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No. 10 Boise State beats No. 20 UNLV for Mountain West title, CFP berth

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No. 10 Boise State beats No. 20 UNLV for Mountain West title, CFP berth

Ashton Jeanty ran for 209 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s win over UNLV in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images

Boise State should be getting a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.

The No. 10 Broncos put No. 20 UNLV away in the first half on the way to a 21-7 win in the Mountain West Conference championship game. The win was fittingly sealed at the end of the second quarter with a 75-yard run by Heisman contender Ashton Jeanty.

Jeanty finished the game with 209 rushing yards and had Boise State fans chanting his name in the second half.

Jeanty’s total brings him to 2,499 yards on the season as he passed former USC running back Marcus Allen for the fourth-most rushing yards in a single season.

The 75-yard TD run before halftime was Boise State’s second TD in the final three minutes of the second quarter. Maddux Madsen extended the Boise State lead to 14-0 with 2:40 to go in the second quarter with a fantastic run on a QB draw.

UNLV got four yards on three plays on its ensuing possession before Jeanty broke the game open.

The Rebels’ offense simply couldn’t get anything going. And when it had a scoring chance, it didn’t capitalize. UNLV missed a field goal in the first half, and Kylin James broke off an 86-yard run in the third quarter to set up UNLV for a sure TD. But Seyi Oladipo ran James down from behind to prevent the touchdown and UNLV couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone as a fourth-down pass sailed incomplete.

After finally scoring in the fourth quarter, UNLV had a chance to cut the lead to seven before the 2-minute warning. But the Rebels went backward after getting another goal-to-go situation and again turned the ball over on downs.

The nature of the win virtually guarantees that Boise State will stay ahead of the winner of Saturday’s Big 12 title game in Sunday’s College Football Playoff rankings. That means Boise State should be the No. 4 seed in the playoff bracket and could even be as high as No. 3 if Clemson beats SMU in the ACC championship game.

The playoff format guarantees spots to the top five conference champions in the rankings and the top four seeds are reserved for the top four conference champions. There weren’t many people who would have bet before the season that a non-power conference champion would be getting one of the first-round byes, but it’s hard to argue against Boise State’s worthiness unless you’re affiliated with the Big 12.

Boise State’s only loss of the season came in Week 2 to Oregon, the only undefeated team remaining in college football. The Broncos lost that game 37-34 as the Ducks needed a short field goal as time expired to win the game.

Since then, Boise State won six games by three scores or more and Friday night’s win over UNLV was the Broncos’ second over the Rebels. Boise State won 29-24 in Las Vegas in October.

UNLV, meanwhile, is left to go to a non-playoff bowl despite the team’s second 10-win season in program history and its first since 1984. The Rebels could be headed to the LA Bowl to go to back-to-back bowl games for the first time ever.

LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER32 updates

  • Ashton Jeanty celebrates

    The Boise State RB finished with 209 yards on 32 carries with a TD today. Heisman-like numbers.

  • Boise State wins MWC title, clinches CFP spot!

    No. 10 Boise State holds on to beat No. 20 UNLV, winning the Mountain West title and earning a playoff spot (possibly a top 4 seed?)

  • Final: Army 35, Tulane 14

    Meanwhile, Army finishes a blowout win over Tulane in the AAC title game. The No. 24 Black Knights complete a fantastic season 12-1.

  • UNLV turnover on downs!

    The Rebels found themselves in 4th and goal from the 21 due to some messy plays on the early downs.

    Pass incomplete. It’s Boise State ball with a little more than 2 minutes to play.

    UNLV’s offense has been a mess in the red zone today.

  • UNLV driving

    The Rebels have moved the ball to the Boise State 25, thanks partly to his magician like escape by UNLV QB Hajj-Malik Williams.

  • UNLV gets the stop

    Boise State goes 3 and out and the Rebels will get the ball right now with just under 8 minutes.

    This could get interesting here …

  • Touchdown UNLV!

    On 4th and 1, Greg Burrell springs out of the pile and runs free for a 31-yard score.

    The Rebels aren’t done yet, trailing 21-7 with 9:06 to play.

  • Boise State fans campaigning for Jeanty

    Broncos fans are doing everything they can to make Ashton Jeanty’s case for the Heisman.

    He’s up to 185 rushing yards on 27 carried by the way.

  • End of 3rd: Boise State 21, UNLV 0

    A pretty uneventful 3rd quarter outside of the one big run play. But no scoring.

    Boise State one quarter away from another Mountain West crown.

  • UNLV turnover on downs

    The big run play is all for naught. A delay of game penalty moved the Rebels back and they couldn’t recover. Incomplete on 4th and goal.

    Boise State dodges a bullet.

  • UNLV huge play!

    Kylin James breaks free right up the middle for 87 yards to give the Rebels first and goal at the 5.

    First real sign of life for the UNLV offense so far today.

  • Jeanty adding to the highlight reel

    Not much offense so far in the 2nd half, so enjoy Ashton Jeanty breaking some tackles.

  • 2nd half begins

    UNLV gets an important defensive stop to open the 2nd half.

    Rebels will get the ball trailing by 21.

  • Key halftime stats

    Total yardage: Boise State 246 (7.7 yards per play), UNLV 78 (3.3 ypp)

    Net rushing yards: Boise State 139, UNLV 12

    • UNLV QB Hajj-Malik Williams has been sacked three times

    • Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty has 132 rushing yards and a TD

    • Boise State receives the 2nd half kickoff

  • Halftime: Army 21, Tulane 7

    Army QB Bryson Daily has all three of his team’s TDs today.

  • Halftime: Boise State 21, UNLV 0

    It’s a complete clinic for Boise State so far. The Broncos are 30 minutes from a playoff berth.

  • Ashton Jeanty big play TD!

    There he goes! Jeanty breaks free for a 75-yard touchdown run down the sideline.

    The Heisman finalist has done that plenty of times this season.

    Boise State is in total command late in the first half.

  • Did he cross the goal line? Yes

    He was initially called down short. But officials got it right after a second look.

  • Touchdown Boise State!

    QB Maddux Madsen scrambles and eludes defenders for a 15-yard TD run. (Play was ruled a touchdown after review)

    The Broncos double their lead.

  • Army dominating Tulane

    No. 24 Army is in complete control of the AAC title game so far, thanks partly to this 72-yard run by Kanye Udoh that set up a touchdown.

    Army 14, Tulane 0, 2nd quarter

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