| Boise State Broncos football | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
 | |||||||
| First season | 1933; 92 years ago[a] | ||||||
| Athletic director | Jeramiah Dickey | ||||||
| Head coach | Spencer Danielson 2nd season, 16–4 (.800) | ||||||
| Stadium | Albertsons Stadium (capacity: 38,000) | ||||||
| Field | Albertsons Stadium | ||||||
| Location | Boise, Idaho | ||||||
| NCAA division | Division I FBS | ||||||
| Conference | Mountain West (Pac-12 in 2026) | ||||||
| All-time record | 504–190–2[1] (.726) | ||||||
| Playoff record | 0–1 (.000) | ||||||
| Bowl record | 13–9 (.591) | ||||||
| Claimed national titles | |||||||
| Div. I-AA:1980 | |||||||
| Playoff appearances | |||||||
| 2024 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Conference division titles | |||||||
| MW Mountain:2014,2016,2017,2018,2019,2022 | |||||||
| Consensus All-Americans | 3 | ||||||
| Rivalries | Fresno State (rivalry) Idaho (rivalry) Nevada (rivalry) Washington State | ||||||
| Current uniform | |||||||
 | |||||||
| Colors | Blue and orange[2] | ||||||
| Fight song | Orange and Blue | ||||||
| Mascot | Buster Bronco | ||||||
| Marching band | Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band | ||||||
| Outfitter | Nike | ||||||
| Website | broncosports.com | ||||||
TheBoise State Broncos football program representsBoise State University incollege football and competes in theNCAA Division IFootball Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of theMountain West Conference. The Broncos play their home games on campus atAlbertsons Stadium inBoise, Idaho, and their head coach isSpencer Danielson.
Established in 1933, the Broncos have achieved numerous on-field successes, including 22 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 inDivision I-AA in1980. They have had seven undefeated seasons (1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1958,2006, and2009) and nine playoff appearances, including a 2024 appearance in theCollege Football Playoff. The program has the longest current streak of winning seasons in the FBS with 27 and is 3–1 in theFiesta Bowl, with wins in2007,2010, and2014. As of the end of the 2024 season, the Broncos' all-time winning percentage of .727 is thefifth highest among FBS teams.[3]
Originally ajunior college, Boise State first fielded a football team in 1933 under head coachDusty Kline.[4] That team compiled a record of 1–2–1 (.375).[4][5] Kline was succeeded byMax Eiden.[5] Under Eiden, the Broncos posted a record of 11–17–1 (.397) from 1934 to 1937.[5] Eiden was succeeded byHarry Jacoby, who coached the team from 1938 to the middle of the 1941 season before being called intoArmy service. The remainder of the 1941 season was coached byGeorge "Stub" Allison, who posted a record of 2–1 (.667).[5] The Broncos did not compete in intramural football from 1942 to 1945 due to having a reduced male student population duringWorld War II.[5] Following the war, Jacoby would return to coach the Broncos for one more season in 1946, posting a final record of 14–15–2 (.484). 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 new10,000-seat stadium. With the outbreak of theKorean War, Smith, still undefeated as a head coach, was recalled to theNavy and was only able to coach in the first three games of the 1950 season.[6][7]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 (.889) 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.[8][9] Boise won thirteen conference titles in football under Smith and theNJCAA National Football Championship in 1958.[10] Smith's final record is 150–25–6 (.845).[5] 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 coachTony Knap and competed as anNAIA independent for two seasons.[11][12] The Broncos were accepted into theNCAA in October 1969,[13] and a month later into theBig Sky Conference, effective the following July.[14] The Broncos began NCAA competition in1970 inDivision II ("College Division" prior to 1973) in a brand newBronco Stadium.[15] Knap and the Broncos won three consecutive Big Sky titles from1973 to1975 and compiled a record of 71–19–1.[5]
