Boise State Broncos football


The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The Broncos play their home games on campus at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho, and their head coach is Spencer Danielson.
Established in 1933, the Broncos have achieved numerous on-field successes, including 23 conference championships, six division titles in the Mountain West Mountain Division, and two national championships, one at the junior college level in 1958 and the other in Division I-AA in 1980. They have had seven undefeated seasons and nine playoff appearances, including a 2024 appearance in the College Football Playoff. The program has the longest current streak of winning seasons in the FBS with 28 and is 3–1 in the Fiesta Bowl, with wins in 2007, 2010, and [2014 2024 Fiesta Bowl (December)|Fiesta Bowl (December)|2014]. As of the end of the 2024 season, the Broncos' all-time winning percentage of.727 is the fifth highest among FBS teams.
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History

Early history (1933–1975)

Originally a junior college, Boise State first fielded a football team in 1933 under head coach Dusty Kline. That team compiled a record of 1–2–1. Kline was succeeded by Max Eiden. Under Eiden, the Broncos posted a record of 11–17–1 from 1934 to 1937. Eiden was succeeded by Harry Jacoby, who coached the team from 1938 to the middle of the 1941 season before being called into Army service. The remainder of the 1941 season was coached by George "Stub" Allison, who posted a record of 2–1. The Broncos did not compete in intramural football from 1942 to 1945 due to having a reduced male student population during World War II. Following the war, Jacoby would return to coach the Broncos for one more season in 1946, posting a final record of 14–15–2. After a year as an assistant, Lyle Smith was promoted to head football coach of Boise Junior College in 1947. Smith saw incredible success as head coach, winning his first 31 games in a row as head coach. In 1950, the team moved into a new 10,000-seat stadium. With the outbreak of the Korean War, Smith, still undefeated as a head coach, was recalled to the Navy and was only able to coach in the first three games of the 1950 season. George Blankley assumed the head coaching duties for the remainder of 1950 and the entire 1951 season in Smith's absence and compiled a 16–2 record. Smith returned as head coach in 1952 and stretched his winning streak all the way to 37 games before suffering his first defeat. In 1954, Smith was a leading candidate for the vacant job at his alma mater Idaho, but withdrew his name from consideration, content at Boise. Boise won thirteen conference titles in football under Smith and the NJCAA National Football Championship in 1958. Smith's final record is 150–25–6. Coach Smith never had a losing season as the head coach. Boise State's football program moved up to four-year status in 1968 under new head coach Tony Knap and competed as an NAIA independent for two seasons. The Broncos were accepted into the NCAA in October 1969, and a month later into the Big Sky Conference, effective the following July. The Broncos began NCAA competition in 1970 in Division II in a brand new Bronco Stadium. Knap and the Broncos won three consecutive Big Sky titles from 1973 to 1975 and compiled a record of 71–19–1.

Jim Criner era (1976–1982)

Knap was succeeded by Jim Criner in 1976, a defensive assistant the previous season under Dick Vermeil at UCLA, the Rose Bowl champions. BSU won the Big Sky again in 1977, and in 1978, the Broncos and the Big Sky moved up to the new Division I-AA . A scouting violation late that season at NAU resulted in probation and compromised an excellent 10–1 season in 1979, undefeated in conference at 7–0; the Broncos were ineligible for the Big Sky title and I-AA playoffs. Off probation in 1980, BSU won its first national title, taking the I-AA national championship over defending champion Eastern Kentucky in Sacramento. A runner-up to Idaho State in the Big Sky in 1981, BSU hosted Eastern Kentucky in the I-AA semifinals, but lost, 17–23. Criner departed after the 1982 season to accept the head football coach position at Iowa State; his overall record at BSU was.

Lyle Setencich era (1983–1986)

Lyle Setencich was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach of Boise State following Criner's departure. Under Setencich, Boise State posted a 24–20 record in four seasons. Setencich's final season in 1986, the first season of blue turf, saw the first losing campaign for the Broncos football program in four decades, winning just one road game and losing the final two home games. He lost all four rivalry games against Idaho and resigned following the season.

