The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: Week 13

The final week of the regular season was filled with drama and heartbreak for multiple teams in the Mountain West. The championship game was decided by computers after a three-team tiebreaker involving UNLV, Boise State, and San Jose State unfolded. Boise State will travel to Las Vegas to take on UNLV in a game that will be nationally televised on Fox Saturday afternoon.

The Good

Boise State

The Broncos looked like the better team for the majority of this contest, but some poor decisions by Taylen Green made this game much closer than it needed to be. Fortunately for the Broncos, Ashton Jeanty came to play. Jeanty became the first Bronco since 2016 to finish a game with 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving. The Broncos also did a nice job of sealing the edges and limiting the perimeter rushing attack of the Falcons. The win allows the Broncos to finish a tumultuous regular season on a high note.

Utah State

The Aggies continued to show why they have one of the most well-rounded offenses in the conference with a double overtime victory over New Mexico. The Aggies became bowl eligible and did it with their third string quarterback, Levi Williams. Williams rose to the occasion with an impressive performance, finishing the game with 198 yards passing and 153 yards rushing. It will be interesting to see who starts at quarterback in the bowl game for the Aggies.

San Jose State

The Spartans finished the season with an impressive win on the road against UNLV. The Spartans put in an impressive and well-rounded offensive showing against a Rebels defense that has exceeded expectations this fall. San Jose State was able to capitalize on a slow start by UNLV to jump out to a quick 17-0 lead. The Spartans followed up their quick start by controlling the flow of the game and making the most of their offensive possession. Some poor execution made this game closer than it needed to be, but they ultimately came away with the victory.

Hawaii

The Rainbow Warriors continued to look like a different team on the road. Hawaii was able to put in a solid defensive effort to hold Colorado State to 24 points. I’m not sure what Timmy Chang and his staff were thinking not clocking the ball at the end of the game, but Shipley came in and made a clutch kick for Hawaii to win the game and finish the season on a high note. Hawaii did enough this season to feel optimistic about the future. Can this team make a bowl game in 2024?

Wyoming

The Cowboys looked like a team that wanted a road victory. Wyoming was 0-4 on the road entering their game against Nevada. Cowboy quarterback Andrew Peasley had one of the most impressive performances of his college career with a great day on the ground and through the air. The win improves the Cowboys to 8-4 on the season.

San Diego State

It may not have been the season that Brady Hoke and the Aztecs wanted, but they were able to go out on a high note with a convincing win over Fresno State. The Aztecs were able to slow down the potent Fresno State offense and use an effective running game to come away with the victory. San Diego State will now move its focus to finding their next head coach.

The Bad

Air Force

The Falcons season continued to tailspin, losing their fourth consecutive game to end the regular season after starting 8-0. The Falcons were dominated by the Broncos for the majority of the first half, but they were able to claw back and make it a game that ultimately came down to the final possession. However, the Falcons were forced to rely on their passing game which ultimately led to their demise, as a late interception won the game for the Broncos.

New Mexico

The Lobo rushing attack was once again dynamic, but a disappointing defense continues to be the reason the Lobos could not contend for a bowl. The defensive expertise that Gonzales was supposed to bring from Arizona State and San Diego State never quite came to fruition. The Lobos are staying home this bowl season, and Danny Gonzales is looking for a new job after being fired Saturday night.

The Ugly

UNLV

The Rebels seemed like a distracted team for the majority of the game. Were they overlooking the Spartans with their championship fate already decided? The Rebels were undisciplined on both sides of the ball. Maiava was missing throws, and they struggled to get pressure on Cordeiro early in the game which allowed the Spartans to move down the field with relative ease. The loss cost the Rebels a 10-win regular season, but they have a chance to redeem themselves and take home the conference championship this weekend.

Colorado State

On paper, the Rams were the more talented team and should have been able to handle the Rainbow Warriors. But playing in Hawaii is always tricky and that proved to be the case on Saturday night. The Rams had 425 yards of offense but managed only 24 points to fall short in Hawaii.

Nevada

Ken Wilson’s tenure in Nevada took another significant bump this past Saturday as the Wolf Pack were thoroughly dominated by the Wyoming Cowboys. Nevada made Andrew Peasley look like an All American quarterback. If Ken Wilson is the coach next year, he will need to make major changes to this roster. Nevada has failed to find an answer at the quarterback position in the transfer portal, and they haven’t had a consistent rushing attack since Wilson arrived on campus. This team will need a miracle turnaround if they even want to sniff a bowl in 2024.

Fresno State

What a fall off for the Bulldogs. After beating Boise State, it looked like the Bulldogs were going to be in contention for a New Year’s Six game and a lock for the Mountain West Championship. Injuries plagued the Bulldogs and the discipline that Jeff Tedford teams are known for was lacking. The Bulldog defense struggled to stop the run in their final games and the defensive line struggled to get a rush on opposing quarterbacks. It seems like Tedford and his staff will make finding more quality pass rushers will be a priority in the transfer portal this offseason.

Which moments from this past weekend stood out to you? Are the right teams playing for the conference championship? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.