Knap was succeeded byJim Criner in1976, a defensive assistant the previous season underDick Vermeil atUCLA, theRose Bowl champions. BSU won the Big Sky again in1977, and in1978, the Broncos and the Big Sky moved up to the newDivision I-AA(renamedFCS in 2006). A scouting violation late that season at NAU resulted in probation and compromised an excellent 10–1 season in1979, undefeated in conference at 7–0;[16] the Broncos were ineligible for the Big Sky title and I-AA playoffs.[17][18][19] Off probation in1980, BSU won its first national title, taking theI-AA national championship over defending championEastern Kentucky inSacramento. A runner-up toIdaho State in the Big Sky in1981, BSU hosted Eastern Kentucky in the I-AA semifinals, but lost, 17–23. Criner departed after the1982 season to accept the head football coach position atIowa State;[20] his overall record at BSU was 59–21–1 (.735).[5]
Lyle Setencich was promoted from defensive coordinator tohead coach of Boise State following Criner's departure. Under Setencich, Boise State posted a 24–20 record in four seasons.[21] Setencich's final season in1986, the first season of blue turf, saw the first losing campaign (5–6) 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.[21]
Skip Hall, previously an assistant coach underDon James atWashington, was hired after Setencich's resignation.[22] In Hall's second season in1988, the Broncos returned to theDivision I-AA playoffs, their first appearance since 1981. Hall's best season was in1990, when Boise State advanced to thenational semifinals, falling in a high scoring game against Big Sky rivalNevada, 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 42–28 (.600) record.[5][22]
The Broncos turned toPortland State head coachPokey Allen to lead the Boise State football team after Hall resigned. In Allen's second season, the Broncos returned to thechampionship game in1994.[23] After 26 years in the Big Sky, BSU joined theBig West Conference in1996 and moved up to Division I-A (now FBS). The Broncos had an interim head coach for part of 1996 as Allen suffered from cancer;[24] he died of it in December 1996.[24]
Head coachHouston Nutt made the step up to NCAA Division I-A the next year when Boise State hired him away fromMurray State to take over the program.[25] Two years after making the Division I-AA finals in1994, 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 in1997,[26] playing at the Division I-A level with its Division I-AA players. Nutt's team beatrivalIdaho on the road in overtime for the first BSU win inMoscow since1981. Additionally, Boise State almost pulled off an upset againstWisconsin of theBig Ten. Nutt resigned as head coach after just one season to accept the head football coach position atArkansas.[27]
In three seasons under head coachDirk Koetter, who previously served asOregon's offensive coordinator,[28] the Broncos were 26–10, won two Big West championships and moved to theWestern Athletic Conference effective in2001. In his three winning seasons at Boise State, Koetter won ten or more games twice, with two bowl wins. Koetter departed the Broncos after the2000 season forArizona State in the Pac-10.[29]
Dan Hawkins was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach on December 2, 2000.[30] In2004, Hawkins was honored with his secondWestern Athletic Conference (WAC) Coach of the Year title in three years. Through the2005 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. OnlyWalter Camp,George Washington Woodruff andBob 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.[31] One of his first hires at Boise State wasChris Petersen as his offensive coordinator; Petersen was a quarterback atUC Davis while Hawkins was an assistant coach, and was the wide receivers coach atOregon under head coachMike Bellotti. After five seasons at the helm of the Broncos football program, Hawkins left forColorado of theBig 12 Conference.[32] He had three top 25 finishes, won ten or more games three times, and won two bowl games.