Skip Hall era (1987–1992)

Skip Hall, previously an assistant coach under Don James at Washington, was hired after Setencich's resignation. In Hall's second season in 1988, the Broncos returned to the Division I-AA playoffs, their first appearance since 1981. Hall's best season was in 1990, when Boise State advanced to the national semifinals, falling in a high scoring game against Big Sky rival [1990 1990 Nevada Wolf Pack football team|Nevada Wolf Pack football team|Nevada], the conference champion whom the Broncos had defeated a month earlier in Boise. Hall lost all six against Idaho; he resigned after six seasons, with a record.

Pokey Allen era (1993–1996)

The Broncos turned to Portland State head coach Pokey Allen to lead the Boise State football team after Hall resigned. In Allen's second season, the Broncos returned to the championship game in 1994. After 26 years in the Big Sky, BSU joined the Big West Conference in 1996 and moved up to Division I-A. The Broncos had an interim head coach for part of 1996 as Allen suffered from cancer; he died of it in December 1996.

Houston Nutt era (1997)

Head coach Houston Nutt made the step up to NCAA Division I-A the next year when Boise State hired him away from Murray State to take over the program. Two years after making the Division I-AA finals in 1994, Boise State's first year in Division I-A had been difficult and was looking for a recruiter and motivator to jump start their program following Allen's death. Nutt's team posted a 5–6 record in 1997, playing at the Division I-A level with its Division I-AA players. Nutt's team beat rival Idaho on the road in overtime for the first BSU win in Moscow since 1981. Additionally, Boise State almost pulled off an upset against Wisconsin of the Big Ten. Nutt resigned as head coach after just one season to accept the head football coach position at [1998 1998 Arkansas Razorbacks football team|Arkansas Razorbacks football team|Arkansas].

Dirk Koetter era (1998–2000)

In three seasons under head coach Dirk Koetter, who previously served as [1997 1997 Oregon Ducks football team|Oregon Ducks football team|Oregon]'s offensive coordinator, the Broncos were 26–10, won two Big West championships and moved to the Western Athletic Conference effective in 2001. In his three winning seasons at Boise State, Koetter won ten or more games twice, with two bowl wins. Koetter departed the Broncos after the 2000 season for Arizona State in the Pac-10.

Dan Hawkins era (2001–2005)

Dan Hawkins was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach on December 2, 2000. In 2004, Hawkins was honored with his second Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year title in three years. Through the 2005 season, he compiled a 53–11 record as Boise State's head coach, including a 37–3 record in WAC competition with four straight WAC titles. Only Walter Camp, Washington Woodruff and Bob Pruett had more total wins in their first five years of head coaching. He holds a 31–game WAC winning streak, the longest in conference history. One of his first hires at Boise State was Chris Petersen as his offensive coordinator; Petersen was a quarterback at UC Davis while Hawkins was an assistant coach, and was the wide receivers coach at Oregon under head coach Mike Bellotti. After five seasons at the helm of the Broncos football program, Hawkins left for Colorado of the Big 12 Conference. He had three top 25 finishes, won ten or more games three times, and won two bowl games.

Chris Petersen era (2006–2013)

