Boise State Football: 3 takeaways from 2017 MWC Championship win

3. Boise State had advantage of playing at home for title that matters

In the somewhat-contrived rivalry game between Boise State and Fresno State, the two schools have played for the Milk Can Trophy since 2006. They have played 20 times since 1977 in the intermittent rivalry game, which really came to life after Boise State joined the WAC and upset then-No. 8 Fresno State in the 2001 edition of the series.

The Bulldogs kept the Milk Can in Fresno after taking down Boise State on the last Saturday of November. On the first Saturday of December, the Broncos got their revenge by claiming the bigger prize. Boise State has fallen short in recent years, and this season it looked like Bryan Harsin’s squad might fall at the final hurdle in its quest to return to the top of the Mountain West.

But the late winning drive and the defensive stops to seal the win gave the Broncos the prize they covet most. Rivalry trophies are fun for fans and players alike, as was evidenced by Fresno State’s celebration after the victory in the first showdown this year against the Broncos.

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Ultimately, though, conference titles are the true measure of a team’s greatness in any given season. Boise State held on to prevail in the rematch, snagging the bigger prize in the process. That win will probably put the Broncos in the Las Vegas Bowl against a Pac-12 opponent, while Fresno State will be left to face another Group of Five team in another postseason contest.