Following Hawkins' departure, offensive coordinatorChris Petersen was promoted to head coach.[33] At Boise State, Petersen won twoPaul "Bear" Bryant National Coach of the Year Awards, voted on by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.[34] He is the first coach to receive this award twice, which debuted in 1986 (it has since been awarded twice toNick Saban and three times toDabo Swinney). Under Petersen, Boise State recorded twoundefeated seasons, three undefeated regular seasons, and reached theBowl Championship Series twice. The2006 season was capped with a memorable upset ofOklahoma in theFiesta Bowl, while the2009 team defeatedTCU in theFiesta Bowl to finish at 14–0 and were fourth inboth 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 the2010 season. The team rose to second in theAssociated Press poll during weeks 7, 8, and 9, and No. 2 in theCoaches' Poll, as well as earning the No. 3 slot in the firstBCS ranking.[35] After 2010, Boise State joined theMountain West Conference.[36]
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 (student athletes provided fellow recruits with meals and beds while visiting campus), the football program suffered serious penalties nonetheless.[37] The Boise State football program was given three years' probation, lost three scholarships a year, and had its number of Fall practices reduced.[38] 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.[39] Despite PresidentBob Kustra's firing of Bleymaier, boosters continued to support him. Just two years later, the new football facility was named in his honor.[40]
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, quarterbackKellen Moore became the winningest quarterback in FBS history, passing formerTexas quarterbackColt McCoy (45 wins). On December 7, 2011, it was announced that the Broncos would join theBig East Conference as football-only members in July 2013, in a division withMemphis,SMU,Houston,San Diego State, andTemple.[41] 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 theUniversity of Washington of thePac-12 Conference on December 6, 2013.[42] The vacancy was created when the Huskies'Steve Sarkisian left to take the head coaching position atUSC.[43][44] Petersen finished his eight seasons as head coach of Boise State with a record of 92–12 (.885), 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.[45] Assistant head coachBob Gregory was named interim head coach for Boise State's bowl game.[46]
On December 11, 2013,Arkansas State head coachBryan Harsin returned to his alma mater as Petersen's replacement.[47] Harsin had been an assistant for the Broncos under Petersen and was co-offensive coordinator at Texas underMack Brown.[47] In his first season in2014, they went 10–2 in the regular season and won theMountain West Championship Game, defeatingFresno State 28–14. This was Boise State's first outright Mountain West Conference championship. The Broncos faced theArizona Wildcats in theFiesta Bowl and won 38–30 for a 12–2 record and were ranked 15th inboth major polls. Boise State shared the Mountain division title in 2016, going 10–3 with wins overWashington State andOregon State. BSU was 11–3 in2017 and won their second Mountain west conference championship under Harsin with a 17–14 win overFresno State in theMountain West Championship Game. Boise State capped the season with aLas Vegas Bowl win overOregon and climbed to 22nd inboth final polls. In2018, Boise State was 10–3 overall; they won the Mountain Division championship and beat three teams that won ten or more games (Troy,Utah State, andFresno State) and were ranked inboth 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 69–19 (.784) 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 atAuburn.[48] He finished at Boise State with a seven-year record of 69–19.
On January 8, 2021, Boise State hiredOregon defensive coordinatorAndy Avalos as their new head coach.[49] Avalos, a former player and assistant coach for the Broncos, signed a five-year contract worth $7.75 million.[50]
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.[51] The remainder of his contract would be bought out, an amount near $3 million.[52] He led the Broncos to a 2022 Mountain West Championship Game (L 28–16 toFresno State) and the 2022Frisco Bowl, where the Broncos defeatedNorth 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 byTexas Christian.[53]
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 atUNLV. Danielson's first game as full-time head coach was againstUCLA in theLA 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 toPenn State.
Head coaching records
NAIA (1968–69), NCAA Division II (1970–77), Division I-AA (1978–95), Division I-A/FBS (1996–present)
| Head coach | Years | Seasons | Wins | Losses | Ties | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dusty Kline | 1 | 1933 | {{ }} | |||
| Max Eiden | 4 | 1934-1937 | {{ }} | |||
| Harry Jacoby | 4 | 1938-1941, 1946 | {{ }} | |||
| George "Stub" Allison | 1 | 1941 | {{ }} | |||
| NO TEAM, WWII | 1942-1945 | {{ }} | ||||
| Lyle Smith | 4, 16 | 1947-1950, 1952-1967 | {{ }} | |||
| George Blankley | 2 | 1950-1951 | {{ }} | |||
| Tony Knap | 8 | 1968–1975 | 71 | 19 | 1 | .786 |
| Jim Criner | 7 | 1976–1982 | 59 | 21 | 1 | .735 |
| Lyle Setencich | 4 | 1983–1986 | 24 | 20 | 0 | .545 |
| Skip Hall | 6 | 1987–1992 | 42 | 28 | 0 | .600 |
| Pokey Allen | 4 | 1993–1996* | 24 | 15 | 0 | .615 |
| Tom Mason | 1 | 1996 | 1 | 9 | .100 | |
| Houston Nutt | 1 | 1997 | 5 | 6 | .455 | |
| Dirk Koetter | 3 | 1998–2000 | 26 | 10 | .722 | |
| Dan Hawkins | 5 | 2001–2005 | 53 | 11 | .828 | |
| Chris Petersen | 8 | 2006–2013 | 92 | 12 | .885 | |
| Bob Gregory * | 2013 | 0 | 1 | .000 | ||
| Bryan Harsin | 7 | 2014–2020 | 69 | 19 | .784 | |
| Andy Avalos * | 3 | 2021–2023 | 22 | 14 | .611 | |
| Spencer Danielson | 1 | 2023–present | 15 | 3 | .833 |
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.
