Tag: Boise State Football

Mountain West Wire’s 2023 Postseason All-Conference Football Team

Who did our staff pick as the best of the best in Mountain West football this season?

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Mountain West Wire Presents Its 2023 Postseason All-Mountain West Football Teams

Our staff has made its selections for the best of Mountain West football as we close out the 2023 season.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Only the best of the best make the cut.

Mountain West Wire’s 2023 postseason honors:

All-Conference Teams | Offensive Player of the Year | Defensive Player of the Year | Special Teams Player of the Year | Freshman of the Year | Newcomer of the Year | Coach of the Year | Coordinator of the Year

With the Mountain West’s regular season in the books and the conference championship game just one day away, our staff here at Mountain West Wire has once again put its collective heads together to create our fifth annual postseason all-Mountain West football team.

If you’re interested in seeing how these selections stack up against our preseason picks, click here. Alternatively, you can click the following links to find our postseason honorees from 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

As always, our all-conference roster goes four deep and attempts to best reflect the variety of offenses and defenses we see week in and week out throughout the conference:

  • We vote for a Defensive Flex player to better reflect that some units — like Boise State, San Diego State, and Wyoming — often operate with five defensive backs or a nickelback/linebacker hybrid in their 3-3-5 or 4-2-5.
  • We split our linebacker selections into two, inside and outside, as we’d previously differentiated between centers, guards, and tackles on the offensive lines and between interior linemen and edge rushers on defense.
  • We vote for three wide receivers instead of two.

If you disagree with our choices, feel free to let us know what you’d have done differently on Twitter or Facebook.

First Team

Offense

QB – Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State
RB – Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
RB – Jacory Croskey-Merritt, New Mexico
RB – Kairee Robinson, San Jose State
WR – Tory Horton, Colorado State
WR – Ricky White, UNLV
WR – Jalen Royals, Utah State
TE – Dallin Holker, Colorado State
C – Thor Paglialong, Air Force
G – Mark Hiestand, Air Force
G – Wesley Ndago, Air Force
T – Adam Karas, Air Force
T – Cade Beresford, Boise State

Defense

DT – Jordan Bertagnole, Wyoming
DT – Payton Zdroik, Air Force
DE – Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
DE – Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
OLB – Jackson Woodard, UNLV
OLB – Bo Richter, Air Force
ILB – Easton Gibbs, Wyoming
ILB – MJ Tafisi, Utah State
CB – Cameron Oliver, UNLV
CB – Jay’Vion Cole, San Jose State
CB – Carlton Johnson, Fresno State
S – Ike Larsen, Utah State
S – Wyatt Ekeler, Wyoming
FLEX – Morice Norris Jr., Fresno State

Special Teams

K – Jose Pizano, UNLV
P – James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
KR – Jacob De Jesus, UNLV
PR – Jacob De Jesus, UNLV

Second Team

Offense

QB – Jayden Maiava, UNLV
RB – Malik Sherrod, Fresno State
RB – Emmanuel Michel, Air Force
WR – Steven McBride, Hawaii
WR – Terrell Vaughn, Utah State
WR – Pofele Ashlock, Hawaii
TE – Mark Redman, San Diego State
C – Jacob Gardner, Colorado State
G – Mose Vavao, Fresno State
G – Wes King, Wyoming
T – Frank Crum, Wyoming
T – Kage Casey, Boise State

Defense

DT – Soane Toia, San Jose State
DT – Cole Godbout, Wyoming
DE – P.J. Ramsey, Air Force
DE – Tre Smith, San Jose State
OLB – Levelle Bailey, Fresno State
OLB – Andrew Simpson, Boise State
ILB – Alec Mock, Air Force
ILB – Bryun Parham, San Jose State
CB – Noah Tumblin, San Diego State
CB – Donte Martin, New Mexico
S – Trey Taylor, Air Force
S – Jack Howell, Colorado State
FLEX – Seyi Oladipo, Boise State

Special Teams

K – Jonah Dalmas, Boise State
P – Marshall Nichols, UNLV
KR – Jaelen Gill, Fresno State
PR – Tory Horton, Colorado State

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Boise State Football: Broncos To Face UCLA In Gronk LA Bowl

After winning the Mountain West championship, the Broncos head to southern California for a date with the Pac-12’s Bruins.

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Boise State Football: Broncos To Face UCLA In Gronk LA Bowl

After winning the Mountain West championship, the Broncos head to southern California for a date with the Pac-12’s Bruins to close out 2023.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Can the Mountain West make it three in a row?

During its first two years of existence, the Gronk LA Bowl has been good to the Mountain West. The conference’s previous two champions, Utah State and Fresno State, both defeated a Pac-12 opponent and now the Boise State Broncos will get a chance to extend that streak against the UCLA Bruins.

