stream, Odds, More Can the Lobso win vs the Broncos? Follow @MWCwire Every game is important for UNM Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Time: 10:30 p.m. ET TV: Fox Sports 1 Stream : For free with a …

New Mexico vs. Boise State: Game Preview, How To Stream, Odds, More

Can the Lobso win vs the Broncos?

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Every game is important for UNM

The New Mexico Lobos (18-3, 6-2 MWC) aim to extend their five-game winning streak as they face the Boise State Broncos (14-6, 5-2 MWC) at The Pit on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 10:30 pm ET.

New Mexico boasts a 15-5-0 record against the spread this season, surpassing Boise State’s 9-10-1 ATS performance.

Regarding over/under outcomes, the Lobos’ games are 10-10-0, while the Broncos stand at 11-9-0. Over the past ten games, New Mexico has shown strength with a 7-3 record against the spread and an 8-2 overall performance.

In their second week in the AP Top 25 basketball poll, UNM Lobos, led by Richard Pitino, ascended six spots.

On Monday, New Mexico (18-3, 6-2) rose six places to claim the No. 19 spot, surpassing teams like Florida Atlantic, Dayton, BYU, and Oklahoma, the latter dropping 12 places from No. 11 to No. 23.

This climb is attributed to their impressive five-game winning streak in the Mountain West, where they have convincingly defeated all opponents by double-digit margins.

For example, New Mexico’s defense has been a crucial factor in their success throughout the season, and it seems to be improving with each game.

Sunday’s game against Nevada was particularly impressive. They limited Nevada to a 34% field goal percentage, preventing any Wolf Pack players from scoring in double digits. Jarod Lucas and Kenan Blackshear were held to just 9 points each.

In addition to their climb in the rankings, the Lobos dominated the weekly league awards, and this is the highest ranking for the New Mexico Lobos since 2013-14

For the first time since 2011-2012, they have won five straight MW games by a margin of at least 10 points.

In yesterday’s press conference, Boise State head coach Leon Rice commented in regards to playing the Lobos in the PIT: “It got to be one of the top five venues, it’s loud in there, there’s that, and now you have a good team playing like they are playing.”

“You saw the numbers they are doing down there, to good teams…no one can argue, San Diego State, Utah State, and Nevada are really good teams, and they just got “blitzkrieged” down there.”

The latest triumph for the Lobos was a resounding 89-55 victory over Nevada on Sunday night, marking a 34-point surge.

While the team appreciates its ranking, it focuses on other metrics contributing to the NCAA Tournament field determination.

Currently sitting at number 19 in the Kenpom rankings, UNM guard Jaelen House acknowledges the significance of Kenpom but emphasizes that the team’s primary focus is on their performance rather than rankings.

Among Mountain West teams, Utah State is the only other squad in the AP Top 25, holding the 17th position.

On Monday, Utah State secured the No. 17 spot in both the AP and coach’s polls, maintaining its position as the premier team in the Mountain West Conference alongside New Mexico, which moved up to the 19th spot.

Following a hard-fought 90-84 overtime victory against the Broncos (14-6, 5-2 MW), the Aggies inched up one spot in the AP poll.

With an overall record of 18-2 and a conference play at 6-1, Utah State proudly leads the league standings as they prepare for a Tuesday showdown against San Jose State (8-12, 1-6). The Aggies have now held their place in both polls for four consecutive weeks.

Remember that New Mexico defeated Utah State in the PIT on January 16, 99-86, so the rematch will happen on March 9 and promises to be a barn burner.

Boise State faces a challenging schedule with consecutive matchups against top-20 opponents, starting with a game in Albuquerque on Wednesday at 8:30 pm MT on Fox Sports 1.

The Lobos, currently the standout team in the Mountain West, have been averaging an impressive 91.2 points per game during their five-game winning streak.

Each player seems to have learned their role under head coach Richard Pitino, and they are playing with high confidence that any person who has watched them play would agree.

Looking ahead in Mountain West play, Utah State’s schedule is marked by two significant matchups against San Diego State (February 3) and a rematch with Boise State (February 10), along with games against Colorado State (February 17) and New Mexico (March 9).

Boise State faces a challenging schedule with consecutive matchups against top-20 opponents, starting with a game in Albuquerque on Wednesday at 8:30 pm MT on Fox Sports 1.

Notably, New Mexico outranks both San Diego State (16-4, 5-2) and Utah State in the NET rankings and holds the top spot in the Mountain West at No. 19 on KenPom.

 

Anticipate an exhilarating late-night showdown in the PIT in Albuquerque as the Mountain West rivals clash.

