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Ashton Jeanty runs for 128 yards and winning touchdown, No. 17 Boise State beats UNLV 29-24

Ashton Jeanty runs for 128 yards and winning touchdown, No. 17 Boise State beats UNLV 29-24

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Ashton Jeanty, the country's leading rusher, didn't live up to his billing but still rushed for 128 yards and the game-winning touchdown to help No. 17 Boise State to a 29-24 win over UNLV on Friday night a game with implications for the College Football Playoff.

Jeanty's 1-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal with 12:38 left gave the Broncos (6-1, 3-0 Mountain West) the lead for good.

Maddux Madsen passed for 209 yards and a touchdown as Boise State kept its hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff alive. The Broncos are bowl eligible for the 27th straight season, the longest active streak in the country. After a break since 2001, they are also 28-1.

The Rebels (6-2, 2-1) needed a win to stay in realistic contention for a playoff spot.

Jeanty's performance was his second-worst of the season, just one yard better than his performance in a blowout win over Portland State. He averaged at least 7 yards per carry in each of his previous games this season, but was held to 3.9 yards per attempt by the Rebels.

UNLV's Hajj-Malik Williams threw one pass for 179 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 105 yards and a TD.

This game was played before an announced crowd of 42,228 at Allegiant Stadium, breaking a 22-year-old attendance record for a UNLV home game. The previous high was reached on August 31, 2022, when 42,075 spectators watched the Rebels' game against Wisconsin at Sam Boyd Stadium, where the game was canceled due to a power outage midway through the fourth quarter. This was UNLV's home stadium until the move to Allegiant in 2020.

The Broncos appeared to take control with two touchdowns in the final 1:50 of the first half to take a 20-10 lead.

Madsen scored on a 7-yard run as the middle opened up for him for the first touchdown. Then linebacker Andrew Simpson intercepted a pass to give Boise State the ball at UNLV's 7-yard line, setting up Madsen's 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Matt Lauter on fourth-and-goal. It's only the second touchdown the Rebels have allowed after a turnover.

The Rebels immediately cut the deficit to three points early in the second half, but remained in chase mode the rest of the way. UNLV then took the lead back 24-23 with 1:03 left in the third quarter when Williams hit Jaden Bradley on a go route for a 34-yard touchdown strike.

That lead was short-lived as Boise State regained the lead early in the fourth quarter.

UNLV wide receiver/return specialist Jacob De Jesus left the first half with an unspecified injury.

The takeaway food

Boise State: Jeanty is the 2-1 Heisman favorite at BetMGM, but his odds might have given him a setback, especially for those looking for any reason not to give their top vote to a Group of Five player. BYU quarterback Ty Detmer in 1990 is the last player to win the award outside of a power conference. Jeanty has other opportunities to make an impression on voters, and he needs to make the most of them.

UNLV: Untimely penalties were particularly costly in the Rebels' other loss to Syracuse, and two calls in the fourth quarter were particularly damaging for the Broncos. An unsportsmanlike penalty on left tackle Jalen St. John nearly stalled a drive, and a defensive hold call on cornerback Tony Grimes extended a Boise State series that otherwise would have ended in a punt.

Impact on the survey

The Broncos at least assured themselves of maintaining their spot rather than potentially falling out of the rankings. UNLV could have moved back into the top 25 with a win, but it significantly hurt its chances of making the poll this season.

Next

Boise State: Hosts San Diego State on Friday.

UNLV: In Hawaii on November 9th.

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Get poll alerts and AP Top 25 updates throughout the season. Sign up Here. AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll And https://apnews.com/hub/college-football.

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