For most of the 2023 season, the Broncos seemed in peril of missing bowl season altogether, posting a 4-5 record in their first nine games with four separate defeats coming by a combined 13 points. The program removed Andy Avalos as head coach in November, elevating defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson to the position on an interim basis, and he helped guide Boise State to four straight wins, including Saturday’s championship game victory over UNLV.

As for UCLA, they’ll get to bowl in their own backyard after finishing 7-5 in a very competitive Pac-12. Chip Kelly’s Bruins climbed as high as #18 in the AP poll in mid-October, but they fell from the rankings and out of title contention in November with three losses in four games to close the regular season. However, the Bruins did beat crosstown rival USC in that stretch, meaning that the Broncos won’t want to take them lightly on their turf.

This year’s LA Bowl is set for Saturday, December 16. It will be broadcast on ABC, kicking off at 4:30 PM PM Pacific/5:30 PM Mountain).

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2023 Mountain West Football Championship: The Ten Most Important Players, Ranked

Both Boise State and UNLV will need some big performance to claim the crown. Who might they need to stand out the most on Saturday?

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2023 Mountain West Football Championship: The Ten Most Important Players, Ranked

Both Boise State and UNLV will need some big performance to claim the crown. Who might they need to stand out the most on Saturday?

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Athletes abound.

10. UNLV linebacker Jackson Woodard

One thing that is almost certain to define Saturday’s result is whether or not the Rebels can remain stout against the run. In that regard, UNLV has not been the most disruptive team in the Mountain West all year long but Woodard has stepped up in recent weeks to lead the charge. He collected 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in the team’s last three games, and according to Pro Football Focus, he collected 16 total stops in November, which tied for third-most among conference defenders.

9. UNLV linebacker Marsel McDuffie

Pop quiz: Which defender playing in Saturday’s championship tilt ended November with the highest overall Pro Football Focus grade? If you guessed that this was a leading question to highlight McDuffie’s 77.2 mark, pat yourself on the back. He has been overlooked in the Rebels’ surge, but the sophomore has anchored the middle linebacker position all season and played his best ball in recent weeks.

To wit, he was one of only two Mountain West defenders to average double-digit tackles in November, missing just one tackle attempt (per PFF) while collecting 16 stops, an amount that tied with Woodard for third-most in that stretch. In other words, the Grand Prairie, Texas native is an under-the-radar Lone Star athlete in this game who could be ready for a star turn.

8. Boise State linebacker Andrew Simpson

In examining the statistics, few players in the Mountain West have been as unpredictable as the redshirt sophomore who’s made ten starts on the weak side this year. On the one hand, he’s emerged as a much-needed havoc generator for the Broncos defense, picking up a conference-high eight tackles for loss in November along with 2.5 sacks and, like McDuffie and Woodard above, 16 stops per PFF.

Unlike the two Rebels linebackers, though, Simpson also has a season-long missed tackle rate of 24.7% that is the fifth-highest mark among conference players at the position. They’ll need him to be on point against a UNLV rushing game that features two athletes, Vincent Davis and Jai’Den Thomas, who have combined to force 57 missed tackles this season.

7. Boise State punter James Ferguson-Reynolds

Despite leading the country with an average of 50.08 yards per punt and a net of 43.06 that ranks fifth, Ferguson-Reynolds somehow wasn’t named a Ray Guy Award finalist earlier this week. Surely, he’ll be motivated to prove to the voters that their oversight was foolish and be prepared to bail out the Broncos should they find themselves in a jam.

Ferguson-Reynolds’s prominence in flipping the field will come in handy on Saturday since UNLV has benefitted from some of the nation’s best field position week after week, facing a field that, on average, extends just 67.1 yards. For his part, Ferguson-Reynolds has launched 26 of his 49 punts more than 50 yards and pinned 22 of them inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, so that usual script gets rewritten, you can thank the Aussie sophomore for it.

6. UNLV wide receiver Jacob De Jesus

If that script looks like business as usual, though, it’ll probably be because De Jesus is running free. The former Modesto Junior College product has been the Mountain West’s top return specialist in 2023, leading the conference with 26.4 yards per kickoff return and 16.8 yards per punt return while finishing fifth overall with an average of 107.2 all-purpose yards per game. He’s also been handy as the Rebels’ primary slot receiver as well, managing 20 first downs on 46 receptions, so the Broncos will need to be mindful whenever the ball is in De Jesus’s hands.

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UNLV vs. Boise State: How The Rebels Can Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

On Saturday, the UNLV Rebels will take on the Boise State Broncos in the Mountain West Conference (MWC Championship game.