Boise State claims two national titles in theJunior College Division and at theNCAA Division I FCS.
| Season | Conference | Division | Coach | Overall record | Conference record | National Championship Game | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | ICAC | NJCAA | Lyle Smith | 10–0 | 4–0 | NJCAA Championship Game | Tyler Junior College | W 22–0 |
| 1980 | Big Sky | NCAA I-AA | Jim Criner | 10–3 | 6–1 | Division I-AA Championship Game | Eastern Kentucky | W 31–29 |
| Year | Conference | Coach | Conference record | Overall record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Big Sky Conference –(Div. II) | Tony Knap | 6–0 | 10–3 |
| 1974 | Big Sky Conference | Tony Knap | 6–0 | 10–2 |
| 1975 | Big Sky Conference | Tony Knap | 5–0–1 | 9–2–1 |
| 1977 | Big Sky Conference | Jim Criner | 6–0 | 9–2 |
| 1980 | Big Sky Conference –(Div. I-AA) | Jim Criner | 6–1 | 10–3 |
| 1994 | Big Sky Conference | Pokey Allen | 6–1 | 13–2 |
| 1999 | Big West Conference –(Div. I-A) | Dirk Koetter | 5–1 | 10–3 |
| 2000 | Big West Conference | Dirk Koetter | 5–0 | 10–2 |
| 2002 | Western Athletic Conference | Dan Hawkins | 8–0 | 12–1 |
| 2003 | Western Athletic Conference | Dan Hawkins | 8–0 | 13–1 |
| 2004 | Western Athletic Conference | Dan Hawkins | 8–0 | 11–1 |
| 2005 § | Western Athletic Conference | Dan Hawkins | 7–1 | 9–4 |
| 2006 | Western Athletic Conference | Chris Petersen | 8–0 | 13–0 |
| 2008 | Western Athletic Conference | Chris Petersen | 8–0 | 12–1 |
| 2009 | Western Athletic Conference | Chris Petersen | 8–0 | 14–0 |
| 2010 § | Western Athletic Conference | Chris Petersen | 7–1 | 12–1 |
| 2012 § | Mountain West Conference | Chris Petersen | 7–1 | 11–2 |
| 2014 | Mountain West Conference | Bryan Harsin | 7–1 | 12–2 |
| 2017 | Mountain West Conference | Bryan Harsin | 7–1 | 11–3 |
| 2019 | Mountain West Conference | Bryan Harsin | 8–0 | 12–2 |
| 2023 | Mountain West Conference | Spencer Danielson | 6–2 | 8–6 |
| 2024 | Mountain West Conference | Spencer Danielson | 8–0 | 12–1 |
§ – Conference co–champions
| Year | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | MW Mountain Division | 12–2 (7–1) |
| 2016† | MW Mountain Division | 10–3 (6–2) |
| 2017 | MW Mountain Division | 11–3 (7–1) |
| 2018 | MW Mountain Division | 10–3 (7–1) |
| 2019 | MW Mountain Division | 12–2 (8–0) |
| 2022 | MW Mountain Division | 10–4 (8–0) |
† – 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.
