UNLV linebacker Jackson Woodard celebrates after intercepting a pass in the second half against Kansas at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
It's been a long time since UNLV football made the trek up to Boise, Idaho.
Thanks to the Mountain West's unbalanced schedule and a global pandemic, it has been more than eight years since the Scarlet and Gray have had to set foot on Boise State's famous blue turf. Which means, obviously, no current UNLV player has any experience in that hostile environment.
When they walk into Albertsons Stadium for the MWC championship game on Friday (5 p.m., FOX), it will be a road game in the truest sense.
For some teams, that might be cause for concern. The 2024 UNLV squad wouldn't have it any other way.
Under second-year head coach Barry Odom, the Scarlet and Gray have turned into certified road warriors this season, running up a 6-0 record away from Las Vegas. And they've earned that perfect mark, winning in a variety of locations, such as (but not limited to): Not one but two Big 12 venues, a tropical storm in Hawaii and, most recently, under sheets of rain in San Jose.
Blowouts, close games, soccer stadiums, inclement weather -- UNLV has conquered every road challenge.
According to senior receiver Ricky White, the team embraces the "us against them" mentality that comes with entering someone else's house.
"Knowing we're going into an away game, a different environment that's not going to be at home, so we have everybody against us," White said. "I feel like we've done a good job of taking that on as a team. We feed off that energy."
Senior linebacker Jackson Woodard has set the standard for UNLV's road efforts. In addition to his leadership role in calling the defense, 10.5 of his 17.0 tackles for loss have come during away games, as have three of his four interceptions.
Woodard said UNLV closes ranks and sticks to the same routine leading up to road games, and that formula has served them well.
"Habits don't change, no matter if we're home or away, and that's what brings our success on the road," Woodard said. "When everyone is against us, that's when we're our closest. We rally together. We bring our own energy. We love when everyone is against us."
Playing a true road game with the Mountain West title at stake will be the ultimate test. Albertsons Stadium is sure to be sold out, with nearly 38,000 Broncos fans making it louder than any other game situation UNLV has encountered this season.
While their ear drums are being assaulted, the players will have to maintain their composure. Whether it's hearing the play call on the helmet radio or calling out offensive line protections before the snap, there's a lot of ways a loud, rowdy crowd can impact an opponent's game plan.
Like the rest of the UNLV squad, senior quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams has no experience at Boise, but he understands how important it will be to keep cool under pressure.
"I don't know what to expect as far as the crowd at Boise," Williams said. "I've never been there -- I don't even know where it is on the map. But what I do know is communicating is always a key to victory. If me and Jack [Hasz] aren't on the same page, we're going to have things that don't go right."
The other factor will be the weather. UNLV plays its home games in a climate-controlled dome, but Friday's winner-take-all tilt will be played in big sky country, under the elements. Temperatures at kickoff could be below freezing.
Odom takes pride in practicing outdoors in the wind and in the rain (however infrequent it is in Las Vegas), and he believes that has helped foster an "anytime, anyplace" attitude among the players.
"Great competitors, they don't care," Odom said. "We can go out and play in the parking lot, it doesn't matter. As long as you prepare the right way, the elements is distraction control. It should mean nothing."
All that being said, Odom did seem to have checked the weather report in advance, rattling off the Friday forecast from memory.
"I think it's a high of 42 that day, a low of 30," he said. "It'll be perfect for us."
For the Mountain West's road warriors, there would be no bigger statement than going to Boise and knocking off the No. 10 Broncos on the blue turf to win the conference championship. Not only would it send UNLV to the College Football Playoff, it would also deliver payback for Boise State winning the title at Allegiant Stadium last year.
Despite the high stakes, Woodard said UNLV will once again stick to its routine. He won't go through pregame warmups shirtless to prove his toughness, mug for the cameras or go out of his way to rile up the partisan fans.
When the crowd flies into a frenzy, Woodard and his teammates will respond the way they have all season -- with their play on the field.