FSM Recap: UNLV Rebels vs Boise State Broncos - NCAA Football - Week 15 - 2025 | Rebels Fall to Boise State in Mountain West Championship for the 3rd Straight Year

FSM Recap: UNLV Rebels vs Boise State Broncos – NCAA Football – Week 15 – 2025

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UNLV Rebels (10-3)  |  Boise State Broncos (9-4)

UNLV Rebels vs Boise State Broncos – 1st Quarter

UNLV Rebels vs Boise State Broncos (Boise, ID) – The Rebels started the 2025 Mountain West Championship against Boise State after the Broncos won the coin toss and deferred possession to UNLV. The Rebels’ offense would immediately embark on a promising drive to start the game, with a 24-yard scamper from quarterback Anthony Colandrea on the second play from scrimmage. A few plays later, Colandrea hit Jaden Bradley over the middle for 16 yards, but as Bradley fought for more yards crossing midfield, the Broncos would force a fumble and take possession at their own 40-yard line.

A quick three-and-out from Boise State would give the ball back to UNLV, but the Rebels would return the favor, with the Broncos taking back over just shy of midfield. The Rebels’ defense would quickly force a third and long after sacking Broncos quarterback Maddux Madsen on second down, but Maddux would hit wide receiver Chase Penry downfield for a 46-yard strike. One play later, Madsen scampered across the goal line from 10 yards out, giving the Broncos a 7-0 lead in a game in which they never trailed.

The Rebels responded, chipping away at the Broncos’ defense to get in position for a 50-yard field goal, but kicker Ramon Villela would come up short on the kick, as Boise State took back over at the 33-yard line. 

The first play of the drive was another 40-plus yard strike from Madsen, this time to Cameron Bates out wide. With the Broncos now sitting around the red zone, they would inch closer to the promised land before Madsen hit running back Dylan Riley in the flat as he galloped in for another six points.

After another successful PAT, the Rebels’ offense took back over as the first quarter came to a close.

UNLV Rebels vs Boise State Broncos– 2nd Quarter

 

Early in the second, the Rebels would punt back to Boise State. The Broncos then pieced together another scoring drive, this time with the longest play from scrimmage on a 14-yard reception from Bates. A few plays later, Bates would finish the drive off with six on a 7-yard dime from Madsen. Another successful PAT would see the Broncos take an early 21-0 lead over UNLV, as the Rebels looked to make things interesting after a slow start in Boise.

After a few scoreless drives from both teams, the Rebels would do just that. Aided by running back Keyvone Lee’s 46 yards on three carries, with two of those rushes going for 21 and 19 yards, the Rebels would finally hit paydirt when Colandrea got them on the board with a 5-yard scramble through a crowded Broncos’ defense. 

The Broncos immediately returned the favor. After a 5-yard rush on first down from running back Sire Gaines, Gaines would take off for 35 yards up the middle as he cut the Rebels’ defense in half. On the very next play, Madsen would hit Broncos’ running back Malik Sherrod as he made a house call from 39 yards out, and with that, the two-minute warning for the first half.

With the Broncos’ offense expecting the ball back after the half, Colandrea and the Rebels’ offense were in a do-or-die situation before the half. The Rebels’ offense would take the ball right down the field, aided by Colandrea’s 39 rushing yards on the drive and another 15 from running back Jaiden “Jet” Thomas. With less than a minute left in the half, Colandrea would hit wide receiver Troy Omeire at the left pylon as he stretched to catch the ball, adjusted his body, and fell into the end zone before he crossed from the blue grass to the sideline.

From there, time wound down as Boise State ran out the clock, entering halftime with a 28-14 lead over UNLV.

UNLV Rebels vs Boise State Broncos – 3rd Quarter

 

The second half was much less of a barn burner for those hoping to hit the 60.5 over/under. 

Spoiler alert: They ended at 59.

After duelling punts for much of the third quarter, the Rebels’ defense would actually hold Boise State scoreless in the third, and with just under 6 minutes to go, the Rebels took over as they looked to finally close the gap on the Broncos.

On first down, Thomas would take off for 23 yards down the left sideline. One play later, Colandrea hit wide receiver JoJo Earle streaking down the same sideline, coincidentally adding another 23 yards as the Rebels sat the Broncos 33-yard line. A few plays later, Colandrea hit tight end Nick Elksnis for 20 yards, and the Rebels were within striking distance.

A quarterback keeper from Colandrea would inch the ball a yard closer to the promised land before Earle would take a direct snap to the house.

And with that, the Rebels made it a one-score game as the Broncos led 28-21 heading into the fourth quarter with possession just shy of midfield.

UNLV Rebels vs Boise State Broncos – 4th Quarter

A few plays into the fourth, Maddux hit Penry crossing to the left side of the field, and Penry would weave his way down to the one-yard line. One play later, Gaines powered through the middle of the defense, finishing off the drive as Boise State was back to a 14-point lead.

Both teams would go three-and-out on their ensuing drives, and UNLV would have its next drive stalled by a Colandrea sack that would put the Rebels in a 3rd and 23 before losing two more to make it 4th and 25.

Boise State responded by taking the clock down to the 3:19 mark, with kicker Colton Boomer hitting his only field goal attempt of the night from 50 yards out.

The Rebels’ offense would drive into Broncos territory, but after a failed 4th and 4 attempt and the game firmly out of reach, Boise State took back over with less than a minute left and knelt out the clock.

With that, the Broncos are the Mountain West Conference Champions, defeating UNLV for the third straight time in the game, and 11th in a row overall, by a score of 38-21.

The UNLV Rebels now look to their 2026 recruiting class, which was ranked first in the Mountain West, as they go into the offseason preparing for year two under head coach Dan Mullen. Thank you for visiting FranchiseSportsMedia.com for your Las Vegas Sports news.

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