Since joining the Mountain West, Boise State has won five conference championships, which started with the2012 team, who went 7–1 to tie with Fresno State and San Diego State. The Mountain West held their first Championship Game the following year; Boise State has reached the Championship Game eight times and won five, with each the most among all schools in the conference.
| Year | Venue | Location | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Albertsons Stadium | Boise, Idaho | Fresno State | W 28–14 |
| 2017 | Albertsons Stadium | Boise, Idaho | Fresno State | W 17–14 |
| 2018 | Albertsons Stadium | Boise, Idaho | Fresno State | L 16–19OT |
| 2019 | Albertsons Stadium | Boise, Idaho | Hawaii | W 31–10 |
| 2020 | Sam Boyd Stadium | Whitney, Nevada | San Jose State | L 20–34 |
| 2022 | Albertsons Stadium | Boise, Idaho | Fresno State | L 16–28 |
| 2023 | Allegiant Stadium | Paradise, Nevada | UNLV | W 44-20 |
| 2024 | Albertsons Stadium | Boise, Idaho | UNLV | W 21–7 |
The Broncos have appeared in 23 official D-I-A bowl games with a record of 13–9, including two wins inBCS bowl games and one win in aNew Year's Six bowl. They also appeared in the Division II1973 Pioneer Bowl, 1971Camellia Bowl and 1980 Camellia Bowl. Their appearance in the2018 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 playCentral Michigan in theArizona Bowl. However, On December 27, 2021,Barstool Sports (the title sponsor of the bowl) founderDavid 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.[54]
†CFP/New Year's Six/BCS game
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.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Semifinals National Championship Game | Grambling State Eastern Kentucky | W 14–9 W 31–29 |
| 1981 | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Jackson State Eastern Kentucky | W 19–7 L 17–23 |
| 1988 | First Round | Northwestern State | L 13–22 |
| 1990 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Northern Iowa Middle Tennessee State Nevada | W 20–3 W 20–13 L 52–593OT |
| 1994 | First 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 |
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.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Quarterfinals Pioneer Bowl (Semifinals) | South Dakota Louisiana Tech | W 53–10 L 34–38 |
| 1974 | Quarterfinals | Central Michigan | L 6–20 |
| 1975 | Quarterfinals | Northern Michigan | L 21–24 |
In1977, Boise State (9–2) was undefeated in the Big Sky (6–0) and won another title. Due their regular season not ending until November 26 atIdaho, the same day as the first round of theDivision II playoffs, BSU was replaced by runner-upNorthern Arizona, who lost 35–0 at home.
The Broncos had one appearance in the NCAA College Division postseason, with a victory in the West regional final in theCamellia Bowl in1971.[55] No semifinals or finals were played in the College Division from 1964 through 1972, a poll followed the four quarterfinals.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Quarterfinals | Chico State | W 32–28 |
| Year | Record | AP Poll | Coaches Poll |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 12–1 | 15 | 12 |
| 2003 | 13–1 | 16 | 15 |
| 2004 | 11–1 | 12 | 13 |
| 2006 | 13–0 | 5 | 6 |
| 2008 | 12–1 | 11 | 13 |
| 2009 | 14–0 | 4 | 4 |
| 2010 | 12–1 | 9 | 7 |
| 2011 | 12–1 | 8 | 6 |
| 2012 | 11–2 | 18 | 14 |
| 2014 | 12–2 | 16 | 16 |
| 2017 | 11–3 | 22 | 22 |
| 2018 | 10–3 | 23 | 24 |
| 2019 | 12–2 | 23 | 22 |
| 2024 | 12–2 | 8 | 9 |
Since 1970, Boise State has played its home games in Albertsons Stadium (known as Bronco Stadium until May 2014), 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 (1986–2008). "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 (high school, college, or otherwise) 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: (FBS) Eastern Michigan University (gray), Coastal Carolina University (teal), (FCS) Eastern Washington University (red), the University of Central Arkansas (grey and purple), (Division II) the University of New Haven (blue), (NAIA) Lindenwood University (red and grey). Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan also has a blue football field. Boise State recently approved the proposal for a blue field atLuther College (Division III).
As of December 7, 2024, the Broncos are 151–16 (.904) at home since the1999 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 theWAC (40–0). 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.
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.[56] 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.[57] 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.
