ADVERTISEMENT Visit Jay’s Market located at 190 East Flamingo Road at the intersection with Koval Lane, just east of the Strip. ADVERTISEMENT By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer BOISE, Idaho — Locals refer to it as “inversion” when warm air traps the cooler air in the valley below. This created cool and damp conditions around Boise, presenting […]
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Visit Jay’s Market located at 190 East Flamingo Road at the intersection with Koval Lane, just east of the Strip.
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
BOISE, Idaho — Locals refer to it as “inversion” when warm air traps the cooler air in the valley below.
This created cool and damp conditions around Boise, presenting a ghostly atmosphere inside the stadium with its royal blue turf on the outskirts of Boise State’s campus.
The UNLV football team had a stellar regular season, securing victories in ten of 12 matches leading up to this Mountain West Conference championship where a spot in the new 12-team college football playoff was at stake at Albertsons Stadium on Friday night.
However, the Rebels struggled offensively against a proven Boise State team and faced a damaging 75-yard run by Heisman trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty just before halftime.
UNLV entered halftime with a frustrating 21-0 deficit and ultimately lost to Boise State 21-7, eliminating them from the first championship tournament. However, they will leave Idaho with a bowl game invitation and a record of ten wins and three losses, marking their second loss to Boise State this year after falling 29-24 in October, making it their second consecutive conference championship defeat against the Broncos.
Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen expressed admiration for a UNLV football team that has shifted the narrative regarding their past struggles.
“They have numerous players capable of making impactful plays,” Madsen stated during the postgame press conference.
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With just over nine minutes remaining in the game’s final quarter, running back Greg Burrell navigated through defenders on a fourth-and-one and dashed 31 yards for the Rebels’ first touchdown.
The score was now Boise State 21 UNLV 7.
At this moment, the stadium announcer reported an attendance of 36,663.
UNLV’s quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams faced constant pressure throughout most of the match. The Rebels’ standout receiver and special teams star Ricky White III did not record a touchdown reception nor did he block a punt, while UNLV runner Jai’Den Thomas struggled to break free for a significant gain.
Despite the odds, the Rebels mounted a desperate comeback effort in the fourth quarter.
With 2:09 remaining in the final quarter, Williams attempted a pass to White that sailed over his head close to the goal line. White gestured to the referee, believing he should have been awarded a penalty for interference.
However, no flag was thrown.
Boise State maintained their 21-7 advantage as Jeanty rushed for 11 yards, totaling 196 yards by the two-minute warning.
He then ran up the middle for four yards, reaching the 200-yard milestone on his 30th carry.
At 10:20 PM, the game concluded.
Students rushed the field, celebrating their team’s advancement to the 12-team tournament.
The Rebels concluded the match with a score of 21-7.
After the match, UNLV head coach Barry Odom recognized Boise State as “one of the top teams” in the nation, asserting they would create a significant impact. He mentioned how Boise State is “designed for a championship run.”
In the postgame comments, Odom emphasized that the players “have changed the narrative” surrounding a once-struggling football program.
Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson commended Odom during his postgame remarks, expressing a desire to learn from him.
“What he has accomplished,” Danielson remarked at the press conference, “Barry Odom is among the finest coaches” in the realm of college football.
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Even a remarkable 86-yard run did not yield a touchdown for UNLV during the third quarter.
The Rebels were trailing, 21-0, when running back Kylin James made a handoff deep in his territory and charged through the Boise State defense, racing towards the end zone.
However, a defender caught up just a few yards before he could score.
UNLV had four opportunities to find the end zone but were unable to convert.
At the conclusion of the third quarter, the score remained Boise State 21, UNLV 0.
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UNLV’s renowned GoGo offense struggled significantly in the initial half, failing to establish momentum.
They did not score any points while Boise State managed a touchdown in both the first and second quarters.
Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to receiver Latrell Caples in the first quarter and then dashed 14 yards for a second touchdown.
The UNLV rushing attack faltered, accumulating zero yards on eight carries and amassing a total of just 14 yards in the first quarter.
Then, Boise State’s standout player, Ashton Jeanty, made a 75-yard sprint that appeared to signal the end of UNLV’s fairy tale season with just 29 seconds to go in the first half.
After 30 minutes of play, UNLV recorded merely 78 total yards and four first downs.
The stat sheet indicated a solid 21-0 lead for Boise State at halftime.
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Season tickets for UNLV football for 2025 are selling faster than they did at this time last year, with the UNLV brand gaining traction thanks to the championship game, according to UNLV Athletics Director Erick Harper.
For a complete interview conducted before the game, check it out:
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Harper revealed that 160 UNLV supporters each paid $750 for a chartered flight to and from the game, which also covered ground transportation and a game ticket.
Boise State fans take their enthusiasm seriously in these matchups.
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Temperatures hovered around 25 degrees at the college football stadium adjacent to Boise State’s campus, as a UNLV equipment staff member was seen running a communication cable behind the Rebels’ bench on Friday afternoon.
A spectator reminded the employee that four hours before the UNLV vs. Boise State Mountain West Conference championship, the Rebels had a chance to create history by winning and securing a position in college football’s historic first 12-team playoff.
“It’s not that we can create history. We will create history,” declared the UNLV employee.
Indeed, not only would UNLV’s historically challenged football program make its mark by earning a seat alongside premier teams such as Ohio State, Texas, and Georgia, but it would also deliver a major shock to the sports world.
After all, it was UNLV’s candid, straightforward head coach, Barry Odom, who brought the Rebels’ struggles into focus by stating that he recognized two years ago when he accepted this position that he was stepping into a team that had averaged just three wins a season for many years.
For the second consecutive year, the determined Odom led a UNLV team onto the field against strong Boise State in the Mountain West championship.
This time, however, the stakes were considerably higher on the blue turf that has been a staple at Albertsons Stadium since 1986.
A chance to compete for a national title. It may sound improbable, but it is indeed the case.
The story will be updated as the day progresses and the UNLV-Boise State game unfolds.
