Ashton Jeanty, who leads the nation in rushing, didn’t quite meet his usual level but still managed to run for 128 yards and score the winning touchdown, helping No. 17 Boise State defeat UNLV 29-24 on Friday night. This game had College Football Playoff implications.
Jeanty’s 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal with 12:38 remaining secured the lead for the Broncos (6-1, 3-0 Mountain West).
Maddux Madsen threw for 209 yards and one touchdown, keeping Boise State’s hopes alive for the College Football Playoff. The Broncos are bowl eligible for the 27th year in a row, which is the second-longest active streak in the nation, just behind Georgia’s 28 years. They also have an impressive record of 28-1 after bye weeks since 2001.
“That UNLV team is legit,” Madsen said. “That defense played hard and fast until the end. We talked all week about how it was going to be a heavyweight fight. Their only loss was to Syracuse in overtime. That game was going to be tough.”
The Rebels (6-2, 2-1) needed this win to stay in the playoff race.
“I am devastated for our team that we couldn’t find a way to win that one,” UNLV coach Barry Odom said. “Our guys battled. We’ve got a really good team. So does Boise. There is no consolation. We lost the game.”
Jeanty’s performance was his second lowest this season, just a yard more than what he gained in a blowout win over Portland State. He had averaged at least 7 yards per carry in his previous games this season but was limited to 3.9 yards per attempt by the Rebels.
“You talk about an absolute warrior,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “Every single (yard) was earned. He’s the best football player in the country.”
UNLV’s Hajj-Malik Williams threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 105 yards and one touchdown.
This game took place in front of 42,228 fans at Allegiant Stadium, breaking a 22-year-old record for attendance at a UNLV home game. The previous record was set on August 31, 2022, when 42,075 people watched the Rebels face Wisconsin at Sam Boyd Stadium.
That game was stopped midway through the fourth quarter due to a power outage. Sam Boyd was UNLV’s home stadium until they moved to Allegiant in 2020.
The Broncos seemed to gain control by scoring two touchdowns in the last 1:50 of the first half, going up 20-10. Madsen scored on a 7-yard run when the middle opened up for him for the first touchdown.
Then linebacker Andrew Simpson intercepted a pass, giving Boise State the ball at UNLV’s 7-yard line, which led to Madsen throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Matt Lauter on fourth-and-goal. This was only the second touchdown the Rebels had allowed after a turnover.
The Rebels quickly closed the gap to three points at the start of the second half but had to keep chasing for the rest of the game. UNLV briefly took the lead at 24-23 with 1:03 left in the third quarter when Williams connected with Jaden Bradley on a 34-yard touchdown pass.
However, that lead didn’t last long, as Boise State regained the advantage early in the fourth quarter. UNLV wide receiver and return specialist Jacob De Jesus left the game in the first half due to an unspecified injury.
