Boise, Idaho - For the fifth time since 2023, and for the third consecutive season with a championship at stake, UNLV and Boise State meet with the Mountain West title on the line. The venue is unchanged, Albertsons Stadium and its trademark blue turf, but the stakes feel different as both programs enter with something significant to prove.
UNLV arrives at 10-2, producing back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the first time in program history and leading the conference in total offense, first downs and third-down defense. Boise State, at 8-4, seeks a third straight Mountain West championship and welcomes back starting quarterback Maddux Madsen in front of a near-capacity home crowd.
It is the matchup the league has been orbiting all season.
How the Teams Returned to This Stage
UNLV closed the regular season with a rivalry win in Reno, securing a 6-2 conference mark and triggering a four-way tie atop the standings. Advanced metric tiebreakers placed the Rebels No. 1 and the Broncos No. 2, leaving the final head-to-head meeting as the deciding factor in host site and matchup.
That meeting, a 56-31 Boise win on Oct. 18, was the lone blemish in UNLV’s conference résumé and again sent the Rebels back to the only venue they have not solved during their program resurgence.
“I’ve been here for 2-10, I’ve been here for back-to-back 10-win seasons, third straight championship game, and I have yet to beat these guys,” linebacker Marsel McDuffie said. “For me, this one’s number one.”
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea, meanwhile, is entering his first championship setting at any level.
Why the October Game Won’t Define Tonight
Boise State controlled nearly every phase in the first meeting:
Madsen threw for four touchdowns
Riley Dylan rushed for 201 yards
The Broncos totaled 558 yards and 11 explosive plays
A pivotal fourth-and-one punt by UNLV in the second half opened the door for Boise to score on three straight possessions and put the game out of reach.
Defensively, UNLV’s communication and alignment issues produced one of the unit’s poorest outings of the year, a reality head coach Dan Mullen acknowledged after reviewing the film.
But since that loss, the Rebels have performed like a different defense:
29.3% opponent third-down conversions - best in the Mountain West
28 sacks - fourth in the league
13 interceptions - tied for third
Aamaris Brown and Laterrance Welch each with four picks, combining for 15 passes defended
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson has repeatedly highlighted UNLV’s defensive improvement, noting the increased speed, discipline and pressure up front.
UNLV’s Offense Entering Boise
This is the most complete version of UNLV’s offense Boise has seen.
Anthony Colandrea
3,050 passing yards, 22 touchdowns
68.2% completion rate
556 rushing yards and eight rushing scores
300.4 yards of total offense per game - No. 1 in the Mountain West
Danielson described him this week as “arguably playing better than anyone in the conference.”
Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas
944 rushing yards
7.4 yards per carry - among the nation’s leaders
12 touchdowns
One of the top all-purpose producers in the league
Thomas had only 11 carries in the first meeting. That is expected to change.
Receiving Group
UNLV spreads the ball as well as any team in the league, with 12 players recording double-digit receptions. The primary targets:
Jaden Bradley (834 yards, 4 TD)
Troy Omeire (472 yards, 4 TD)
Daejon Reynolds (431 yards, 5 TD)
The backs are heavily involved in the passing game, led by Thomas (35 catches) and Keyvone Lee.
Situational Strengths
285 first downs - No. 1 in MW
47.9% on third down - No. 2 in MW
31:07 time of possession
Kicker Ramon Villela: 54-for-54 PAT, 14-for-18 FG, long of 50
For one of the few times in recent memory, UNLV can lean on all three phases.
Boise State’s Profile
Offense
Madsen: 1,994 yards, 15 TD, 7 INT
RIley: 1,016 rushing yards
Gaines: 731 rushing yards
The Broncos continue to rely on their physical run game and play-action concepts. Madsen’s return provides stability and tempo control.
Defense
Top-three unit in total defense within the league
Strong secondary with 14 interceptions
Corners who play aggressive man coverage
A front that has allowed more than 160 rushing yards per game
Boise thrives by disguising coverages and forcing contested throws.
Matchup Breakdown
UNLV Offense vs. Boise Defense
Advantages for UNLV include:
Conference-leading total offense
A top-two third-down offense
The most productive quarterback in the matchup
The most efficient running back on the field
If UNLV protects Colandrea, maintains balance and remains aggressive on fourth-and-short, it can control tempo and limit Boise’s home-field momentum.
Turnovers will be central. Boise has 14 interceptions, while UNLV has thrown eight as a team, all by Colandrea.
Boise Offense vs. UNLV Defense
The October meeting featured missed fits and coverage breakdowns that cannot repeat. UNLV now brings:
A healthier, faster front led by Adeleye
Cleaner linebacker play from McDuffie
A secondary capable of capitalizing on delayed throws
The concern remains Boise’s run game and UNLV’s penalty tendencies. Boise thrives when living in second-and-medium situations.
UNLV leads the Mountain West in penalties:
93 penalties, 817 yards (68.1 per game)
The Rebels also draw more penalties from opponents than any team in the league. In a championship setting, one offsides or late hit can alter the night’s trajectory.
Intangibles
Both coaches have framed the moment plainly.
Danielson: “If you need to be motivated to play in a championship game, you don’t belong playing football.”
Mullen: “There are only 10 teams with this opportunity. We made the final 10.”
UNLV has never beaten Boise State on the blue turf. Boise is attempting to exit the conference with a third straight title. Neither team needs extra narrative fuel.
Keys to the Game
Limit Explosives: Holding Boise under five explosive plays shifts control to UNLV’s offense.
Win Third Down: UNLV is elite offensively and defensively in this area; the winner of this stat likely wins the game.
Madsen’s Timing: After a month off, rhythm vs. rust will decide Boise’s vertical threat.
Thomas’ Usage: 18–25 touches is the target.
Fourth-Down Aggression: UNLV cannot repeat October’s conservative call.
Penalty Discipline: Avoid extending Boise drives with free yards.
Red-Zone Execution: Touchdowns vs. field goals will determine momentum.
Final Thoughts
UNLV enters Boise with its most complete roster of the modern era:
A defense that communicates and limits big plays
An offense with the league’s best quarterback and an elite running back
A receiving corps that stresses the field laterally and vertically
A kicking game capable of delivering points in tight moments
Boise State remains the standard. The Broncos have the rings, the home field, the quarterback returning at the right time and the expectation of winning this game.
But UNLV arrives with the better season, the more balanced offense and a defensive identity sharpened since October.
This is the most realistic opportunity UNLV has had to win on the blue turf.
Now it comes down to 60 minutes. No excuses. No hesitation.
A championship is on the line.
It’s time to see if UNLV is finally ready to kick the door down.
Prediction: Boise State 38, UNLV 35
