BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Maddux Madsen delivered four first-half touchdowns and Boise State claimed its third straight Mountain West Conference championship, overpowering UNLV 38–21 on Saturday in the final title game the Broncos will play before leaving for the rebuilt Pac-12 in 2026.
Madsen tore through the Rebels early. He stacked up 196 total yards, opening with a 10-yard keeper and adding touchdown throws to Dylan Riley, Cameron Bates and Malik Sherrod as the Broncos (9-4) built a 28–14 lead. Sherrod’s 39-yard score came one snap after a UNLV fumble.
UNLV (10-3), in its first season under head coach Dan Mullen, fought back behind quarterback Anthony Colandrea. He led a 95-yard march capped by his 5-yard touchdown run and later found Troy Omeire from 11 yards out to keep the Rebels within two scores at the half. JoJo Earle’s 7-yard run cut the deficit to 28–21 late in the third.
The Broncos forced three consecutive stops to open the fourth quarter and turned a 78-yard drive into Sire Gaines’ 1-yard touchdown run for a 35–21 cushion with 13:21 left. Colton Boomer’s 50-yard field goal sealed the margin.
Madsen finished with 289 yards passing, while the Broncos outgained UNLV 460–409 and never trailed.
Boise State also beat the Broncos, 56–31, in October.
___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up hereand here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
-
UNLV triumphs over Cal football at the LA Bowl
UNLV and Cal went head-to-head at the Art of Sports LA Bowl in Los Angeles. UNLV landed a victory over Cal after an already impressive season.
Mullen gives opening speech as 14th head coach of UNLV Football
Dan Mullen took the podium as the 14th head football coach at UNLV on Friday and gave his opening remarks about leading the Rebels to new heights.
WATCH: UNLV community welcomes Dan Mullen as new head football coach
Dan Mullen returns to the sidelines in Las Vegas after spending the last three seasons as an ESPN college football analyst. He previously coached at Florida and Mississippi State.
UNLV Rebels will enter the season with new head coach Dan Mullen
The UNLV Rebels will enter the new season with a new head coach. Dan Mullen was hired in hopes of continuing the past two years of making history on the field.