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UNLV vs. Boise State: How The Rebels Can Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Rebels look to complete their stunning rise to the top of the Mountain West on Saturday afternoon. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Potential history to be made in Las Vegas.

2023 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Boise State Broncos (7-5, 6-2 Mountain West) vs. UNLV Rebels (9-3, 6-2 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, December 2nd — 1:00 p.m. MST / 12:00 p.m. PST

WHERE: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

TV: FOX

STREAM: FuboTV – Get a free trial

SERIES RECORD: This will be the 12th all-time matchup between the two schools. Boise State leads the series 8-3. The Rebels have lost the last six meetings.

WEBSITES: BroncoSports.com | UNLVRebels.com

ODDS: Boise State -3

SP+ PROJECTION: UNLV by 1.0

FEI PROJECTION: Even

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: UNLV 53.87% win probability (29.92-19.79)

On Saturday, the UNLV Rebels will take on the Boise State Broncos in the Mountain West Conference (MWC Championship game. It should be an exciting game and highly contested. Both teams have a good chance of winning.

Pass to set up the run

The Rebels like to run the ball, but the Broncos feature the second-best run defense in the MWC, giving up 127.2 yards per game. This game was where UNLV could use the pass to set up the run. Boise State gives up 254.8 passing yards per game, which is last in the MWC.

Rebels quarterback Jayden Maiava has thrown for 2,628 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Receiver Ricky White leads the Rebels with 75 receptions, 1,300 yards, and seven touchdowns. Look for UNLV to use quick passing and get the ball to White early so it can loosen the Broncos’ defense, then the Rebels can run.

Stop the run

UNLV must be successful in slowing down the Boise State rushing attack. The Broncos average 207.7 yards per game. They are led by Ashton Jeanty, the Mountain West offensive player of the year who averaged 164.6 all-purpose yards per game and scored 18 touchdowns, though George Holani contributed when healthy with 534 yards and five touchdowns in six games and freshman Jambres Dubar flashed his potential with 335 yards on 62 attempts.

UNLV gives up 144.6 rushing yards per game and 4.2 yards per rush, so they must tackle well and play in the correct gaps to slow down the Broncos’ rushing attack. If UNLV can slow down the Boise State running game and force them to pass, they will have a great chance of winning. UNLV’s leading tackler, Jackson Woodard, must be all over the field for the Rebels.

Special teams

The Rebels have an excellent kicker, Jose Pizano, who was recently named a Lou Groza Award finalist, has made all 50 of his extra points, and has connected on 23-of-25 field goals, the longest coming from 52 yards. Returner Jacob DeJesus averages 26.4 yards on kickoff and 16.8 yards on punt returns, both of which led the Mountain West. In close games, field position and field goals can be crucial, and the Rebels have players who can be game-changers on special teams.

Prediction

The Rebels will win  27-24 with a Pizano last-second field goal. I think UNLV will slow down the Broncos rushing attack and make plays in the passing game.

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2023 Mountain West Football Championship: Eight Statistics That Could Decide The Game

The clash between Boise State and UNLV may revolve around several key facets of the game. We dive into the numbers you need to know.

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2023 Mountain West Football Championship: Eight Statistics That Could Decide The Game

The clash between Boise State and UNLV may revolve around several key facets of the game. We dive into the numbers you need to know.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Stats don’t lie.

10.5

There are many reasons why UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava was tabbed as the Mountain West’s freshman of the year, but one of the most significant is that few quarterbacks anywhere in the country were as dangerous as the Las Vegas native throughout recent weeks. In four November games, Maiava averaged 10.5 yards on exactly 100 pass attempts, one of just four FBS quarterbacks to manage that feat in that stretch.

The others, by the way: LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Oregon’s Bo Nix, and Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel. That’s pretty good company to keep, especially when you also throw seven touchdowns and just two interceptions as Maiava did. While it may be asking a lot for the redshirt freshman to reach that high bar one more time, don’t dismiss that it could happen.

13

It won’t be a secret that Boise State will want to run the ball with Ashton Jeanty, George Holani, and Jambres Dubar, but can UNLV be disruptive enough in the front seven to keep the Broncos from running wild? According to CollegeFootballData.com, the Rebels have an overall defensive stuff rate of 13%, the frequency with which they stop plays at or behind the line of scrimmage, and the front seven has a havoc rate (any play which generates a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup) of 8.4%.

For the sake of comparison, Boise State’s defensive stuff rate and front seven havoc rate are 18% and 11.2%, respectively. Considering the aforementioned Broncos trio has averaged 5.8 yards per carry on the season, however, it will be imperative for Jalen Dixon, Darius Johnson, and the rest of the UNLV defensive front to stand tall and keep the game from getting away.

