College Football Playoff Top 25: Final Championship Week Projections
By Zach Bigalke
Facing off against Fresno State for a second straight week, Boise State came back in the fourth quarter to beat the Bulldogs 17-14 on Saturday night. The Broncos snatched a late interception from Fresno State quarterback Marcus McMaryion to guarantee the first Mountain West championship for Bryan Harsin‘s team since 2014.
Bryan Harsin threw for 246 yards in the win, and Ryan Wolpin and Alexander Mattison both ran for touchdowns. Cedrick Wilson was the big-play man, as the receiver caught eight receptions for 148 yards. Boise State’s defense clamped down, holding McMaryion under a 50 percent completion rate as he finished with 172 passing yards and an interception.
The win will put Boise State into the final College Football Playoff rankings at the expense of Fresno State. Harsin’s squad won’t pip undefeated UCF for the title of the best Group of Five team, but the Mountain West championship is a solid consolation prize in a comeback season for the Broncos.