"We are a good team when we have a chip on our shoulder," exclaimed UNLV head coach Barry Odom. His team is 2-0 after losses this season and the Rebels are coming off a tough 37-31 (9-3, 6-2) loss to San Jose State a week ago. Now they look to bounce back as UNLV hosts Boise State (7-5, 6-2) in its first-ever Mountain West Conference Championship game.
Odom said this week that he was proud of his team's accomplishments. He feels the Rebels will play better this week than in last week's loss. He reminded his squad that they were one of just twenty teams on the practice field in college football as they prepared to play for the first Mountain West title in school history. Boise State will be shooting for its fifth championship.
This will be a battle between two teams that have explosive offenses. The Rebels average 36 points a game and the Broncos 32. UNLV's Go-Go Offense leads the nation with 36 rushing touchdowns. UNLV averages 392 yards a game to Boise State's 282 yards.
Conference Freshman of the Year, QB Jayden Maiava has thrown for 2,626 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Rebels offense have converted on 51% of its third down conversions. UNLV ranks fourth in the nation in that category. Boise State's QB Taylen Green threw for 228 yards in his team's 27-19 win over Air Force
The game features a pair of breakaway players too. Rebels wideout Ricky White III averages 17 yards per catch and has accounted for 1308 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. The Broncos Ashton Jeanty has amassed 1,113 rushing yards and 537 receiving yards.
UNLV's defense is hoping it can come up with a big play. The Rebels have been opportunistic. Linebacker Jackson Woodard leads the team with 104 tackles this season. The Rebels have 24 sacks and 13 interceptions, defensively. Senior linebacker Jerrae Williams, who has missed action since the Air Force game, could see action after wrist surgery. Boise's Ahmed Hassanein has recorded 12 sacks. Alexander Teubner leads the Broncos D with 63 tackles.
UNLV should have a sizeable special teams advantage. UNLV placekicker Jose Pizano is one of three finalists for the Groza Award. He has made all 50 PATs and 23 field goals this season. The Rebels Jacob De Jesus is a gamebreaker. He is averaging 26 yards per kickoff return and 17 yards per punt return. Boise's senior placekicker Jonah Dalmas has a long of 56 yards and has 96 points this season.
Rebels DB Cameron Oliver said his teammates are fired up to play in the Championship game, "This is for all the marbles. We are looking to put it all on the line. It's our time."