Get ready for a showdown that promises to be nothing short of electrifying! Boise State is set to host UNLV in the 2025 Mountain West Football Championship, marking the third consecutive year these two powerhouses will clash for the title. But here's where it gets controversial: how did we even get to this point? Let’s break it down.
On Friday, December 5, 2025, Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho, will come alive as the Broncos and Rebels face off at 6 p.m. MT, broadcast live on FOX. The excitement kicks off earlier with the Mountain West Network Pregame Live Show, setting the stage for a night of high-stakes football.
This season’s conference standings were a nail-biter, with Boise State, New Mexico, San Diego State, and UNLV all finishing with identical 6-2 records. Since these teams didn’t face each other during the regular season, a tiebreaker was needed. Enter the composite average of nationally recognized metrics—Connelly SP+, ESPN SOR, KPI, and SportSource rankings—to determine the top contenders. And this is the part most people miss: UNLV edged out Boise State with a composite average of 45.50 compared to the Broncos’ 47.75. But because the tiebreaker then reverted to head-to-head results, Boise State secured hosting rights thanks to their 56-31 victory over UNLV back on October 18. San Diego State and New Mexico followed with composite averages of 51.00 and 54.75, respectively.
For UNLV, this is their third shot at the MW Championship, and they’re hungry for their first title. Meanwhile, Boise State is no stranger to this stage, making their ninth appearance overall and fourth straight, aiming for a third consecutive championship and their sixth MW title in program history. Here’s where opinions might differ: Can UNLV’s momentum under first-year head coach Dan Mullen—who led the Rebels to a 10-2 record, including a 42-17 rout of rival Nevada—finally break Boise State’s dominance? Or will the Broncos, despite injuries like the loss of starting quarterback Maddux Madsen, prove once again why they’re the team to beat?
Boise State’s resilience was on full display in their final regular-season games, clinching an 8-4 record with a thrilling 25-24 win at Utah State. UNLV, meanwhile, rides into the championship on a four-game winning streak, hitting the 10-win mark for just the fourth time in program history—and back-to-back years for the first time ever. The Rebels are peaking at the right moment, but will it be enough?
History favors Boise State, who claimed the 2023 title with a 44-20 win in Las Vegas and defended their crown last year with a 21-7 victory in Boise. But football is a game of inches, and UNLV’s rise under Mullen has fans and analysts alike questioning if this could be their year.
Tickets start at $35 and are available now at BroncoSports.com. Don’t miss this epic battle for Mountain West supremacy! #MWPathToThePlayoff
Thought-provoking question for you: With UNLV’s recent success and Boise State’s championship pedigree, who do you think takes home the 2025 MW title? Let us know in the comments—we want to hear your take!