Following Hawkins' departure, offensive coordinator Chris Petersen was promoted to head coach. At Boise State, Petersen won two Paul "Bear" Bryant National Coach of the Year Awards, voted on by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He is the first coach to receive this award twice, which debuted in 1986. Under Petersen, Boise State recorded two undefeated seasons, three undefeated regular seasons, and reached the Bowl Championship Series twice. The 2006 season was capped with a memorable upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, while the 2009 team defeated TCU in the Fiesta Bowl to finish at 14–0 and were fourth in both major polls. They were just the second team ever to go 14–0 in the history of major college football. Petersen brought Boise State football its highest ranking during the 2010 season. The team rose to second in the Associated Press poll during weeks 7, 8, and 9, and No. 2 in the Coaches' Poll, as well as earning the No. 3 slot in the first BCS ranking. After 2010, Boise State joined the Mountain West Conference.
In May 2011, Boise State Athletics was cited by the NCAA for "lack of institutional control," for one major violation in women's tennis and several minor violations in four sports, including football. While the football program's violations were minor, the football program suffered serious penalties nonetheless. The Boise State football program was given three years' probation, lost three scholarships a year, and had its number of Fall practices reduced. As a result of the NCAA violations, Gene Bleymaier, the athletic director who brought blue turf to Boise State in 1986 and promoted Petersen 20 years later, was asked to resign, and ultimately fired when he refused. Despite President Bob Kustra's firing of Bleymaier, boosters continued to support him. Just two years later, the new football facility was named in his honor.
Between 2008 and 2011, the Broncos went 50–3 to become the first FBS team to win 50 games over a four-year span. With the 50–3 record, quarterback Kellen Moore became the winningest quarterback in FBS history, passing former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy. On December 7, 2011, it was announced that the Broncos would join the Big East Conference as football-only members in July 2013, in a division with Memphis, SMU, Houston, San Diego State, and Temple. However, the following year Boise State announced they had decided to stay in the Mountain West Conference, leaving the Big East without ever playing a game in the conference. Petersen accepted the head coaching position at the University of Washington of the Pac-12 Conference on December 6, 2013. The vacancy was created when the Huskies' Steve Sarkisian left to take the head coaching position at USC. Petersen finished his eight seasons as head coach of Boise State with a record of, with three top 10 finishes, seven seasons with ten or more wins, six top 25 finishes, two Fiesta Bowl titles, five bowl wins, and five conference titles. He was at BSU for a total of 13 years, the first five as offensive coordinator under Hawkins. Assistant head coach Bob Gregory was named interim head coach for Boise State's bowl game.

Bryan Harsin era (2014–2020)

On December 11, 2013, Arkansas State head coach Bryan Harsin returned to his alma mater as Petersen's replacement. Harsin had been an assistant for the Broncos under Petersen and was co-offensive coordinator at Texas under Mack Brown. In his first season in 2014, they went 10–2 in the regular season and won the Mountain West Championship Game, defeating [2014 Fresno State Bulldogs football team|Fresno State Bulldogs football team|Fresno State] 28–14. This was Boise State's first outright Mountain West Conference championship. The Broncos faced the Arizona Wildcats in the Fiesta Bowl and won 38–30 for a 12–2 record and were ranked 15th in both major polls. Boise State shared the Mountain division title in 2016, going 10–3 with wins over [2016 2016 Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State] and Oregon State. BSU was 11–3 in 2017 and won their second Mountain west conference championship under Harsin with a 17–14 win over Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship Game. Boise State capped the season with a Las Vegas Bowl win over Oregon and climbed to 22nd in both final polls. In 2018, Boise State was 10–3 overall; they won the Mountain Division championship and beat three teams that won ten or more games and were ranked in both final polls. In 2019 Boise State went 12–2 won the opener at Florida State went 8–0 in the Mountain West conference play for the first time in the regular season, won the Mountain Division and won the conference championship 31–10 vs Hawaii and finished ranked in both final polls. Under Harsin, Boise State is through 2020, with at least nine wins per year, a 3–2 record in bowl games, 1 Fiesta Bowl title, Have been ranked in the top 25 in the polls at some point in every season, won three conference titles, five division titles, and have been in the AP final poll four times. On December 22, 2020, Harsin resigned to become the head coach at Auburn. He finished at Boise State with a seven-year record of 69–19.

Andy Avalos era (2021–2023)

On January 8, 2021, Boise State hired Oregon defensive coordinator Andy Avalos as their new head coach. Avalos, a former player and assistant coach for the Broncos, signed a five-year contract worth $7.75 million.
Being on the verge of the team's first losing season since 1997, it was announced on November 12, 2023 that Avalos was being let go. The remainder of his contract would be bought out, an amount near $3 million. He led the Broncos to a 2022 Mountain West Championship Game and the 2022 Frisco Bowl, where the Broncos defeated North Texas 35-32. Avalos ended his career as head coach with a record of 22–14 in three seasons. On December 11, 2023, Avalos was hired as defensive coordinator by Texas Christian.

