No. 13 Boise State (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West, No. 13 CFP) will face off against San Jose State (6-3, 3-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST, with the game being broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
The betting odds favor Boise State by 13.5 points.
In the history of their matchups, Boise State holds a dominant lead with a series record of 15-1.
What’s on the line for this matchup? Boise State is focused on solidifying its position as the leading team from the Group of Five conferences, while also inching closer to securing a spot in the Mountain West title game. A victory paired with a loss from UNLV this week would guarantee the Broncos a place in the championship bout. Meanwhile, San Jose State clinched bowl eligibility for the third consecutive year last week and aims to enhance its standing within the conference.
A key battle to watch is between Boise State’s pass defense and San Jose State’s wide receiver, Nick Nash. The Broncos have faced challenges in their secondary, allowing 22 pass completions for at least 30 yards this season, ranking them among the top teams in the country for such statistics. Nash is currently on track for a standout season, leading the FBS in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,156), and touchdown catches (13). He has found the end zone at least once in every game this season and also has two touchdown passes to his name.
As for notable players, Boise State’s running back Ashton Jeanty is a frontrunner in the Heisman Trophy race, boasting four games this season with over 200 rushing yards and five games featuring at least three rushing touchdowns. He leads the nation with an outstanding average of 192.7 rushing yards per game and has scored 23 touchdown runs throughout the season.
For San Jose State, cornerback DJ Harvey made headlines with a standout performance that earned him the conference’s defensive player of the week award against Oregon State. He made a pivotal interception that led to a key touchdown in the fourth quarter and also broke up a crucial fourth-down pass to maintain his team’s lead. In that game, he also recorded seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack.
Some key facts and figures to consider: Although San Jose State triumphed over Boise State in the 2020 Mountain West title game, they have lost the other 15 encounters. Last week, the Broncos celebrated their 700th program win. Notably, Boise State has scored on its opening drive for eight consecutive games and ranks second in the FBS with 4.44 sacks per game. San Jose State, on the other hand, is trying to end a streak of 10 consecutive losses against ranked opponents, with their last win against a top-25 team dating back to 2013 against No. 16 Fresno State. Furthermore, they have not secured a victory over a top-15 opponent since 2000 when they defeated No. 9 TCU. However, San Jose State does lead the nation with 22 turnovers taken away from opponents, and their quarterback Walker Eget threw for a career-high 395 yards last week.