2023 Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game
{{refimprove|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game
| title_sponsor =
| subheader = Conference Championship
| image =
| Image_size =
| caption =
| date_game_played = December 2
| year_game_played = 2023
| football_season = 2023
| stadium = Allegiant Stadium
| city = Las Vegas, NV
| visitor_school = Boise State University
| visitor_name_short = Boise State
| visitor_nickname = Broncos
| visitor_record = 7–5
| visitor_rank_AP =
| visitor_rank_coaches =
| visitor_rank_CFP =
| visitor_coach = Spencer Danielson (interim)
| visitor_1q = 14
| visitor_2q = 17
| visitor_3q = 10
| visitor_4q = 3
| home_school = University of Nevada, Las Vegas
| home_name_short = UNLV
| home_nickname = Rebels
| home_record = 9–3
| home_rank_AP =
| home_rank_coaches =
| home_rank_CFP =
| home_coach = Barry Odom
| home_1q = 7
| home_2q = 10
| home_3q = 3
| home_4q = 0
| MVP = Offensive: Taylen Green, Boise State
Defensive: Alexander Teubner, Boise State
| odds = Boise State by 2.5
| anthem =
| referee =
| halftime =
| attendance = 31,473
| us_network = Fox
| us_announcers = Jason Benetti, Brock Huard, and Allison Williams
| ratings =
| intl_network =
| intl_announcers =
}}
{{2023 Mountain West Conference football standings}}
The 2023 Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game was a college football game which was played on December 2, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium in the Las Vegas-area community of Paradise, Nevada. It was the 11th edition of the Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game and determined the champion of the Mountain West Conference (MW) for the 2023 season. The game began at 12:00 p.m. PST and was aired on Fox. The game featured the Boise State Broncos and the UNLV Rebels.
Teams
Boise State, UNLV, and San José State all finished with a 6–2 conference record, creating a three-way tie. Since all three teams did not face each other during the season and no team was ranked in the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings before the game, the three-way tie was broken by computer rankings from Anderson & Hester, Colley Matrix, Massey and Wolfe. UNLV finished with the best average rankings, while Boise State came in second and San José State at third. Therefore, the Broncos and Rebels secured their spots in the MW Championship. UNLV and Boise State did not play each other during the regular season. The Rebels had the higher average ranking and earned the right to host the title game.{{cite web |url=https://themw.com/news/2023/11/26/unlv-to-host-boise-state-in-mw-football-championship/ |title=UNLV to host Boise State in MW Football Championship |website=mw.com |accessdate=November 26, 2023}}
=UNLV Rebels=
{{Main|2023 UNLV Rebels football team}}
The Rebels, who entered the game with a 9–3 record, 6–2 in conference play, were making their first MW title game appearance.
=Boise State Broncos=
{{Main|2023 Boise State Broncos football team}}
The Broncos entered the game with a 7–5 record, 6–2 in conference play. They made their second consecutive Mountain West title game appearance and seventh overall. They were 3–3 in previous appearances, having last won the title in 2019.
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Scoring summary
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle= {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Mountain West Conference|color=white}}; text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|title=2023 Mountain West Championship
Boise State Broncos (7–5, 6-2) vs. UNLV Rebels (9–3, 6–2)
|date= Saturday, December 2, 2023
|time= 1:00 p.m. PST
|road= Boise State
|R1=14|R2=17|R3=10|R4=3
|home= UNLV
|H1=7|H2=10|H3=3|H4=0
|stadium=Allegiant Stadium • Las Vegas, NV
|attendance=
|weather=
|referee=
|TV= FOX
|TVAnnouncers= Jason Benetti, Brock Huard, Allison Williams
|reference=
|scoring=
;First Quarter
- (11:08) BSU – Taylen Green 8 yard rush, Jonah Dalmas kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:52; Boise State 7–0)
- (6:45) UNLV – Vincent Davis Jr. 5 yard rush, Jose Pizano kick (Drive: 12 plays, 87 yards, 4:18; Tied 7–7)
- (2:21) BSU – Ashton Jeanty 5 yard rush, Jonah Dalmas kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:24; BSU 14–7)
;Second Quarter
- (14:49) UNLV – Fred Thompkins 47 yard interception return, Jose Pizano kick (Tied 14–14)
- (13:32) BSU – Austin Bolt 57 yard pass from Taylen Green, Jonah Dalmas kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:17; Boise State 21–14)
- (12:10) BSU – Taylen Green 70 yard rush, Jonah Dalmas kick (Drive: 1 play, 70 yards, 0:12; Boise State 28–14)
- (7:23) BSU – Jonah Dalmas 31 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 16 yards, 3:31; Boise State 31–14)
- (3:35) UNLV – Jose Pizano 51 yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 3:48; Boise State 31–17)
;Third Quarter
- (11:07) UNLV – Jose Pizano 46 yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 45 yards, 3:47; Boise State 31–20)
- (5:03) BSU – Jonah Dalmas 50 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 41 yards, 6:04; Boise State 34–20)
- (0:16) BSU – Matt Lauter 16 yard pass from Taylen Green, Jonah Dalmas kick (Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 3:01; Boise State 41–20)
;Fourth Quarter
- (3:43) BSU – Jonah Dalmas 22 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 79 yards, 4:12; Boise State 44–20)
}}
{{AmFootballGameStatistics
| Float = left
| Visitor = Boise State Broncos
| VisitorDisplay = BSU
| VisitorAltColors =
| Home = UNLV Rebels
| HomeDisplay = UNLV
| VisFirsts = 23
| VisPlaysYds = 66–527
| VisRushing = 51–301
| VisPassYds = 226
| VisPassing = 12–15–1
| VisTOP = 37:10
| HomeFirsts = 16
| HomePlaysYds = 66–298
| HomeRushing = 28–81
| HomePassYds = 217
| HomePassing = 18–38–2
| HomeTOP = 22:50
}}
{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Float = right
| Visitor = Boise State Broncos
| VisitorDisplay = Boise State
| VisitorAltColors =
| Home = UNLV Rebels
| HomeDisplay = UNLV
| VisPasser = Taylen Green
| VisPassStats = 12/15, 226 yards, 2 TD, INT
| VisRusher = Ashton Jeanty
| VisRushStats = 21 carries, 153 yards, TD
| VisReceiver = Billy Bowens
| VisReceivingStats = 4 receptions, 91 yards
| HomePasser = Jayden Maiava
| HomePassStats = 15/29, 166 yards, 2 INT
| HomeRusher = Vincent Davis Jr.
| HomeRushStats = 14 carries, 55 yards, TD
| HomeReceiver = Ricky White III
| HomeReceivingStats = 6 receptions, 86 yards
}}
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{2023 NCAA football conference championships}}
{{Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game navbox}}
{{Boise State Broncos football navbox}}
{{UNLV Rebels football navbox}}
Category:Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game
Category:Boise State Broncos football games
Category:UNLV Rebels football games
Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game