26.4

One way or another, field position is going to be a critical part of the Mountain West championship. On the one hand, according to Parker Fleming, 26.4 represents the average starting position of Boise State opponents’ drives, the 14th-best average in FBS and a credit to the efforts of punter James Ferguson-Reynolds; on the other hand, 26.4 also happens to be the amount of yards that UNLV’s Jacob De Jesus averaged per kickoff return in the regular season, the highest average in the conference.

That’s just one reason why the Rebels offense started with the fourth-best field position in the country, from the 32.9-yard line on average, and it isn’t unreasonable to think both could bring their best to the table on Saturday. It’d make for a fascinating chess match.

37.3

Few players in the Mountain West were as dominant in the second half of the season as UNLV wide receiver Ricky White, so it isn’t surprising that the Rebels sought to take advantage of his tear at every turn. That’s why, per Parker Fleming, White’s 115 targets equate to a 37.3% team target share that is the highest of any pass catcher playing on championship Saturday. Needless to say, Boise State’s cornerbacks are going to have their hands full slowing down this particular freight train: White has ripped off at least 100 receiving yards in six of his last seven games.

41.3

According to Pro Football Focus, 24 different Mountain West defensive backs were thrown at 40 or more times throughout the regular season. Five are playing in the Mountain West championship game, but one also happens to have the lowest completion rate allowed among that cohort.

That would be Boise State cornerback A’Marion McCoy, who started five games for the Broncos in the second half of the campaign and gave up only 19 catches on 43 targets, a 41.3% rate. He also allowed 13.4 yards per reception, meaning that he might be the key to addressing the explosive Ricky White in pass coverage.

83.33

One thing that UNLV has done very well in recent weeks is that they’ve rarely wasted an opportunity to put six points on the board when they push into the red zone. Through four November games, the Rebels have scored 15 touchdowns on 18 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, an 83.33% rate that not only tops the Mountain West but is tied for the fifth-best rate in the country down the stretch.

By contrast, the Boise State defense has knuckled down more frequently in those same situations. Though they’ve given up a touchdown on 65.85% of opponents’ red zone trips throughout the 2023 season (10th in the Mountain West), that figure has dropped to 45.45% in November. If both sides battle to a draw here, it might make for a photo finish when all is said and done.

89.1

Then again, if it comes down to the kicking game, both Boise State and UNLV have reasons to be confident. That’s because the Rebels’ Jose Pizano, a Lou Groza Award finalist, and the Broncos’ Jonah Dalmas have combined to put 41-of-46 field goals through the uprights, an 89.1% success rate. Dalmas is also 9-of-10 on attempts from 40 or more yards away while Pizano is 6-of-9, so there may at least bit a slight bit of difference in Spencer Danielson’s and Barry Odom’s decision making when things get murky on the far side of midfield.

23,661

How much of a homefield advantage will UNLV have at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday? Through six home games, the Rebels have an average attendance of 23,661 fans which averages out to just 36.4% of the facility’s overall capacity. Granted, no one is expecting a sellout of 65,000 strong, but a home team hasn’t won the Mountain West crown since 2019 and a new season-high showing of the scarlet and gray faithful, at least, could be the kind of critical X-factor that Boise State often benefits from themselves at Albertsons Stadium.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Postseason All-Conference Team, Individual Honors Announced

The regular season is in the books. Here are the all-Mountain West teams, players of the year, and coach of the year.

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Postseason All-Conference Team, Individual Honors Announced

The regular season is in the books. Here are the all-Mountain West teams, players of the year, and coach of the year.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

Only the best of the best.

The Mountain West football season is nearly complete, but before Saturday’s championship tilt between Boise State and UNLV and bowl games after that, the conference media announced its selections for the all-Mountain West two-deep and individual awards.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty earned the nod as the Mountain West’s offensive player of the year, becoming the first sophomore to do so since Nevada’s Carson Strong in 2020. Though he was limited to just ten games because of injury, the Broncos’ super sophomore led the conference with 110.9 rushing yards per game and 164.6 all-purpose yards per game and finished second with 18 total touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus, Jeanty’s 92.4 overall grade also led the Mountain West and ranked third among all FBS running backs.

Colorado State’s Mohamed Kamara was tabbed as the Mountain West’s defensive player of the year, the first Ram to be decorated as such since Shaquil Barrett in 2013. His 13 sacks and 17 tackles for loss both paced the conference, as did the 35 quarterback hurries for which he was credited by PFF, while his 83.2 overall grade is third-best among all Mountain West defenders.

Meanwhile, UNLV kicker Jose Pizano stepped up to win the conference’s special teams player of the year award. After transferring in from Missouri State, Pizano led the Mountain West in connecting on 23-of-25 field goals, including a perfect 16-of-16 inside of 40 yards, and finished second overall with 119 total points. That made him just the second Rebel to crack the century mark dating back to 2009.

UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava was named the conference’s freshman of the year, becoming the fourth Rebel in the last seven seasons to earn the honor. He stepped into a difficult situation when incumbent starter Doug Brumfield was sidelined by injury in September, but the Vegas native stepped up and finished the regular season with a 64.1% completion rate, 2,626 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and a 2.1% interception rate. More than any of the other individual awards, this one may have been a foregone conclusion after Maiava had already earned freshman of the week five times throughout 2023, a conference first.

Lastly, UNLV’s Barry Odom became the first Rebels head coach since John Robinson in 2000 to be named the Mountain West’s coach of the year. After taking over from Marcus Arroyo, Odom shepherded the Rebels to a 9-3 record, the team’s highest single-season win total since 1984, engineering an offense that led the conference with 35.5 points per game and a defense that tied for first with 22 total giveaways and led the way in allowing a 34.6% third-down conversion rate.

As for the all-conference teams, every program has at least one player on this year’s postseason honor roll. UNLV leads the way with six first-team selections, while three players — Wyoming’s Easton Gibbs and Colorado State’s Jack Howell and Tory Horton — each earned their second postseason first-team appearance.

2023 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State
WR – Tory Horton, Colorado State
WR – Ricky White, UNLV
WR – Jalen Royals, Utah State
RB – Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
RB – Kairee Robinson, San Jose State
TE – Dallin Holker, Colorado State
OL – Thor Paglialong, Air Force
OL – Cade Beresford, Boise State
OL – JC Davis, New Mexico
OL – Tiger Shanks, UNLV
OL – Frank Crum, Wyoming
PK – Jose Pizano, UNLV
KR – Jacob De Jesus, UNLV

Defense

DL – PJ Ramsey, Air Force
DL – Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
DL – Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
DL – Tre Smith, San Jose State
LB – Bo Richter, Air Force
LB – Jackson Woodard, UNLV
LB – MJ Tafisi, Utah State
LB – Easton Gibbs, Wyoming
DB – Trey Taylor, Air Force
DB – Jack Howell, Colorado State
DB – Emany Johnson, Nevada
DB – Ike Larsen, Utah State
P – James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
PR – Jacob De Jesus, UNLV

2023 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM

Offense

QB – Jayden Maiava, UNLV
WR – Steven McBride, Hawaii
WR – Nick Nash, San Jose State
WR – Terrell Vaughn, Utah State
RB – Emmanuel Michel, Air Force
RB – Jacory Croskey-Merritt, New Mexico
TE – Mark Redman, San Diego State
OL – Adam Karas, Air Force
OL – Kage Casey, Boise State
OL – Jacob Gardner, Colorado State
OL – Mose Vavao, Fresno State
OL – Cade Barnett, San Diego State
PK – Jonah Dalmas, Boise State
KR – Terrell Vaughn, Utah State

Defense

DL – Jalen Dixon, UNLV
DL – Devo Bridges, Fresno State
DL – Soane Toia, San Jose State
DL – Jordan Bertagnole, Wyoming
LB – Alec Mock, Air Force
LB – Andrew Simpson, Boise State
LB – Chase Wilson, Colorado State
LB – Levelle Bailey, Fresno State
DB – Carlton Johnson, Fresno State
DB – Morice Norris Jr., Fresno State
DB – Noah Tumblin, San Diego State
DB – Cameron Oliver, UNLV
P – Jack Browning, San Diego State
PR – Tory Horton, Colorado State

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Mountain West Football: 2023-24 Transfer Tracker

Mountain West Football: 2022-23 Transfer Tracker College football’s transfer is open for business in the new academic year. We’ll keep track of who’s leaving and who’s coming to the Mountain West. Contact/Follow @MWCwire Who is the league losing and …

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Mountain West Football: 2022-23 Transfer Tracker

College football’s transfer is open for business in the new academic year. We’ll keep track of who’s leaving and who’s coming to the Mountain West.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Who is the league losing and adding?

College football’s regular season is underway, but transfer portal season is never really over.

Since the new year officially began on August 1, football players from the Mountain West and beyond have announced their intention to find new places to play. Check back here periodically as we keep an eye on who is arriving and who’s heading out from the conference in the days, weeks, and months to come.

Leaving the Mountain West

Air Force

Boise State 

Colorado State

Fresno State

Hawaii

Nevada

New Mexico

San Diego State

San Jose State

UNLV

Utah State

Wyoming

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Mountain West Football: Week 10 Winners And Losers

Malik Sherrod, Gunner Gentry, and Boise State were among the weekend’s biggest winners and losers from across Mountain West football.

