Nevada coach Jeff Choate called it “a meaningful game for the state of Nevada” because there is so much more on the line than state bragging rights and which team gets to paint the Fremont Cannon.

UNLV will make the Mountain West championship with a victory and play at No. 11 Boise State with a potential shot at the College Football Playoff. The Rebels could lose and still make the conference title game, but it becomes more complicated and their chances to make the playoffs would almost be nil.

The victory left the Rebels, No. 2 in this week's Nevada Appeal Mountain West rankings, at 9-2 overall and 5-1 in the Mountain West. The Rebels are tied with Colorado State (7-4, 5-1) for second place in the Mountain West behind Boise State (10-1, 7-0), which will host the Mountain West title game on Dec. 6.