Spencer Danielson era (2023–present)

After Andy Avalos was let go with two games remaining in the 2023 regular season, Defensive Coordinator Spencer Danielson was announced as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Danielson was elevated to full-time head coach after winning the next three games, including the MWC Championship Game at UNLV. Danielson's first game as full-time head coach was against UCLA in the LA Bowl. The Broncos lost 22–35 and finished the season 8–6, with Danielson finishing with a record of 3–1.
Boise State went 12–2 in 2024 and finished 8th in the nation in the final polls. The Broncos went 11–1 during the regular season and repeated as Mountain West Conference Champions, with only a 37–34 loss on the road to number 1 Oregon. They made the College football playoff as the number 3 seed and received a first-round bye to College football Quarterfinal. They played in the Fiesta Bowl but lost 31–14 to Penn State.

Head coaches

Head coaching records
NAIA, NCAA Division II, Division I-AA, Division I-A/FBS
Dusty Kline11933
Max Eiden41934-1937
Harry Jacoby41938-1941, 1946
George "Stub" Allison11941
NO TEAM, WWII1942-1945
Lyle Smith4, 161947-1950, 1952-1967
George Blankley21950-1951
Tony Knap81968–197571191
Jim Criner71976–198259211
Lyle Setencich41983–198624200
Skip Hall61987–199242280
Pokey Allen41993–1996*24150
Tom Mason1199619
Houston Nutt1199756
Dirk Koetter31998–20002610
Dan Hawkins52001–20055311
Chris Petersen82006–20139212
Bob Gregory * 201301
Bryan Harsin72014–20206919
Andy Avalos *32021–20232214
Spencer Danielson12023–present153

In 1980, The Big Sky Conference introduced overtime for all their games. This eventually set a precedent which lead to the elimination of all tied contests across the league by 1996.Mason was the interim head coach for the first 10 games of the 1996 season while head coach Pokey Allen battled cancer.Gregory was the interim head coach after Petersen took the job at Washington.Avalos was replaced by Danielson with two games remaining in the 2023 season.

Championships

National championships

Boise State has won two national championships: one in the Junior College Division and one in NCAA Division I-AA.
1958Lyle SmithNJCAA10–0NJCAA Championship GameTyler Junior CollegeW 22–0
1980Jim CrinerNCAA Division I-AA10–3Division I-AA Championship GameEastern KentuckyW 31–29

Conference championships

Boise State has won 23 conference championships in three difference conferences, with 20 won outright and three shared. The first four of the six Big Sky championships were won in NCAA Division II before they joined Division I-AA. They won their first Division I-A conference championship in 1999.
The 1979 team went 7–0 and 10–1 overall for the season, but they officially were not awarded a conference title due to being on probation.
1973Big Sky Conference – (Div. II)Tony Knap6–010–3
1974Big Sky Conference – (Div. II)Tony Knap6–010–2
1975Big Sky Conference – (Div. II)Tony Knap5–0–19–2–1
1977Big Sky Conference – (Div. II)Jim Criner6–09–2
1980Big Sky Conference – (Div. I-AA)Jim Criner6–110–3
1994Big Sky Conference – (Div. I-AA)Pokey Allen6–113–2
1999Big West Conference – (Div. I-A)Dirk Koetter5–110–3
2000Big West Conference – (Div. I-A)Dirk Koetter5–010–2
2002Western Athletic ConferenceDan Hawkins8–012–1
2003Western Athletic ConferenceDan Hawkins8–013–1
2004Western Athletic ConferenceDan Hawkins8–011–1
2005 Β§Western Athletic ConferenceDan Hawkins7–19–4
2006Western Athletic ConferenceChris Petersen8–013–0
2008Western Athletic ConferenceChris Petersen8–012–1
2009Western Athletic ConferenceChris Petersen8–014–0
2010 Β§Western Athletic ConferenceChris Petersen7–112–1
2012 Β§Mountain West ConferenceChris Petersen7–111–2
2014Mountain West ConferenceBryan Harsin7–112–2
2017Mountain West ConferenceBryan Harsin7–111–3
2019Mountain West ConferenceBryan Harsin8–012–2
2023Mountain West ConferenceSpencer Danielson6–28–6
2024Mountain West ConferenceSpencer Danielson8–012–1
2025Mountain West ConferenceSpencer Danielson 9–46–2

Β§ – Conference co–champions

Division titles

– Division co–champions, did not play in MW Championship Game.
Prior to the 2023 season, the Mountain West did away with divisions and established the two top teams with the best in-conference record would play each other for the conference championship.

