Mountain West championship: Players to know, predictions and more

The Mountain West will crown it’s 2024 football champion on Friday night in Boise, Idaho as No. 20 UNLV visits No. 10 Boise State. The stakes could not be higher.

If Boise State wins, the Broncos are headed to the College Football Playoff and very likely a first-round bye. If UNLV wins, the Rebels will steal the Group of Five’s automatic bid to the 12-team playoff and leave Boise State’s postseason hopes in limbo.

Here’s who to watch when the game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Fox — and which side to bet on:

Players to watch

Boise State: Ashton Jeanty, RB

The race for the Heisman Trophy is essentially down to Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Jeanty, the bell cow back for the Broncos. The 5-foot-9 native of Jacksonville, Florida, is the complete package for a running back: power, grace, vision, speed and sure-handedness when toting the rock. He leads FBS in carries (312), rushing yards (2,288), and touchdowns from scrimmage (29). Jeanty needs just 55 yards on Friday night to pass Marcus Allen’s 1981 campaign at USC for fourth place on the top single-season rushing performances.

UNLV: Hajj-Malik Williams, QB

Remember the Matt Sluka saga? When all of college football seemed consumed by the drama surrounding the former UNLV quarterback essentially throwing himself off the team to preserve his eligibility because of an NIL kerfuffle? Well, as it turns out, a better quarterback was on the roster. In 11 games, Williams – a transfer from FCS Campbell – has thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for nine more while leading the Runnin’ Rebels to a 9-2 record. He leads the Mountain West in passer efficiency rating (158.2) and passing yards per attempt (8.4).

Staff Picks

Opening Line: Boise State -5

Blake Schuster: Boise State -4

This game is in Boise. It’ll be Ashton Jeanty’s last chance to impress Heisman Trophy voters. And he’s already rushed for 128 yards against UNLV once this season on the road. Gulp.

Mitchell Northam: Boise State -4

The Broncos already beat UNLV on the road. Potentially at stake here is a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, depending on how the ACC and Big 12 title games shake out.

Christian D’Andrea: Boise State -4

That’s a small line for a home team who already beat UNLV on the road, right?

Michelle Martinelli: Boise State -4

Usually in a same-season rematch situation, I go with the loser of the first game winning the second. Not this time. The Broncos will win this rematch decisively with a stellar game from Ashton Jeanty.

Tyler Nettuno: Boise State -4

The Broncos have played some quietly not great football over the last month or so, but UNLV hasn’t looked like world-beaters, either.