The home-court advantage bodes well for New Mexico, with oddsmakers favoring the Lobos due to their impressive performance on both ends of the court, showcasing strong defensive and offensive capabilities.

The upcoming battle between the Broncos and the Lobos is poised to deliver an exciting game, especially as Boise seeks a crucial road victory against a formidable opponent in New Mexico.

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San Diego State vs. Boise State: Game Preview, Odds, How To Watch

Can the Aztecs get a key road victory, or will the Broncos rebound after a tough home loss? Who: The Boise State Broncos (12-5, 3-1) vs the San Diego State Aztecs (15-3, 4-1). When: Saturday, Jan 20, 2024. 11:00 am MT (10:00 am PT). Where: Extramile …

Can the Aztecs get a key road victory, or will the Broncos rebound after a tough home loss?

Who: The Boise State Broncos (12-5, 3-1) vs the San Diego State Aztecs (15-3, 4-1).

When: Saturday, Jan 20, 2024. 11:00 am MT (10:00 am PT).

Where: Extramile Arena; Boise, Idaho

TV: CBS

STREAM: FuboTV — get a free trial

Line: SDSU -1 on KenPom

The San Diego State Aztecs are traveling to Boise Idaho to take on the Boise State Broncos. It is a battle of heavyweights as these programs have won the conference the last two years, and both are pushing for another championship this season.

Boise State is coming off a tough home loss to UNLV, and will be looking to get back in the win column. A second home loss could remove them from the race for the conference title.

SDSU is coming off a home win vs Nevada and will want to expand their win streak. Picking up a win in Boise would put the Aztecs in a Prime position to win the conference.

Keys for SDSU:

The Aztecs will need to find a few key things. First, they will need to handle the crowd. They let the environment get to them in the Pit and blew a double-digit lead to lose by 18. This Aztec team will need to stay more composed.

The Broncos can occasionally be turnover-prone, and the Aztecs will want to force that issue.

Lastly, Boise State plays an aggressive style of defense that can result in committing extra fouls. The Aztecs will want to try and get key players in foul trouble early, especially O’Mar Stanley. That will let Jaedon LeDee get more work done down low.

Keys for Boise State

The primary focus needs to be slowing down Jaedon LeDee. LeDee is on pace for an all-American level season, and the Aztecs haven’t had consistent help for him. Other guys may play eel for a couple games, but he’s been the only constant. Slowing him down is a must.

The other key is offensive rebounding. It is a problem that has plagued the Aztecs off and on all season. Freshman JT Toppin had nine offensive rebounds on his own against SDSU. If the Broncos as a team can get second chances it will wear down the Aztec defense.

X-Factor

Rebounding. The Aztecs had 20 offensive rebounds in their win over Nevada. Boise State did rebound well in their loss against UNLV. If the Broncos clean that up they should win. If not the Aztecs should pull off the victory.

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SJSU Basketball’s Success May Hinge On Guard Alvaro Cardenas

SJSU men’s basketball’s success may hinge on guard Alvaro Cardenas continuing his massive third-year leap.

SJSU men’s basketball’s success may hinge on guard Alvaro Cardenas

Alvaro Cardenas must continue his third-year leap

Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

A deep-dive into SJSU’s third-year guard

WHO: Boise State (9-4) vs. San Jose State (7-7)

WHEN: Friday, January 5th — 9:30 p.m. CST / 7:30 p.m. PST

WHERE: Provident Credit Union Event Center; San Jose, Calif.

TV: Fox Sports 1

STREAM: FuboTV — get a free trial

ODDS: San Jose State +6

San Jose State junior point guard Alvaro Cardenas might wonder if he could’ve done more to prevent Wyoming’s Akuel Kot from drilling a jump shot over him as time expired last Tuesday night. Despite going step-for-step with Kot and coming within a hair of blocking the shot, Cardenas was forced to watch Kot’s teammates hound him at mid-court.  

And Cardenas might also wonder if he could’ve done more to prevent SJSU from conceding a 17-point lead. Similar to that cruel final possession, this too may be unreasonable. Cardenas led SJSU with 21 points, and nine rebounds and shot a ridiculous 4-for-5 clip from three. 

Buried in the debris of Tuesday’s soul-crushing defeat is the reality that Cardenas may have to play unreasonably well in order for SJSU to have a shot at maintaining its relevance in the Mountain West.

Now at 7-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play, the Spartans must win nine of their 17 conference games to become eligible for its second-straight CBI tournament appearance. If they can do it, it would be their first time making back-to-back postseason appearances. 