Mountain West Football Championship

Since joining the Mountain West, Boise State has won seven conference championships, which started with the 2012 team, who shared the conference title with Fresno State. The following year, the Mountain West began holding a Championship Game to determine a single conference champion. Boise State has reached the Championship Game nine times and won six, with each the most among all schools in the conference.
2014Albertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoFresno StateW 28–14
2017Albertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoFresno StateW 17–14
2018Albertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoFresno StateL 16–19 OT
2019Albertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoHawaiiW 31–10
2020Sam Boyd StadiumWhitney, NevadaSan Jose StateL 20–34
2022Albertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoFresno StateL 16–28
2023Allegiant StadiumParadise, NevadaUNLVW 44-20
2024Albertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoUNLVW 21–7
2025Albertsons StadiumBoise, IdahoUNLVW 38–21

Postseason results

Division I-A/FBS bowl game appearances

The Broncos have appeared in 23 official Division I-A bowl games with a record of 13–10, including two wins in BCS bowl games and one win in a New Year's Six bowl. They also appeared in the Division II 1973 Pioneer Bowl, 1971 Camellia Bowl and 1980 Camellia Bowl. Their appearance in the 2018 First Responder Bowl was ruled a no contest after being canceled due to inclement weather. On December 5, 2021, Boise State received a bid to play Central Michigan in the Arizona Bowl. However, On December 27, 2021, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy announced the withdrawal of the Broncos from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues within the program. Through the 2025 season, Boise State has a streak of 28 straight seasons of bowl eligibility, which is the longest active streak in the country.
1971Tony KnapCamellia BowlChico StateW 32–28
1973Tony KnapPioneer BowlLouisiana TechL 34–38
1980Jim CrinerCamellia BowlEastern KentuckyW 31–29
1999Dirk KoetterHumanitarian BowlLouisvilleW 34–31
2000Dirk KoetterHumanitarian BowlUTEPW 38–23
2002Dan HawkinsHumanitarian BowlIowa StateW 34–16
2003Dan HawkinsFort Worth BowlTCUW 34–31
2004Dan HawkinsLiberty BowlLouisvilleL 40–44
2005Dan HawkinsMPC Computers BowlBoston CollegeL 21–27
2006Chris PetersenFiesta Bowl †OklahomaW 43–42 OT
2007Chris PetersenHawaii BowlEast CarolinaL 38–41
2008Chris PetersenPoinsettia BowlTCUL 16–17
2009Chris PetersenFiesta Bowl †TCUW 17–10
2010Chris PetersenMaaco Bowl Las VegasUtahW 26–3
2011Chris PetersenMaaco Bowl Las VegasArizona StateW 56–24
2012Chris PetersenMaaco Bowl Las VegasWashingtonW 28–26
2013Bob GregoryHawaii BowlOregon StateL 23–38
2014Bryan HarsinFiesta Bowl †ArizonaW 38–30
2015Bryan HarsinPoinsettia BowlNorthern IllinoisW 55–7
2016Bryan HarsinCactus BowlBaylorL 12–31
2017Bryan HarsinLas Vegas BowlOregonW 38–28
2018Bryan HarsinFirst Responder BowlBoston CollegeNo contest
2019Bryan HarsinLas Vegas BowlWashingtonL 7–38
2021Andy AvalosArizona BowlCentral MichiganNo Contest
2022Andy AvalosFrisco BowlNorth TexasW 35–32
2023Spencer DanielsonLA BowlUCLAL 22–35
2024Spencer DanielsonFiesta Bowl †Penn StateL 14–31
2025Spencer DanielsonLA BowlWashingtonL 10–38

† CFP/New Year's Six/BCS game

Division I-AA Playoffs results

The Broncos were members of Division I-AA for eighteen seasons, from its inception in 1978 through 1995. They appeared in the I-AA playoffs five times with a record of 8–4, and were I-AA national champions in 1980.
1980Semifinals
National Championship Game		Grambling State
Eastern Kentucky		W 14–9
W 31–29
1981Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Jackson State
Eastern Kentucky		W 19–7
L 17–23
1988First RoundNorthwestern StateL 13–22
1990First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Northern Iowa
Middle Tennessee State
Nevada		W 20–3
W 20–13
L 52–59 3OT
1994First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		North Texas
Appalachian State
Marshall
Youngstown State		W 24–20
W 17–14
W 28–24
L 14–28