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Mountain West Football: Week 10 Winners And Losers

Who came out ahead and who left something to be desired across the Mountain West in Week 10 of the college football season?

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Encouragements and letdowns from the week that was.

With a fresh batch of rivalry games and a dash of desperation on the docket, Mountain West football’s first weekend of November action didn’t disappoint. Here are the winners and losers from Week 10.

Winners

1. Fresno State running back Malik Sherrod

The clash for the Milk Can was as advertised, but Sherrod’s contributions helped ensured the rivalry trophy would stay in Fresno following a 37-30 win against Boise State. He ran for a career-high 132 yards on 21 carries, though it was his 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that proved to be one of the Bulldogs’ biggest plays of the night. In all, Sherrod managed 255 all-purpose yards, the tenth-most in a single game in program history, and provided the Red Wave with memories they’ll talk about for a long time in the Central Valley.

2. UNLV wide receiver Ricky White

White has come alive over the past month and more than did his part on Saturday to help the Rebels keep pace in the conference title chase in a 56-14 victory over New Mexico. He had eight catches on nine targets for 165 yards and two touchdowns, the third time in four weeks he’s topped 150 receiving yards and scored multiple times.

3. Wyoming wide receiver Gunner Gentry

Sometimes, it’s not about the stats. In Gentry’s case, the nine-yard touchdown reception he hauled in during the second quarter of the Cowboys’ 24-15 win against Colorado State was his first since October 24, 2020. Knee injuries had kept him sidelined for the past two seasons, so he serves as a useful reminder that college football can often be a ground for perseverance and inspiration, to demonstrate what’s possible to others.

Losers

1. Air Force

Among the six Mountain West games last weekend, no result was more shocking than the Falcons’ litany of errors in a 23-3 defeat to Army at the Commander’s Classic. Not only did the Black Knights hold Air Force’s rushing attack to 3.9 yards per carry, they also forced six fumbles and recovered five of them, turning those opportunities into 13 points.

Quarterback Zac Larrier also had his worst game of the year at a very inopportune time, throwing two interceptions and taking two sacks while completing just 9-of-22 passes for 93 yards. The defense, meanwhile, limited Army to 4.2 yards per carry as a team but weren’t as disruptive as usual with just three tackles for loss and zero takeaways. While the Falcons still hold the inside track to hosting the conference championship, letting one of their annual goals slip away in such lopsided fashion may sting for a while.

2. Boise State

The Broncos are in the wilderness.

Little about the program is working like it did during its phenomenal run of success over two decades and the team’s 37-30 defeat against Fresno State provided plenty of evidence. Quarterbacks Maddux Madsen and Taylen Green each threw an interception, but Madsen was also just 22-of-42 for 258 yards and a touchdown and, according to Pro Football Focus, had four different turnover-worthy plays against the Bulldogs defense. Running back George Holani continued to play well following his recent return from injury, racking up 140 all-purpose yards, but he also had just three touches in the fourth quarter.

The defense, meanwhile, continued to flounder by allowing Fresno State to gain 6.4 yards per play and generating only one sack to go along with four quarterback hurries (per PFF) on 37 dropbacks. Effectively eliminated from the conference championship hunt and staring down the very real possibility of not even bowling in December, the Broncos must now move forward without top wide receiver Eric McAlister, as well, who elected to enter the transfer portal this morning. It’s a brave new world in Treasure Valley; the question is whether the blue and orange faithful are ready for it.

3. San Diego State

Speaking of less-than-ideal situations, the Aztecs’ 32-24 double-overtime loss to Utah State marked the team’s sixth defeat in their last seven games. While some individual performances stood out despite the result — linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu had three sacks, for instance, while quarterback Jalen Mayden had arguably his best overall performance of the season — many of the same problems persisted: They averaged 4.2 yards per carry, but Lucky Sutton’s 62-yard run accounted for 48.8% of the team’s rushing yardage on the game. The defense coughed up 288 yards’ worth of chunk plays and has now given up 44 plays of 20-plus yards on the season; that may not sound like much, but San Diego State gave up 48 such plays during their most recent run to the conference championship game just two years ago.

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Mountain West Football: Players Of The Month For October

The weather is finally cooling down, but these Mountain West football standouts were red-hot throughout spooky season.

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Mountain West Football: Players of the Month For October

The weather is finally cooling down, but these Mountain West football standouts were red-hot throughout spooky season.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

The small-sample elite.

Note: Players below are presented in alphabetical order.

Offensive Players of the Month

1. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Though Jeanty was limited by injury in Boise State’s victory over Wyoming in Week 9, the super sophomore still posted one of the nation’s best overall performances through October. In three games, Jeanty posted a Mountain West-best 163.3 all-purpose yards per game, averaging a whopping 7.08 yards per carry on the ground, and scored three touchdowns.