The vaunted Mountain West may play spoiler to this feel-good story. Twelve of those 17 conference games come against teams with a higher NET ranking than SJSU (No. 165 in NET). One of those 12 is Friday night’s opponent: Boise State.

The Broncos’ scoring core of Chibuzo Agbo (15.3 points), Tyson Degenhart (14.8 points), Max Rice (11.7 points) and O’mar Stanley (11.5 points) could be the latest squad to obliterate SJSU’s shaky defense. 

If that happened and SJSU were to fall to San Diego State (No. 21 in NET) this Tuesday, it would start out conference play a meager 0-3. Considering SJSU still has to face New Mexico (No. 36 in NET), UNLV (No. 115 in NET) and Utah State (No. 26 in NET) this month, the Spartans could rack up six losses before February begins. Even scarier, SJSU would have just three losses to spare for a slate that’ll feature another bout with both SDSU and Utah State, plus a trip up to Colorado State (No. 15 in NET). 

In order to survive this gauntlet, the Spartans defense must improve, but what if it remains hapless? Does that mean it’s back to being a conference punchline?

No, it does not. It’ll just require players like Cardenas playing exceptionally well on offense. 

Just take SJSU’s upset over crosstown rival Santa Clara from a couple of weeks ago. Sure, the Spartans allowed 78 points, but Cardenas contributed a whopping 37 points when combining his 14 points and 10 assists. 

But then there’s the example from last Tuesday. When adding Cardenas’ 21 points – two of which came on a layup to tie the game at 73 before Kot’s game-winner – and four assists he contributed 33 total points. 

If 37 contributed points was enough and 33 wasn’t, does that mean Cardenas must average the former moving forward? Possibly. Particularly because SJSU’s defense has allowed at least 75 points in each of its last seven games. 

Yes, it’s a daunting challenge for Cardenas. And a slightly unfair one, too. It’s not his fault SJSU’s rim protection is lacking. 

But if nothing else, it’s a compliment. 

Entering the 2023-24 season, there was a cloud of doubt hovering over Cardenas. 

‘Was he only good last year because of Omari Moore?’

By playing next to Moore, the 2022-23 Mountain West Player of the Year, Cardenas wasn’t burdened by the pressure to shepherd the team to victory. Plus, more attention on Moore, just equated to better opportunities for Cardenas. Perhaps the best example came in SJSU’s win over Southern Indiana in the CBI – the program’s first ever postseason win – when Moore scored just 15 points on nine total shots. Cardenas, meanwhile, went for a team-high 22 points on an 8-for-13 clip from the field and 3-for-6 clip from three. 

Through 14 games this year, Cardenas has quelled questions about his dependence on Moore. He’s gone from averaging 10 points, 3.4 assists, two turnovers on 41.3% mark on two-pointers and 31.3% from three in 2022-23, to averaging 13.9 points, 5.6 assists, 1.9 turnovers, 48.6% mark on two-pointers and 39.2% mark from three in 2023-24. He’s dished the fifth-most assists per game in the Mountain West and is tied with MJ Amey for the team-lead in points per game. 

But something SJSU fans should be cognizant of – even if they’d rather not – is that Cardenas taking that next step forward may not bode well for the team’s long-term success. For the better Cardenas does, the better the chance Power Five programs are going to offer what SJSU can’t: NIL opportunities and increased exposure.  

Of course, the retainment conundrum is still some time away – but – not too far away and not too unlikely to ignore it. 

For now at least, Cardenas is focused on leading SJSU: the only Division I school to offer him. 

Considering his success, it’s mind-boggling to think that Cardenas, an undersized guard from Spain, couldn’t even get on a Zoom call with the head coach of a Division I program back in 2021 – much less a scholarship. 

Cardenas was lucky SJSU eventually did come around and in a similar state of desperation. When Cardenas couldn’t get a visa appointment to head to San Jose, SJSU head coach Tim Miles was sending direct messages to members of the Spanish Embassy via social media, and trading emails with congressmen.

Since then, Cardenas has flown his way into becoming a cornerstone of rebuilding one of the worst programs in college basketball. But can he rise to the next challenge: leading the Spartans to the CBI?

“There’s nothing I don’t think that kid can’t handle,” Cardenas’ former trainer Gilbert Abraham told The Spear last January. 

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Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction Boise State will look to continue their hot streak with a victory over UCLA. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for. Follow @MWCwire Will the Broncos leave the …

Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

Boise State will look to continue their hot streak with a victory over UCLA.  Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

Follow @MWCwire

Will the Broncos leave the City of Angels with their second straight bowl win?

