Instant analysis: Boise State blows leads against rival BYU, but all is not lost

Final score: BYU 31, Boise State 28

Records: Boise State 6-3, 5-0 Mountain West. BYU 5-5.

Why the Broncos lost: Boise State’s defense bent but didn’t break in the first half. JL Skinner and Rodney Robinson came up with interceptions that ended BYU drives deep in Boise State territory. The Broncos’ defense also came up with a stop on the 1-yard line as time expired on the first half.

The Broncos’ offense answered the bell twice after BYU took the lead in the second half, but Boise State’s defense couldn’t keep the Cougars out of the end zone. Wide receiver Puka Nacua made an acrobatic catch near the sideline on a 6-yard touchdown that put BYU ahead for good with 1:46 to play. Nacua was a difference maker, with 14 catches for 157 yards and two scores.

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Main takeaway: Boise State is still fine in the Mountain West race, as this was a nonconference game, but Saturday’s loss means any faint hope of a New Year’s Six bowl game is pretty much gone. The highest-ranked conference champion earns the Group of Five’s spot. No. 19 Tulane (8-1) leads the race, but the Green Wave still have games against SMU, UCF and Cincinnati and the American Athletic Conference championship game to get through.

Coastal Carolina (8-1) is very much in the mix after beating Appalachian State on Thursday. No. 25 UCF (7-2) and Cincinnati (7-2) are still in the hunt, too.

Player of the game: BYU quarterback Jaren Hall completed 29-of-42 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns. He found Nacua on a 24-yard touchdown to put the Cougars ahead 17-14 in the third quarter, and he delivered to Nacua when it mattered the most in the fourth quarter.

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Stat of the game: Boise State had given up only 16 points in the third quarter of games all season. BYU outscored the Broncos 10-7 in the third after it was 7-7 at halftime.

Play of the game: BYU had a chance to take the lead heading into halftime after dominating statistically, facing third-and-goal from the Broncos’ 1-yard line with one second left, but the defense turned away the Cougars. Linebacker Ezekiel Noa stopped BYU running back Lopini Katoa just short of the goal line. The play was reviewed and upheld.

What’s next: Boise State is back on the road Saturday at Nevada in its last late game (8:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network). The Broncos are 30-14 all-time against the Wolf Pack in a series that dates back to 1971. Nevada (2-7) knocked Boise State off 41-31 last season at Albertsons Stadium but has been bad this year.