2. Kairee Robinson, RB, San Jose State

The Spartans surged in October thanks in large part to their star senior in the backfield. It was Robinson, not Jeanty, that led the Mountain West with 435 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns last month, though he also chipped in with ten receptions for 165 yards for the SJSU passing game, as well.

3. Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

After posting a monster game to close out September against UConn, Royals kept the good times rolling into last month with a pair of 100-yard performances, racking up 17 catches for 325 yards in three contests, and a conference-high five receiving touchdowns.

4. Ricky White, WR, UNLV

Though the Rebels ended October with a bit of heartache, you can’t say White didn’t do everything possible to keep UNLV in the title game chase. After all, he tallied 24 catches for a Mountain West-high 400 receiving yards with touchdowns, topping 150 yards against both Nevada and Fresno State.

Defensive Players of the Month

1. Jay’Vion Cole, CB, San Jose State

If Cole’s October performance is any indication, the Spartans’ newest star defender is quietly putting together a pretty solid candidacy for defensive player of the year. He was the only defender in the Mountain West to intercept three passes last month, doing so across four games, though he added two additional pass breakups and, according to Pro Football Focus, allowed a reception on 10 of 21 targets.

2. Mohamed Kamara, DE, Colorado State

Where Cole’s case might be subtle, Kamara’s defensive player of the year push disrupted offenses just about as frequently as it did in September. He once again paced the Mountain West with four sacks and finished third among conference defenders with five tackles for loss while also racking up 20 total tackles.

3. Bo Richter, DE, Air Force

Then again, the same could be said of Richter, who posted an overall PFF grade of 81.7 throughout October, the seventh-best mark among Mountain West defenders who played at least 50 snaps, and racked up three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and a forced fumble to go along with 11 total tackles in three Falcons contests.

4. Jackson Woodard, LB, UNLV

When it came to tackling, few players in the country were as prolific as Woodard was in the middle of the Rebels defense last month. He was one of only 15 FBS players to average at least 11 tackles per game, though he also intercepted a pass against Hawaii and, according to PFF, also tied for third among Mountain West defenders with eight total stops.

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Boise State vs. Fresno State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The resurgent Broncos look to take down the rival Bulldogs and hang on to the Milk Can. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

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Boise State vs. Fresno State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The resurgent Broncos look to take down the rival Bulldogs and hang on to the Milk Can. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

The rivalry overflows with stakes this weekend.

WEEK 10: Boise State Broncos (4-4, 3-1 Mountain West) vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (7-1, 3-1 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, November 4 — 7:00 PM PT/8:00 PM MT

WHERE: Valley Children’s Stadium; Fresno, CA

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy, low of 57 degrees

TV: CBS Sports Network

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

RADIO: 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. The Fresno State broadcast can be found in and around the Central Valley on the affiliates of the Bulldog Sports network, including flagship 1340 AM (KCBL) in Fresno.

SERIES RECORD: Boise State leads the all-time series, 17-8. In the last meeting on December 3, 2022, the Bulldogs defeated the Broncos, 28-16, for the Mountain West championship in Boise.

LAST GAME: Boise State beat Wyoming at home, 32-7, while Fresno State won at home against UNLV, 31-24.

WEBSITES: BroncoSports.com, the official Boise State athletics website | GoBulldogs.com, the official Fresno State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Boise State | Fresno State

ODDS: Fresno State -3

SP+ PROJECTION: Fresno State by 4.4

FEI PROJECTION: Fresno State by 8.7

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: Fresno State 74.49% win probability (30.21-21.48)

Always one of the most hotly anticipated matchups of Mountain West football season, the Boise State Broncos and Fresno State Bulldogs will take center stage to cap off Week 10 of conference action.

Three Keys to a Boise State Victory

1. Don’t get killed by offensive turnovers.

One thing that’s been a persistent issue for the Broncos throughout 2023, even as they’ve mostly rediscovered their winning ways, is giveaways. The 15 turnovers are just two fewer than Boise State had in all of 2022 and as many as they had in 2021, and it’s a big reason why they’re on track to finish with a negative margin (-6, for the moment) for just the third time since 2009.

Some of that comes down to horrid fumble luck because the Broncos have lost eight of ten, but Maddux Madsen and Taylen Green have also combined for an interception rate that’s just a tick under 3%, which is itself a tick higher than the 2.4% rate they managed a year ago. By contrast, Fresno State has both the most takeaways (18) and the second-fewest giveaways (seven) of any team in the Mountain West, so there’s a strong case to be made Boise State could doom themselves if they’re too careless.

