Final boise state football 38, UNLV 13; key starter returns for Broncos Idaho Statesman

The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Mountain West Conference

This seemed like the time the Boise State football team would put all its pieces together and give us an idea of how good it can be. The No. 16 Broncos had a week off to work on their flaws. They returned to their original starting lineup on the offensive line. They were playing a bad opponent in UNLV. And they were supported by thousands of blue-and-orange fans — many of them friends and family members of the players — to provide a little extra motivation. Three and a half unimpressive hours later, this instead looked like the same team we saw in September with the exception of some improved special teams play — stout on defense, frustrating on offense. The 38-13 defeat of the Rebels was the Broncos’ fifth straight win to start the season but, for a team with aspirations of playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game for the first time in five years, that’s not necessarily enough.