Boise State Football: 3 takeaways from 2017 MWC Championship win

In a rematch against Fresno State, Boise State football survived to claim its first MWC title since 2014. What did we learn from the Broncos surge for the title?

Despite losing to Fresno State 28-17 on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Boise State got the honor of hosting the Mountain West championship game on the Smurf Turf at Albertsons Stadium. In the showdown between the Bulldogs and the Broncos, the visitors had the momentum for much of the game.

But a late touchdown put Boise State up 17-14 late in the fourth quarter, and then the defense held on to shut down Fresno State’s offense at the end of the game. A missed field goal on the first Bulldogs possession of the game, and a late interception on Fresno State’s last drive, secured the victory for the Broncos on its home field. In the process, Bryan Harsin’s squad sealed up its first Mountain West championship since 2014.

Earlier losses in the season to Washington State and Virginia mean that Boise State is out of the running for the Group of Five spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game. But the Broncos got to 10 wins for the second straight season, and now they will wait to see where they land in the postseason calendar.

What can we learn from the rematch between Fresno State and Boise State for the Mountain West championship? Here are three takeaways from the narrow Broncos victory.