STARCO BRANDS LA BOWL Hosted by Gronk: UCLA Bruins (7-5, 4-5 PAC-12) vs. Boise State Broncos (8-5, 6-2 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, December 16 — 4:30 PM PT/5:30 PM MT

WHERE: SoFi Stadium; Inglewood, CA

WEATHER: Partly cloudy, high of 77 degrees

TV: ABC

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes ESPN, by following this link.

RADIO: The UCLA broadcast can be found on the UCLA Sports Network or in the local LA area on 570 AM (LA Sports). The Boise State broadcast can be found in the Treasure Valley on the Bronco Radio Network on 670 AM (KBOI) or 93.1 FM (KBOI).

SERIES RECORD: UCLA leads the all-time series 1-0. In the last and only meeting in 1999, UCLA won 38-7 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. 

LAST GAME: UCLA lost to Cal 33-7, while Boise State beat UNLV 44-20 in the MWC Championship game.

WEBSITES: UCLABruins.com, the official UCLA athletics website. 

BroncoSports.com, the official Boise State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): UCLA | Boise State

ODDS: UCLA -2.5

SP+ PROJECTION: UCLA by 0.5

FEI PROJECTION: UCLA by 1.0

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: UCLA 80.46% win probability (31.93-20.55)

The second Mountain West game of the opening weekend of bowl games pairs the UCLA Bruins against the Boise State Broncos in Los Angeles Saturday evening. 

The Broncos have the opportunity to end the Bruins era in the PAC-12 with a loss and accomplish their final remaining season goal of winning a bowl game. This won’t be an easy task as UCLA is a talented team playing a virtual home game as SoFi Stadium is actually closer to campus than Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. 

Here’s how newly promoted head coach Spencer Danielson and the Broncos can get it done on Saturday. 

THREE KEYS TO A BOISE STATE VICTORY

  1. Get ahead of the chains with an effective run game.

Boise State got great news recently with star RB Ashton Jeanty announcing he will return to The Blue for another year on December 5th. Jeanty and fellow RB George Holani have teamed up to form one of the most effective backfield tandems in the FBS combining for nearly 2,600 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns. In the MWC Championship game, the Broncos ran the ball 51 times for 301 yards, good for 5.9 yards per carry, and 3 touchdowns. The offensive line and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan also had one of their best outings of the year.  

Two major challenges stand in the way of the Broncos accomplishing this key. The first being the departure of dual threat QB Taylen Green who recently entered the transfer portal and announced his commitment to Arkansas. The second being the fact that they are facing the 3rd ranked rushing defense in the FBS, albeit it not quite as complete personnel-wise as it was throughout the regular season.  

  1. Reduce the pressure on CJ Tiller 

Head Coach Spencer Danielson announced true freshman QB CJ Tiller will get the start under center with the departure of Taylen Green. Tiller has played just two snaps thus far in his college career and has zero pass attempts. Bush Hamdan’s gameplan will be paramount in allowing CJ to get comfortable in his elevated role. 

The Broncos’ stout run game outlined above will be key to getting Tiller off to a good start. Expect the talented freshman to utilize play action to slow down the pass rush from the Bruins and allow him time to process his reads and hit targets downfield. The recent announcement by UCLA star LB Laiatu Latu that he will forgo the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft should certainly help the true freshman feel more secure in the pocket on Saturday.    

  1. Contain UCLA’s athleticism 

It may be a tiresome narrative, but the Bruins have excellent athleticism as you would expect from a P5 program, despite their 7-5 record. Both contests against P5 competition this season showed that even with their high-level Mountain West recruiting, there is still a gap between the Broncos and P5 talent at some positions. Some of the issues likely arose from young players on the defense learning on the job and thus not feeling confident enough to play fast and free. It can also be reasoned that their contest against the University of Washington could be thrown out, as they have shown themselves to be above the rest of the FBS in ability, as they are slated to take on Texas in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.  

Boise State defensive backs have been especially susceptible to athletic wide receivers running vertical routes. While the safeties and corners have shown marked improvement over the course of the season, they still seem to have a play or two per game where they allow a receiver behind them. While the Bruins don’t have the most prolific passing attack, they will undoubtedly take shots deep to test this secondary.

Prediction

While the Broncos have seemingly made countless trips to Vegas for the Last Vegas Bowl, the previous bowl destination for the MWC Champion, this is their first trip to the new the LA Bowl. Look for head coach Spencer Danielson to once again inspire the team to play for their seniors and do just enough to leave LA with a victory, behind a solid ground game and a sound defensive effort complete with a couple turnovers. 