2. Get Eric McAlister some help in the passing game.

The sophomore wide receiver from Azle, Texas has firmly established himself as one of the best in the Mountain West throughout the 2023 season, but help around him has been sorely lacking in conference play: Stefan Cobbs has just four receptions in four Mountain West and Billy Bowens has only six, averaging 10.6 yards per catch against conference foes between them.

Considering that McAlister is likely to lock horns with Bulldogs cornerback Carlton Johnson early and often, Cobbs, Bowens, and tight ends Matt Lauter and Riley Smith will need to provide some assistance to take advantage of potential soft spots elsewhere in coverage. Namely, don’t be shocked if offensive Bush Hamdan tries to pick on Alzillion Hamilton, who has stepped into the starting lineup following a season-ending injury to Cam Lockridge with mixed results: Per Pro Football Focus, he’s only allowed a reception on 55.3% of the 38 targets he’s seen, but Hamilton also has a 39.3% missed tackle rate.

3. Hold the line on third downs.

One small, but key, difference in Boise State’s recent turnaround is improved defense on third downs. After holding Wyoming to just 1-of-11 in Week 9, the Broncos have now allowed Mountain West opponents to earn a first down on 35.9% of opportunities, the third-best rate in the Mountain West and, as it happens, a better rate than that of Fresno State, who have allowed a third-down conversion rate of 40.35% in four conference games.

Maintaining that upper hand will be important since the Bulldogs have found a way to move the chains more frequently than the Broncos on offense, converting 50.9% of third downs in Mountain West action to Boise State’s 44.9% rate. If the defensive improvement is for real, styming the powerful Fresno State offense more often than not will be significant proof of it.

Three Keys to a Fresno State State Victory

1. Get home no matter who’s dropping back to pass.

Despite the unusual two-quarterback arrangement that the Broncos have deployed over the last several weeks, one thing they’ve done consistently well is pass protection, allowing Maddux Madsen and Taylen Green to get sacked just eight times on 260 combined dropbacks.

However, one discrepancy that the Bulldogs might be able to exploit is that one Boise State quarterback has felt considerably more pressure than the other. According to Pro Football Focus, Green’s pressure-to-sack ratio is just 7%, the lowest figure in the Mountain West, but Madsen’s 23.8% rate is the highest. The hope, then, is that Fresno State and its 17.3% havoc rate can find a way to capitalize where Colorado State, San Jose State, and Wyoming could not.

2. Keep the Broncos running game in check.

One key to Fresno State’s success in last week’s win over UNLV is that, after adjusting for sacks, the Rebels’ running backs managed only 3.7 yards per carry. That’s the latest testament to the 21% stuff rate that the Bulldogs have generated thus far, though that skill will get tested again by Ashton Jeanty, George Holani, and Jambres “Breezy” Dubar.

However, one potential wrench in Boise State’s plans is whether Jeanty is healthy enough to receive his usual heavy workload, as he had six carries last Saturday against Wyoming before missing the entire second half with an undisclosed injury. While head coach Andy Avalos expressed confidence that the ailment was probably no big deal, it’s worth noting that Holani’s return from a six-game absence was more okay than anything with 75 rushing yards on 20 carries (coincidentally, Dubar also averaged 3.75 yards per carry against the Cowboys). In other words, if Jeanty is actually limited to some extent, it could provide a potential boon to the Fresno State defense.

3. Be prepared to string together long scoring drives.

Thankfully, this has not often been an issue for the Fresno State offense. According to Brian Fremeau, the Bulldogs currently rank 16th in the country by averaging 2.73 points on drives that begin inside their own 20-yard line; by contrast, the Boise State defense has given up 2.20 points on those same drives, an average which is 101st overall.

However, the Broncos may have a substantial special teams advantage in punter James Ferguson-Reynolds, who currently leads the Mountain West with an average of 49.68 yards per punt and eighth among all FBS specialists with a net of 43.35 per kick. Assuming that Kevin Coyle’s defense can do its job consistently, it may come down to whether Mikey Keene and company can craft an 80-yard touchdown drive at some point or not.

Prediction

Though the Bulldogs are the defending Mountain West champions, Boise State has actually held on to the Milk Can every year since 2018. That streak includes the 40-14 blowout at Valley Children’s Stadium back in 2021, when Fresno State was ranked.

The question is this: How much trust do you have in Boise State’s defense? The same unit that just finished embarrassing Wyoming last Saturday had a total collapse against Colorado State the week before, and it seems reasonable to suggest the Bulldogs offense is more akin to the Rams than the Cowboys. On paper, there are good reasons why the home team is the slight favorite but the Red Wave knows better than most that you can’t count the blue and orange out under any circumstances. Expect a nailbiter, but I think the ‘Dogs survive and reclaim rivalry bragging rights.

Fresno State 34, Boise State 33

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