The standard slipped under coach Andy Avalos. There’s no way to deny it.
Three straight home losses on The Blue in 2021. A horrible road loss at UTEP in 2022. A 4-5 start last season.
Boise State lost more than three games in a season just four times in 22 seasons from 1999 to 2020. The Broncos lost at least four games in each of the past three seasons alone.
Once known for big-time season openers and making an immediate statement on the national stage, the Broncos have dropped the past three openers: at Washington (2023), at Oregon State (2022), and at UCF (2021).
They were 0-2 to start last year. They were 2-2 in 2022, and 1-2 in 2021.
There’s been little to no national buzz around the Broncos in recent years.
Spencer Danielson and the 2024 group hope to change that.
There’s reason for optimism on several fronts – Ashton Jeanty being the biggest.
A veteran roster, a fresh voice at head coach and a manageable schedule have many projecting Boise State as the team to crack the new 12-team playoff as the Group of 5 representative.
A program built on tradition, history and a lot of winning once again has realistic hopes of returning to the glory days.
And it all starts Saturday at 2 p.m. MT in the season opener at Georgia Southern on ESPNU.
“Back when we had the Kellen Moore era and stuff, we were so close,” said wide receiver, and Boise native, Austin Bolt. “We missed a couple field goals and stuff, but being able to do that for this city – I’ve been part of it and it’s always been a big thing to be 12-1 or 10-1 and stuff.
“Actually being able to make the playoffs for the first time, that would bering all the stuff back here to Boise State and re-amp this place like it was during the Kellen Moore era. I’m excited to hopefully be part of that and we’re going to compete every day to try and get that done.”
Boise State won at least 12 games in eight of 13 seasons from 2002 to 2014. They’ve won 12 games just once in the nine years since.
The Broncos have a tough first two games at Georgia Southern and at Oregon, but the overall schedule isn’t as daunting as some years. Boise State doesn’t play Air Force or Fresno State, and the Broncos get both Oregon State and Washington State on The Blue.
Road trips to UNLV and Wyoming could be challenging, but overall the schedule appears to be the right mix to get the Broncos back into the national conversation – if they can take care of business and win games.
The buzz around Boise and anticipation for football season is as big as its been in a while. Now the Broncos just have to get it done.
“All the hype Boise State football is getting is awesome,” quarterback Maddux Madsen said. “I think it’s a bigger thing now where I’ve got so many guys around me to where we can do this thing. It makes me feel awesome, I’m in a good position, I’m confident with what we have going on. We have a team that wants to go out and compete every day and battle.”
Winning game one is a must. The Broncos are on a 3-game losing streak in openers and know any return to the promised land starts with getting to 1-0 – especially with a road trip to Oregon waiting in week two.
“Starting fast is a big deal,” Madsen said. “If you can start the season 1-0, it’s a game changer for sure. We’re going to get after it. We’re going to have a fun time. We know what we have to do and we’re going to do it.”
Said defensive end Ahmed Hassanein: “We’re very hungry. We have a little bit of a target on our back. We haven’t been executing and winning our season opener so it puts a huge target on our back to go out there and change the bad habits we had in the past and make them good.”
Much of the hype and excitement surrounding the Broncos is due to Danielson, who won his first three games as interim coach – including a 44-20 win at UNLV in the Mountain West Championship Game in Las Vegas.
After an impressive last eight months off the field, Danielson now starts his first full season as head coach – with big time goals and expectations.
And a need to get off to a hot start.
“We haven’t won game one here in a while,” Danielson said. “Especially on the road we haven’t won game one in a while. That’s the message to the team and what we’ve been working for this entire offseason.
“Every game matters but you have to win your first one. You have to win game one.”
Georgia Southern went 5-1 at home last season and is 46-17 at home the past 11 years.
Boise State has high expectations and big goals. But the talk is done. It’s time to play. And winning the opener is the first step.
“It’s a tall task. That place will be packed and it will be rocking,” Danielson said. “Georgia Southern fans will show up in a major way. It’s a hostile environment that we have to be ready for.
“We know the task at hand. We have to find a way to win game one. We’re fired up for Saturday. We’ll be ready.”