Division II Playoffs results

The Broncos appeared in the Division II playoffs three times, with an overall record of 1–3; all three losses were to the eventual national champions.
1973Quarterfinals
Pioneer Bowl 		South Dakota
Louisiana Tech		W 53–10
L 34–38
1974QuarterfinalsCentral MichiganL 6–20
1975QuarterfinalsNorthern MichiganL 21–24

In 1977, Boise State was undefeated in the Big Sky and won another title. Due their regular season not ending until November 26 at Idaho, the same day as the first round of the Division II playoffs, BSU was replaced by runner-up Northern Arizona, who lost 35–0 at home.

College Division Postseason results

The Broncos had one appearance in the NCAA College Division postseason, with a victory in the West regional final in the Camellia Bowl in 1971. No semifinals or finals were played in the College Division from 1964 through 1972, a poll followed the four quarterfinals.
1971QuarterfinalsChico StateW 32–28

Albertsons Stadium

Since 1970, Boise State has played its home games in Albertsons Stadium, which enjoys a reputation as one of the most difficult places in the country for opposing teams to play. The stadium is well known for its blue artificial surface, first installed in 1986, making it the first college stadium field to be any color other than traditional green, as well as the only college to have a non-green field for 22 years. "The Blue," as it is called by fans, is one of the most distinguishing and enduring symbols of Boise State football.
Boise State holds a trademark on any non-green field, not just blue. Therefore, anyone must apply for a license from Boise State before installing a football field any color other than green. Boise State is one of 7 college football programs in the United States to have a non-green playing surface. Other schools with non-green fields are as follows: Eastern Michigan University, Coastal Carolina University, Eastern Washington University, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of New Haven, Lindenwood University. Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan also has a blue football field. Boise State recently approved the proposal for a blue field at Luther College.
As of December 7, 2024, the Broncos are 151–16 at home since the 1999 season. The Broncos won 47 straight home conference games from 1999 to 2011 and were undefeated at home in conference play during their 10 years in the WAC. The Broncos had a winning streak of 65 regular season games from 2001 to 2011. As of the end of the 2024 season, Boise State currently has 12 game win streak at home.

Blue uniform ban

In 2011, citing a "competitive advantage," the Mountain West Conference banned Boise State from wearing their all-blue uniforms for home conference games as a condition of joining the conference. When questioned about the ban, Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson confirmed that either the jerseys or pants could be blue, provided that the other be white or orange. After Boise State decided to not join the Big East Conference and remain in the Mountain West the uniform restrictions were lifted beginning in the 2013 season. The NCAA considered a rule that would have required a team's uniform, either jersey or pants, to contrast the playing surface. The rule would have banned Boise State's all blue uniforms at home and most other teams from wearing all green uniforms as well. The NCAA eventually decided against instituting the rule.

Hosei Tomahawks

In 2012, Boise State granted special permission and an international trademark to Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan, for use of the blue field turf for their football field, Tomahawks Field.

Rivalries

Fresno State

BSU has had a rivalry with Fresno State University since joining the WAC. The series is 17–9 all time in favor of Boise State. In 2001, the series became a WAC match-up, christened with Boise State's upset over No. 8 Fresno State 35–30. In 2005, the series became the Battle for the Milk Can, and No. 20 Fresno State ended Boise State's 31-game winning streak against WAC opponents with their 27–7 victory. After being played as a non-conference game in 2011, the series continued as a conference game in 2012. The winner of the game receives the Milk Can. Although Fresno State has five all-time wins over Boise State, only two wins have come since they have played each other every year since 2001. In the 2014 season, Boise State played Fresno State twice, winning both times, the second one coming in the Mountain West Championship, which Boise State won for the first time. Fresno State was looking to repeat as champions. They met twice in 2017 in back-to-back weeks as they ended the regular season with a game in Fresno, which Fresno won, before meeting the next week in the Mountain West Championship in Boise, which Boise won. In 2018, Boise State upset No. 16 Fresno State 24–17 to end Fresno's seven game winning streak. Three weeks later, the Bulldogs avenged their regular season loss by defeating Boise State 19–16 in overtime in a snow covered Mountain West Championship Game.
The rivalry is no longer an annual affair following the expansion of the MW to 12 football members in 2013. At that time, Boise State and Fresno State were placed in separate football divisions. As part of the new scheduling arrangement, all cross-divisional games rotate in a four-year cycle, with two years of play followed by two years off. This in turn means that the game was not played in 2015 or 2016.