UCLA 24, Boise State 30

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Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Mountain West will look to win its third straight LA Bowl as Boise State takes on UCLA. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

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Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Mountain West will look to win its third straight LA Bowl as Boise State takes on UCLA. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Will the Broncos leave the City of Angels with their second straight bowl win?

STARCO BRANDS LA BOWL HOSTED BY GRONK: UCLA Bruins (7-5, 4-5 Pac-12) vs. Boise State Broncos (8-5, 6-2 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, December 16 — 4:30 PM PT/5:30 PM MT

WHERE: SoFi Stadium; Inglewood, CA

WEATHER: Mostly sunny, high of 76 degrees (note: game indoors)

TV: ABC

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes ABC, by following this link.

RADIO: The UCLA broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the UCLA Sports Network, including flagship 570 AM (KLAC) in Los Angeles. The Boise State broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Bronco Radio Network, including flagship KBOI (670 AM and 93.1 FM) in Boise.

SERIES RECORD: UCLA leads the all-time series, 1-0. In the lone previous meeting on September 4, 1999, the Bruins defeated the Broncos, 38-7, in Pasadena.

LAST GAME: Boise State defeated UNLV on the road in the Mountain West football championship game, 44-20, while UCLA lost to Cal at home, 33-7.

WEBSITES: UCLABruins.com, the official UCLA athletics website | BroncoSports.com, the official Boise State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): UCLA | Boise State

ODDS: UCLA -4

SP+ PROJECTION: UCLA by 0.5

FEI PROJECTION: UCLA by 1.0

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: UCLA 80.46% win probability (31.93-20.55)

The second Mountain West game of the opening weekend of bowl games pairs the UCLA Bruins against the Boise State Broncos in Los Angeles on Saturday evening.

The Broncos have the opportunity to end the Bruins era in the PAC-12 with a loss and accomplish their final remaining season goal of winning a bowl game. This won’t be an easy task as UCLA is a talented team playing a virtual home game as SoFi Stadium is actually closer to campus than Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.

Here’s how newly promoted head coach Spencer Danielson and the Broncos can get it done on Saturday against UCLA, as well as how the Bruins can handle business against Boise State.

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Three Keys to a UCLA Victory

1. Make sure the Murphy twins introduce themselves (rudely) to Boise State’s new quarterback.

Though star defensive end Laiatu Latu won’t take the field in the game, the Bruins have plenty of defenders who should be in a position to test Boise State freshman CJ Tiller, one of the team’s top 2023 recruits and the likely starter at quarterback for the bowl. After all, this is still a front seven that generated a 14.6% havoc rate in the regular season.

Chief among the remaining cohort are the Murphys, Grayson and Gabriel, who have combined for 11 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, and (per PFF) 63 quarterback hurries. How often they can get the upper hand against Broncos offensive tackles Kage Casey and Cade Beresford, who have given up 36 combined hurries but just four sacks, will be a critical factor for the Bruins.

2. Don’t waste red zone trips.

UCLA has often betrayed themselves inside the opponents’ 20-yard line this fall, ending the regular season by converting just 61.8% of their 55 red zone opportunities into points, the worst rate in the country. That problem has been magnified throughout the team’s recent slide, too, because the Bruins scored only seven touchdowns on 19 red zone tries in November.

As Action Network’s Brett McMurphy recently noted, Boise State has scored at least 30 points in ten of their last 11 games, so UCLA cannot afford to let chances fall by the wayside.

3. Re-establish the running game.

While the running back duo of Carson Steele and T.J. Harden both averaged over five yards per carry throughout the regular season, both have experienced a dip in production in recent weeks: Steele managed just 4.02 YPC in November while Harden’s 5.33 YPC average in that stretch is buoyed by a big performance in the team’s win over USC.

Turning that around against a Broncos defense that shut down some of the Mountain West’s most potent running games in the second half could be easier said than done, but UCLA probably can’t afford to put the game entirely in the hands of quarterback Ethan Garbers. Boise State hasn’t often been beaten in the trenches this fall, but they have given up an average of 4.79 YPC in their five losses (compared to 3.38 in eight wins).

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Three Keys to a Boise State Victory

1. Get ahead of the chains with an effective run game.

Boise State got great news recently when star running back Ashton Jeanty announced he will return to The Blue for another year. Jeanty and fellow back George Holani have teamed up to form one of the most effective backfield tandems in the FBS, combining for nearly 2,600 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns. In the Mountain West championship game, the Broncos ran the ball 51 times for 301 yards, good for 5.9 yards per carry, and three touchdowns. The offensive line and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan also had one of their best outings of the year.

