UNLV Rebels WR Jaden Bradley (6) motions to move the chains after securing a first down during a college football game against the Air Force Falcons on Saturday October 11, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada.The Sporting TribuneSun, November 30, 2025 at 4:15 PM UTC·2 min readLAS VEGAS -- UNLV is headed back to the Mountain West Football Championship Game — and once again, the opponent is Boise State.
The conference announced Sunday that the Rebels (10-2, 6-2 Mountain West) will face the Broncos (8-4, 6-2) for the third consecutive season with the title on the line. Boise State will host the matchup Friday at Albertsons Stadium, earning home-field advantage after winning the head-to-head tiebreaker and finishing second in the league’s composite computer rankings.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUNLV earned its spot after a commanding 42-17 victory over in-state rival Nevada on Saturday night and finished in a four-way tie atop the standings with Boise State, San Diego State, and New Mexico. The conference determined the championship participants using a composite average of nationally recognized metrics, including the Connelly SP+, ESPN Strength of Record, KPI, and SportSource rankings.
This season marks the second time in three years that the Rebels finished in a first-place tie and won the tiebreaking criteria. UNLV hosted the championship in 2023 and traveled to Boise for last year’s title game. The Broncos won both previous championship meetings, including a 56-31 victory over UNLV earlier this season on October 18.
Despite those setbacks, the Rebels enter the title game riding momentum and history-making progress. Under first-year head coach Dan Mullen, UNLV has reached 10 wins for just the fourth time in program history and the first time in back-to-back seasons. The program is 30-10 since the start of the 2023 campaign and heads into the matchup on a four-game winning streak.
“I’m really excited for the program because this results from all of the hard work they put in to earn the right to play in the championship again,” said UNLV Athletic Director Erick Harper. “I couldn’t be more proud of Coach Mullen and the team.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMullen credited his players’ resilience and growth throughout the season.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to play for the Mountain West title,” Mullen said. “I’m proud of the buy-in during year one from a team returning only two starters and with over 70 new players. This team has improved every week, and we hope to play our best game in Boise.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT Friday, with national broadcast coverage on FOX.
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