San Diego State will be motivated to remain unbeaten in Mountain West play, get back to .500 on the season and beat one of its biggest rivals in the conference Friday night at No. 15 Boise State.

The Broncos have even more at stake. The first CFP rankings of the year will be released Tuesday, and Boise State is bidding to be included in the expanded 12-team playoff.

Automatic bids are given to the top five conference champions, likely those from the Power Four conferences as well as the top-rated Group of Five champion, along with seven at-large berths.

Boise State (6-1, 3-0 MW) is on track to be the Group of Five automatic representative if it keeps up its winning ways.

A three-point loss to now-No. 1 Oregon is the only blemish on the Broncos’ record. Boise State remained undefeated in the Mountain West with last week’s 29-24 win at UNLV.

SDSU (3-4, 2-0) returns to conference play after last week’s 29-26 home loss to Washington State.

The Aztecs are 2-2 on Boise State’s blue field, although they are 23 1/2-point underdogs coming into the game at Albertsons Stadium. Kickoff is 5 p.m. PT (Fox Sports 1).

Here are five things to watch:

1. Time of possession

The Aztecs rank 123rd in the nation in time of possession (26:44) out of 134 FBS schools.

They have not led time of possession in any of their seven games this season.

If ever they needed to dominate time of possession against an opponent, it is at Boise State.

The Broncos haven’t exactly played keep-away themselves, ranking 52nd (30:46) in the category. But they have been very productive when possessing the ball, ranking third in the nation in scoring with 44.3 points a game.

Boise State has been especially productive in the red zone. The Broncos have scored on 94.9 percent of their opportunities when they get to the 20-yard line. Only nine other teams in the country have been better.

SDSU’s defense has limited opponents to 23.6 points a game. A similar effort would give the Aztecs a chance against Boise State. SDSU’s offense extending some drives and burning up clock, a challenge given the team’s uptempo style, would benefit a defense that has tired late in games. The Aztecs have allowed 56 points in the fourth quarter, more than any other period of the game.

2. Slowing Ashton Jeanty

Boise State junior running back Ashton Jeanty rushed for a career-high 205 yards and two touchdowns in last year’s meeting at Snapdragon Stadium.

It was the first 200-yard game of Jeanty’s career. He has had four since then. He is averaging 196.6 yards a game this season.

“He’s a physical runner with home-run speed,” said SDSU coach Sean Lewis, adding that it’s essential to “get multiple hats to the ball and really gang-tackle his ability.

“When it’s just one or sometimes two and sometimes even three, like you better have four or five guys there, because he’s going to make you earn it — he does not go down easy.”

Jeanty may not be at full strength. He suffered a left arm injury in the second quarter of last week’s game at UNLV, but returned to the game after a brief absence for treatment.

3. SDSU O-line concerns

SDSU’s offensive line has been shuffled more thoroughly than a deck of cards.

All five starting spots have been impacted by injuries, including season-ending injuries at both left tackle and left guard.

Another shuffling is expected against the Broncos. Starting right guard Tyler McMahon and starting right tackle Nate Williams are both dealing with left ankle injuries suffered against Washington State.

McMahon and Williams both were practice observers earlier in the week. Lewis said their presence would be a game-time decision.

If they are not able to participate, then redshirt freshman Briley Barron would play right guard and junior Saipale Fuimaono would man right tackle. Both players would be making their first college starts against the Broncos.

4. Getting after the QBs

Boise State will have to do something to slow down SDSU edge Trey White, who leads the nation with 11 1/2 sacks.

The Broncos have done an excellent job of protecting quarterback Maddux Madsen (120-for-193, 1,482 yards, 13 TDs/2 INTs), who has been sacked only six times all season.

“We’ve got to have a lot of answers for Trey White,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said. “I mean when you lead the nation in sacks, we’re crazy to not have answers and switches for him. I mean we need to, and so we’ll be ready for him.”

If White diverts attention, it could open up opportunities for linemates Tupu Alualu, Marlem Louis or Ryan Henderson, who have combined for nine sacks.

Boise State also gets after the quarterback, leading the nation with 35 sacks this season. Defensive end Ahmed Hassanein leads the Broncos with seven sacks. Sophomore edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan (Mt. Carmel High School) is second with 6 1/2 sacks among 38 tackles.

5. Will turnovers tell the story?

Both teams have been very good at what Lewis terms “valuing the football.”

SDSU has thrown four interceptions and lost one fumble, the five turnovers ranking sixth in the nation. Boise State has gone the Aztecs one better, throwing three interceptions with one lost fumble, the four turnovers ranking second in the country.

SDSU’s defense has been more productive generating turnovers, with 10 takeaways (six interceptions, four fumble recoveries) compared to six (two interceptions, four fumble recoveries) by the Broncos.