Two major challenges stand in the way of the Broncos accomplishing this key. The first is the departure of dual-threat quarterback Taylen Green who recently entered the transfer portal and announced his commitment to Arkansas. The second is the fact that they are facing the third-ranked rushing defense in the FBS, though it is not quite as complete personnel-wise as it was throughout the regular season.

2. Reduce the pressure on CJ Tiller.

Head coach Spencer Danielson announced true freshman quarterback CJ Tiller will get the start under center with Green’s departure. Tiller has played just two snaps thus far in his college career and has zero pass attempts. Hamdan’s gameplan will be paramount in allowing CJ to get comfortable in his elevated role.

The Broncos’ stout run game outlined above will be key to getting Tiller off to a good start. Expect the talented freshman to utilize play action to slow down the Bruins’ pass rush and allow him time to process his reads and hit targets downfield. The recent announcement by UCLA star defender Laiatu Latu that he will forgo the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft should certainly help the true freshman feel more secure in the pocket on Saturday.

3. Contain UCLA’s athleticism.

It may be a tiresome narrative, but the Bruins have excellent athleticism, as you would expect from a P5 program despite their 7-5 record. Both contests against Power 5 competition this season showed that even with their high-level Mountain West recruiting, there is still a gap between the Broncos and P5 talent at some positions. Some of the issues likely arose from young players on the defense learning on the job and thus not feeling confident enough to play fast and free. It can also be reasoned that their contest against the University of Washington could be thrown out, as they have shown themselves to be above the rest of the FBS in ability, as they are slated to take on Texas in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.

Boise State defensive backs have been especially susceptible to athletic wide receivers running vertical routes. While the safeties and corners have shown marked improvement throughout the season, they still seem to have a play or two per game where they allow a receiver behind them. While the Bruins don’t have the most prolific passing attack, they will undoubtedly take shots deep to test this secondary.

Prediction

While the Broncos have made seemingly countless trips to the desert for the Las Vegas Bowl, the previous bowl destination for the Mountain West champion, this is their first trip to the relatively new LA Bowl. Look for Danielson to once again inspire the team to play for their seniors and do just enough to leave Los Angeles with a victory, behind a solid ground game and a sound defensive effort complete with a couple of turnovers.

Boise State 30, UCLA 24

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Mountain West Football’s Updated 2024 Matchups Released

Mountain West Football’s Updated 2024 Matchups Released The Mountain West revised its college football schedule to include games against wayward Oregon State and Washington State. Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire What’s new? The vagaries of …

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Mountain West Football’s Updated 2024 Matchups Released

The Mountain West revised its college football schedule to include games against wayward Oregon State and Washington State.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

What’s new?

The vagaries of college football realignment didn’t directly impact the Mountain West Conference over the last calendar year, but the shockwaves of moves across the country resulted today in a revised slate of matchups that includes the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars, the two Pac-12 programs left behind by their conference mates’ exodus.

When it was announced that the conference would do away with the Mountain and West divisions in 2022, the conference announced a rotation that would protect two games for each team and extend through the 2025 season. A multitude of Power 5 programs had other plans, however, and when the Big 12, Big Ten, and ACC raided the Pac-12 for ten of its teams throughout 2023, it left Oregon State and Washington State standing alone.

Here are the home and away games that the Mountain West had previously unveiled for 2024:

Air Force, Nevada, and San Diego State will host the Beavers while Boise State, Fresno State, and New Mexico will do the same for the Cougars. Conversely, Colorado State, San Jose State, and UNLV will travel to Corvallis; Hawaii, Utah State, and Wyoming will head to Pullman. None of the games will count as part of the conference standings, however, meaning that each Mountain West team will have seven conference games rather than the usual eight.

The changes, as you might expect, have differing impacts on every Mountain West team’s pre-existing schedule. Air Force, for instance, will get to face Oregon State at home instead of Hawaii, but Colorado State now travels to Oregon State and Nevada rather than Boise and San Diego. As DNVR Sports’s Justin Michael noted, it will be the first time since 2010 that the Rams and Broncos do not face each other. Similarly, Wyoming will now host San Diego State and Utah State rather than Nevada and UNLV.

One interesting twist is that the two teams who played in the Mountain West championship game this month, Boise State and UNLV, are now set to square off at Allegiant Stadium rather than Albertsons Stadium next year. Exact dates for the Mountain West schedule will be released at a later time, but next year’s title game is slated for Saturday, December 7, 2024.