Idaho

Boise State had a 40-year in-state rivalry with the University of Idaho, which began with a Bronco victory in the first meeting in 1971. They met every year through 2010, and with the exception of four years, the matchup was a conference game. The rivalry was dominated by streaks as Idaho won 12 straight years from 1982 to 1993, while Boise State won the most recent 12 games between 1999 and 2010, mostly by large margins. BSU leads the rivalry with a series record of 22–17–1.
After Boise State's move to the Mountain West Conference in 2011, Boise State has refused to play Idaho home and home in football. As a response, Idaho has refused to play Boise State at ExtraMile Arena for men's basketball. As of 2025, no future games for football or men's basketball have been scheduled; with Idaho having returned to FCS football in 2018, and Boise State joining the PAC 12 in 2026 the football rivalry is unlikely to resume in the foreseeable future.

Washington State

The Washington State University Cougars and Boise State Broncos are developing a new college football rivalry, often referred to as the "Snake River Rivalry," due to their shared location and upcoming Pac-12 conference affiliation. The rivalry began with the 2024 season, and the teams have a history of close, competitive games

Nevada

Boise State has a long-standing rivalry with Nevada. Boise State leads the series 30–13. Boise State and Nevada have been conference rivals in the Big Sky Conference, the Big West Conference, the WAC, and the Mountain West. However, the series is no longer an annual affair after the 2013 expansion, as Nevada was placed in the opposite division from Boise State. They play each other only twice every four years. The last game was in 2018 with the next game coming in 2021.
The series was played as a non-conference game in 2011 as the teams met in Boise during Nevada's last year in the WAC. Nevada split the WAC championship with Boise State in 2005 as both teams finished 7–1 in conference play. Boise State beat Nevada in the last game of the season in 2006, giving Boise State a berth into their first BCS bowl. In 2007, in one of the highest scoring games in NCAA Division I football history, Boise State defeated Nevada 69–67 in four overtimes. Recently, the conference championship has been decided by the Wolf Pack and Broncos' late-season games. In 2010, Nevada defeated No. 3 Boise State 34–31 in overtime, ending the Broncos' BCS National Championship hopes. The rivalry between the two schools felt as if it had been rekindled after Nevada's win, since Boise State had won the past 10 games dating back to 1998. Boise State and Nevada have played one time in the postseason in the 1990 I-AA semifinal. Nevada won the game in triple overtime 59–52, and would go on to lose in the final.

Future scheduled non-conference games

Announced schedules as of October 7, 2025.
2026Memphis, South DakotaOregon, Western Michigan
2027South FloridaAppalachian State, Marshall
2028Georgia SouthernCincinnati
2029Cincinnati, Western MichiganWashington
2030Houston, Idaho StateMemphis
2031MemphisHouston
2032Rice
2033
2034
2035Rice-

Notable honors

College Football Hall of Famers

Players

Pro Football Hall of Famers

Players

Individual awards

Kellen Moore Award">Touchdown Club of Columbus">Kellen Moore Award

Previously called the Quarterback of the Year Award, this accolade differs from Sammy Baugh Trophy in that it goes to top quarterback, rather than the top passer. Its name was changed to its current identity in 2012, honoring two-time winner Kellen Moore, who became the FBS all-time leader in wins by a quarterback after going 50–3 as the starter at Boise State.

[Paul "Bear" Bryant Award]

[Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award]

Sports Illustrated All-Decade Team

[Jet Award]

[Maxwell Award]

[Doak Walker Award]

[Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award]

Bobby Bowden Trophy

AP All-Americans

Notable players