San Jose State wins Mountain West

Quarterback Nick Starkel threw for a Mountain West Championship game record 453 yards and three touchdowns to help No. 24 San Jose State (7-0) defeat Boise State 34-20 and win its first conference championship since 1991.

The Spartans more than doubled the Boise's total yardage and held the Broncos to just three rushing yards for the entire game.

During the first half, it looked as if San Jose State was going to run away with this one. Starkel found WR Tre Walker for a 55 yard touchdown in the first quarter, which would be the only touchdown of the first half. The Spartans added four field goals in the second quarter, while Boise managed only two field goals. San Jose State took a 19-6 lead to halftime.

Boise State started off better in the second half, and got the spark it needed with just under three minutes left in the third. After forcing a punt, Avery Williams returned the kick 69 yards for a touchdown to make the score 19-13.

San Jose State answered at the beginning of the 4th quarter as Starkel completed a 30 yard pass to Isaiah Hamilton for a touchdown. The Spartans would convert on a two-point conversion to go up 27-13.

Hank Bachmeier would run in for a touchdown on the ensuing Broncos' drive. However, when Boise State could not score the rest of the game. Starkel hit Derrick Deese Jr for his third touchdown pass of the day with 3:48 left in the game. Down two scores, Boise would turn the ball over on downs. They then managed to get a defensive stop, but it was too little, too late.

San Jose State plays MAC Champions Ball State, who also won its first conference title since the 1990s, in the Arizona Bowl. Boise State is one of several programs across the country that have decided to forego the 2020-21 bowl season.