Air Force

Home – Colorado State, Fresno State, San Jose State, Oregon State
Away – Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, Wyoming

Boise State

Home – Nevada, San Diego State, Utah State, Washington State
Away – Hawaii, San Jose State, UNLV, Wyoming

Colorado State

Home – New Mexico, San Jose State, Utah State, Wyoming
Away – Air Force, Fresno State, Nevada, Oregon State

Fresno State

Home – Colorado State, Hawaii, San Jose State, Washington State
Away – Air Force, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV

Hawaii

Home – Boise State, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV
Away – Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, Washington State

Nevada

Home – Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Oregon State
Away – Boise State, Hawaii, San Jose State, UNLV

New Mexico

Home – Air Force, Fresno State, Wyoming, Washington State
Away – Colorado State, Hawai‘i, San Diego State, Utah State

San Diego State

Home – Air Force, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon State
Away – Boise State, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming

San Jose State

Home – Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming
Away – Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Oregon State

UNLV

Home – Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State
Away – Hawaii, San Jose State, Utah State, Oregon State

Utah State

Home – Hawaii, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV
Away – Boise State, Colorado State, Wyoming, Washington State

Wyoming

Home – Air Force, Boise State, San Diego State, Utah State
Away – Colorado State, New Mexico, San Jose State, Washington State

Oregon State

Home – Colorado State, San Jose State, UNLV
Away – Air Force, Nevada, San Diego State

Washington State

Home – Hawaii, Utah State, Wyoming
Away – Boise State, Fresno State, New Mexico

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Boise State Football: Ashton Jeanty Named Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Finalist

The playmaking Broncos running back is among college football’s best of the best from the Lone Star State.

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Boise State Football: Ashton Jeanty Named Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Finalist

The playmaking Broncos running back is among college football’s best of the best from the Lone Star State.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

The Mountain West earns another national nod.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was announced today as one of five finalists for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, given annually to the top college football player who hails from the state of Texas.

The other four finalists for this season’s honor are Texas’s Jonathon Brooks, Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and Liberty’s Kaidon Salter. Jeanty, who previously starred at Frisco’s Lone Star High School, has played in 11 games this year and currently ranks second among all FBS players with an average of 164.9 all-purpose yards per game. His 1,262 rushing yards are currently 12th in the country, but his 40 receptions rank sixth among FBS running backs while his 561 receiving yards lead the nation at the position. He’s also accounted for 19 total touchdowns, good enough to rank fifth overall.

Interestingly, however, Jeanty is not the first Bronco to have been named a Tyler Rose finalist since Jay Ajayi earned the same distinction back in 2014. The winner will be announced after bowl season on January 10, 2024.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Bowl Season Opt-Out And Transfer Tracker

The transfer portal is open. NFL Draft prep looms. Business decisions are made. Which players will sit out the Mountain West’s bowl games?

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Bowl Season Opt-Out and Transfer Tracker

The transfer portal is open. NFL Draft prep looms. Business decisions are made. Which players will sit out the Mountain West’s bowl games?

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Not all the stars will be out in December.

December marks perhaps the busiest time of college football season. Between the upcoming slate of bowl games, the official opening of the transfer portal, and buzz surrounding the game’s brightest stars and their standing in next year’s NFL Draft, players have plenty on their minds when deciding how to finish their season.

Not everyone will choose to stay on the field, though. Check back here throughout the month as we watch which athletes opt out of bowl season, both among the Mountain West’s seven bowl teams and their opponents.

Note: Significant contributors among opponents will be noted in italics.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Air Force

  • Aidan Behymer, TE
  • Caden Blum, DL
  • Mason Carlan, OL
  • John Lee Eldridge III, RB
  • Jonah Jensen, QB
  • Brady Phillips, DL
  • Caleb Rillos, TE
  • Jarius Stewart, QB
  • Anthony Wenson, WR

James Madison

  • Brent Austin, DB
  • Kaelon Black, RB — team-high 594 rushing yards, 23 catches, 220 receiving yards in 2023
  • James Carpenter, DL — FCS Freshman All-American in 2021; two-time all-Sun Belt
  • Aiden Fisher, LB — third-team all-Sun Belt, 91 tackles, seven passes defended, six tackles for loss in 2023
  • Desmond Green, WR
  • Zach Horton, TE — first-team all-Sun Belt, 26 catches, 266 yards, six touchdowns in 2023
  • Taurus Jones, LB — first-team all-Sun Belt, 82 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022
  • Mikail Kamara, DL — second-team all-Sun Belt, 18.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks in 2023
  • Wayne Knight, RB
  • Ty Son Lawton, RB — 742 all-purpose yards, six total touchdowns in 2023
  • Chauncey Logan, DB — 42 tackles, four tackles for loss, six passes defended in 2023
  • Carter Miller, OL — redshirt freshman, nine starts, 639 snaps at left guard in 2023
  • Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji, DL
  • Tyler Stephens, OL — 30 career starts; four starts each at left guard, right tackle, left tackle in 2023
  • Jailin Walker, LB — 30 career starts; 55 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four passes defended in 2023
  • Tyshawn Wyatt, OL

