The Boise State Broncos are set to clash against the UNLV Rebels in a game that could produce plenty of action on the ground.
Both the Broncos and the Rebels are two teams that love to run the football, with the Broncos housing star running back Ashton Jeanty. The Rebels, however, have a three-headed attack of sorts with two running backs and the quarterback involved on the ground. For UNLV, the ground game could lead to a surprising upset victory over the Broncos.
The Boise State Broncos are on a four-game winning streak after dropping a narrow game to the Oregon Ducks. While the Broncos have been playing good football, the spotlight has been purely placed upon the star Jeanty. The running back has been elite for the Broncos, and the team has been primarily using him in the first half, and then benching the athlete after getting out to a big lead.
However, the team cannot solely rely on Jeanty no matter how great the running back has been, and the defense will need to step up against a tough UNLV squad. Between the NIL issues and their schedule, many have tried to discredit the Rebels this season. Regardless, UNLV is a strong team that has the potential to take down another ranked team.
Boise State Broncos Must Play Tough Defense Against UNLV Rebels Team
While the Boise State Broncos might be the stronger team overall, they cannot take the Rebels lightly during the upcoming clash.
Thus far into the 2024 season, the Rebels have recorded a 6-1 record despite the NIL fiasco that took place following the Kansas Jayhawks win. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams stepped into the starting role following the incident and has since not looked back with his excellent play. Williams has recorded a quarterback rating of 75.2 after starting the past four games, ranking him as the 27th overall quarterback.
What has set Williams apart, and in turn changed the UNLV Rebels offense, is his ability to run and throw the ball with ease. Williams was a former starter for Campbell and showcased a huge arm during his time with the team. The quarterback has ten passing touchdowns in four games, along with another four touchdowns on the ground for the team.
What really makes Williams a difficult player to deal with is his ability to transform the players that are around him. Opposing teams are worried about his rushing ability, and thus fail to key in on the talented running backs UNLV has. When opposing teams do not respect his arm, Williams can truly air out the ball like he did against the Syracuse Orange in the lone Rebels loss.
For the Boise State Broncos, slowing down Williams is going to be key to slowing down the entire Rebels offense. Williams is a catalyst and shutting down the quarterback in turn affects both the run and pass game for the Rebels. The quarterback has been sacked seven times in four games, highlighting a possible attack point for the Broncos that the UNLV offense has.
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