Running back Ashton Jeanty put on a stellar display with 209 rushing yards and three touchdowns as No. 12 Boise State narrowly defeated a determined Nevada team, winning 28-21 on Saturday night. This victory marks the Broncos’ seventh consecutive win.
Boise State (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West, No. 12 CFP) strengthened its position among Group of Five teams contending for an automatic bid in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Their only loss this season was a close 37-34 game against top-ranked Oregon.
Coach Danielson Stresses Focus as Boise State Eyes the Playoffs
“This is the month to compete,” said Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson. “What happened earlier in the season doesn’t matter now; it’s all about going 1-0 each week. We found a way to win tonight, and that’s a testament to our players. We’ll gain more from a close game like this than from an easy blowout.”
Despite early signs that Boise State might cruise to victory, the game proved challenging until the final whistle.
Boise State Secures the Win with Strong Fourth Quarter Drive
The Broncos’ offense struggled to pull away until the fourth quarter when quarterback Maddux Madsen led a crucial 10-play, 62-yard drive, capped off by Jeanty’s 2-yard touchdown run. This drive was saved by a video review that overturned what had initially been ruled an interception at the 1-yard line.
Nevada (3-8, 0-5) came close to answering back, but Sean Dollars’ fumble at the goal line allowed Boise State to recover in the end zone, sealing the Broncos’ victory.
“There were some tough breaks in this game that went their way,” said Nevada coach Jeff Choate. “They earned some of those, and we gave them some. That’s just how the game goes sometimes.”
Boise State’s Fast Start Fades as Nevada Claws Back
Boise State scored on its first two drives, with Matt Lauter catching an 11-yard touchdown pass and Jeanty powering his way into the end zone with a 4-yard run, establishing an early 14-0 lead.
Nevada responded with a 17-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brendon Lewis and a 44-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Marcus Bellon to Caleb Ramseur, tying the game.
In the second half, Boise State fumbled the opening kickoff, but after recovering the ball at their own 5-yard line, they responded with an impressive 95-yard drive, ending with Jeanty’s 1-yard touchdown run.
Nevada and Boise State Takeaways
Nevada: Although Nevada’s hopes for bowl eligibility officially ended with this loss, first-year head coach Jeff Choate has made progress in building a competitive program. The Wolfpack have suffered five losses by one touchdown or less and held their ground against Boise State for most of the game.
“This is the kind of program I want to build here,” Choate said. “Resilient, tough, no excuses—just hard work. We’ve had some heartbreaking losses to strong teams, and this is another one of those. It’s part of the journey, and we’ll keep fighting.”
Boise State: With opposing teams honing in on Jeanty, Boise State will need more consistent performances from Madsen at quarterback. While he has shown promise, Madsen threw an interception and had two other near-picks against Nevada, along with some missed throws in crucial moments.
