Boise State survives in Laramie, Clinches home field advantage for Mountain West Championship

BOISE, Idaho — The Broncos escaped Laramie on Saturday with a win they won't soon forget.

The University of Wyoming Cowboys kept it close until the final minutes of the fourth quarter but their third-down ferocity was no match for an organized BSU team that took better advantage of its in-game opportunities. At this point of the season, it should surprise absolutely nobody that Saturday's biggest opportunist was none other than Heisman Hopeful, Ashton Jeanty.

#2 got started early and never stopped against the Cowboys. Toward the end of the first quarter, Jeanty broke loose for a 61-yard touchdown run and ultimately rushed for a total of 169 yards. He also surpassed the famed 2,000-yard mark, ending the game with a season total of 2,062 yards.

And while the numbers look good on paper, they didn't come easy. Early in the second half, Jeanty went to the medical tent with an apparent lower-body injury but was quickly cleared after missing just a single offensive drive.

In the final quarter, Wyoming took a short-lived, three-point lead after its kicker, John Hoyland put one through the uprights on a 25-yard attempt. Boise State answered right back by driving 75 yards down field, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown run by backup running back, Jambres Dubar. the Broncos would go on to outlast the Cowboys 17-13.

Looking forward, the Broncos will host Oregon State this Friday at 10 a.m. for their final matchup of the regular season.

With their win in Laramie on Saturday, Boise State clinched home-field advantage for the Mountain West Championship Game, which is set for Friday, December 6. They will face Colorado State or UNLV in that game, depending on who wins or loses this upcoming weekend.

Last year, the Broncos won the MWC after beating UNLV at home. They have won the conference championship five times since joining back in 2011 but have never won back-to-back titles.