Starco Brands LA Bowl, Hosted By Gronk

Boise State 

  • Taylen Green, QB
  • Eric McAlister, WR
  • Keenan McCaddy, DB
  • Kivon Wright, DL

UCLA

  • Kam Brown, WR
  • Keegan Jones, WR
  • Laiatu Latu, DL — Ted Hendricks Award winner, Lombardi Award winner, Pac-12 defensive player of the year in 2023
  • Dante Moore, QB — five-star true freshman, five starts in 2023
  • William Nimmo Jr., DB
  • Kamari Ramsey, DB — redshirt freshman safety, 11 starts in 2023
  • Carsen Ryan, TE
  • Jake Wiley, OL

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

Fresno State

  • Tanner Blount, LB
  • Logan Fife, QB
  • Chrishawn Gordon, DB
  • Abraham Montaño, K
  • Hayden Pulis, OL
  • Raymond Scott, LB

New Mexico State

  • Reggie Akles, WR
  • Ta’ir Brooks, WR
  • Jamari Buddin, LB
  • Tyler Devera, TE
  • Trent Hudson, WR — 36 catches, 571 yards, team-high ten touchdowns in 2023
  • PJ Johnson, WR
  • Malachi McLean, DB
  • Jordin Parker, WR
  • Tyriece Thomas, DL

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl

San Jose State

  • Branden Alvarez, WR
  • Fernando Carmona Jr., OL
  • Blake Davis, DB
  • Charlie Leota, DL
  • Anthony Madrigal, OL
  • Dominick Mazotti, TE
  • Elijah Wood, LB

Coastal Carolina

  • CJ Beasley, RB — team-high 717 rushing yards in 2022; 262 rushing yards, two touchdowns in 2023
  • Mason Bowers, OL
  • Jahmar Brown, DB
  • Jared Brown, WR — 2022 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year; 108 career receptions, 1,534 career receiving yards, 11 career touchdowns
  • Bailey Carraway, LB
  • Evan Crenshaw, P — sophomore; 83 career punts, 39.7 career yards per punt
  • Aaron Diggs, DB
  • Jarrett Guest, QB — two starts in 2023 following injury to Grayson McCall
  • Eli Hillman, DB
  • Kaleb Hutchinson, DB
  • Tavyn Jackson, DB
  • JT Killen, LB — 25 career starts; 65 tackles, three tackles for loss in 2023
  • Derrick Maxey, DB
  • Grayson McCall, QB — three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year
  • Tyson Mobley, WR
  • Tre Pinkney, LB
  • Jacob Proche, DB
  • Chris Rhone, WR
  • Braylon Ryan, DL — 38 career games, 21 career starts; 24 tackles, two tackles for loss in 2023
  • Laurence Sullivan, DB
  • Bryson Summers, OL
  • Dami’on Thompson, WR
  • Donnell Wilson, OL

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

UNLV

  • Jordan Jakes, WR
  • Jordyn Morgan, DB

Kansas

  • Will Huggins, TE
  • Reece Thomas, WR

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Utah State

  • William Testa, K
  • Josh Williams, LB

Georgia State

  • KZ Adams, RB
  • Rico Arnold, WR
  • Bryquice Brown, DB — 42 career games; 35 tackles, six passes defended in nine games
  • Marcus Carroll, RB — first-team all-Sun Belt, 1,350 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns
  • Montavious Cunningham, OL — redshirt sophomore, 15 career starts, 737 snaps at right tackle in 2023
  • Jaquon Dixon, RB
  • Cameron Dye, OL
  • Evan Graham, LB
  • JayT Jackson, DB
  • Jordan Jones, LB
  • Robert Lewis, WR — led team with 70 catches, 877 yards, five receiving touchdowns
  • Tony McCray, DB
  • Jalen Tate, DB

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl

Wyoming

  • DQ James, RB
  • Kolbey Taylor, DB

Toledo

  • Dequan Finn, QB — three-time all-MAC, 2023 MAC Vern Smith Leadership Award winner (conference MVP)
  • Jaret Frantz, WR
  • Micah Kelly, RB
  • Brad Ling, K
  • Vinny Sciury, OL — first-team all-MAC in 2023, 836 snaps at left guard
  • Ty Thomas, DL

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