In 2012, Boise State granted special permission and an international trademark toHosei University inTokyo,Japan, for use of the blue field turf for their football field,Tomahawks Field.[58][59]
| Games Played | BSU Win | BSU Loss | Win % | First Meeting | Last Meeting | Next Scheduled Meeting | Trophy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 17 | 9 | .654 | 1977 | 2023 L 30–37 (2023) | 2025 | Milk Can |
BSU has had a rivalry withFresno 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 theMilk 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 coveredMountain West Championship Game.
The rivalry is no longer an annual affair following theexpansion of the MW to 12 football members in 2013. At that time, Boise State and Fresno State were placed in separate football divisions (respectively, Mountain and West). 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.
| Games Played | BSU Win | BSU Loss | Ties | Win % | First Meeting | Last Meeting | Next Scheduled Meeting | Trophy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 22 | 17 | 1 | .563 | 1971 | W 52–14 (2010) | Governor's Trophy |
Boise State had a 40-yearin-state rivalry with theUniversity of Idaho, which began with a Bronco victory in the first meeting in 1971. They met every year through2010, and with the exception of four years (2001–2004), the matchup was a conference game. The rivalry was dominated by streaks as Idaho won 12 straight years from1982 to 1993, while Boise State won the most recent 12 games between1999 and2010, mostly by large margins. BSU leads the rivalry with a series record of 22–17–1 (.563).
After Boise State's move to theMountain 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 atExtraMile 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.
The Washington State University (WSU) 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
| Games Played | BSU Win | BSU Loss | Win % | First Meeting | Last Meeting | Next Scheduled Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 2 | 5 | .286 | 1997 | W 45–24 (2024) | 2026 |
| Games Played | BSU Win | BSU Loss | Win % | First Meeting | Last Meeting | Next Scheduled Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 32 | 14 | .696 | 1971 | W 28–21 (2024) | 2024 |
Boise State has a long-standing rivalry withNevada. Boise State leads the series 30–13. Boise State and Nevada have been conference rivals in theBig Sky Conference, theBig 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[60] 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.
| Opponent | Won | Lost | Percentage | Streak | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 9 | 4 | .692 | Won 3 | 2011 | 2025 |
| Colorado State | 12 | 1 | .923 | Lost 1 | 2011 | 2023 |
| Fresno State | 17 | 9 | .654 | Lost 2 | 1977 | 2023 |
| Hawaii | 16 | 3 | .842 | Won 10 | 1996 | 2024 |
| Nevada | 33 | 14 | .702 | Won 3 | 1971 | 2025 |
| New Mexico | 14 | 1 | .933 | Won 8 | 1999 | 2025 |
| San Diego State | 6 | 4 | .600 | Won 3 | 2011 | 2024 |
| San Jose State | 16 | 1 | .941 | Won 2 | 1978 | 2024 |
| UNLV | 12 | 3 | .800 | Won 10 | 1972 | 2025 |
| Utah State | 24 | 5 | .828 | Won 9 | 1975 | 2024 |
| Wyoming | 18 | 1 | .947 | Won 8 | 2002 | 2024 |
| Totals | 173 | 46 | .790 |
Announced schedules as of October 7, 2025.[61]
| Year | Home Games | Away Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Eastern Washington,Appalachian State | South Florida,Notre Dame |
| 2026 | Memphis,South Dakota | Oregon,Western Michigan |
| 2027 | South Florida | Appalachian State,Marshall |
| 2028 | Georgia Southern | Cincinnati |
| 2029 | Cincinnati,Western Michigan | Washington |
| 2030 | Houston,Idaho State | Memphis |
| 2031 | Memphis | Houston |
| 2032 | Rice | |
| 2033 | ||
| 2034 | ||
| 2035 | Rice |
| Kellen Moore Award | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Name | Position | ||
| 2010 | Kellen Moore | Quarterback | ||
| 2011 | Kellen Moore | Quarterback | ||
Previously called theQuarterback of the Year Award, this accolade differs fromSammy 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.
| Boise State Broncos retired number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Pos. | Tenure | No. ret. | Ref. |
12 | Jim McMillan | QB | 1971–1974 | 1978 | [64] |
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