LOS ANGELES – At some point years from now, Spencer Danielson and the members of the 2023 Boise State football team will look back, smile and celebrate the historic, memorable, championship season the Broncos put together.
It was tough to have those positive thoughts on Saturday.
Looking to cap an improbable late-season run with a win in the LA Bowl, Boise State instead couldn’t hold a halftime lead and fell 35-22 to UCLA at SoFi Stadium.
Maybe it was settling for three field goals instead of scoring touchdowns in the first half. Maybe it was true freshman CJ Tiller showing his inexperience in his first career start. Maybe it was the defense being unable to slow down UCLA’s offense in the second half.
Whatever the reason, Boise State’s magic ran out in disappointing fashion as the Broncos finished with six losses to tie for the third-most in a season in program history.
“We just didn’t execute,” Danielson said. “I take full responsibility for it. Defensively we didn’t execute. Offensively we couldn’t sustain drives. We gave up some big plays defensively and lost some of the momentum and worked to get it back and we didn’t.
“We have to be better in the second half. When you go into the half with the lead and we’re getting the ball, you have to be better.”
Boise State led 16-7 at the half but the lead could have been much bigger had the Broncos not settled for three field goals on trips to the red zone.
UCLA scored 28 unanswered points to flip the script and lead 35-16 midway through the fourth quarter. George Holani’s 66-yard touchdown run in his final game as a Bronco was the only points for Boise State in the second half.
After dominating in the first half, Boise State got out-gained 336-130 in the second half.
Part of the turnaround came once UCLA realized Tiller wasn’t going to beat them by throwing the ball down the field. Tiller completed one pass which traveled more than 10 yards in the air. He finished 12 of 21 for 117 yards and an interception and completed almost all of his passes on short screens or dump offs near the line of scrimmage.
UCLA brought more pressure in the second half and did a better job of stopping the run – a bad combination for Tiller and the offense.
“I’m proud of CJ,” Danielson said. “It was a tough situation to step into and he didn’t blink, he didn’t hesitate. The downside in the second half was he was in situations where they knew he had to throw the ball. Third-and-12 is not ideal for any quarterback. I don’t care who you are, but especially a true freshman making his first start.
“We have to be more efficient on first and second down and put him in better spots. He’ll grow from this experience and he’ll be better for it.”
Holani finished with 138 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in his final game, while Ashton Jeanty had 17 rushes for 85 yards. Boise State’s leading receiver was Prince Strachan, who had just three catches for 37 yards.
Defensively the Broncos got 12 tackles from Alexander Teubner and eight tackles from freshman Ty Benefield.
It was a season to remember for the Broncos, even if Saturday’s loss might take a bit to get over. The Broncos had plenty of heartbreak – two losses on the final play of the game and two others by one score – had their star receiver transfer with four games left and saw head coach Andy Avalos stunningly get fired with three games left.
But they rallied to win the final three regular season games to reach the Mountain West title game – a scenario that computer models said was a 0.1 percent chance of happening – and topped UNLV at Allegiant Stadium to capture the championship. The Broncos were the only team in college football history to win a conference championship with an interim coach.
Saturday they stood where not many gave them a chance to be – playing in a premier bowl game in NFL stadium on ABC against a Pac-12 team.
And while the second-half showing and the sixth loss stings for some, the pain will ease with time and the 2023 group will be remembered as one of the most unique to come through the program in a long time.
“When everybody counted them out, the 4-5 Broncos, it was going to be an asterisk year, it was going to be a year everyone looked and frowned upon, but this senior class, these brothers, they linked arms and said not happening,” Danielson said. “Being able to flip that switch and win a championship…that’s something nobody can take from them.
“I’m going to remember this team as a team that was counted out and just kept swinging.”
Boise State has eight months before taking that next swing. The Broncos are currently slated to open the 2024 season at Georgia Southern on August 31.
Signing Day is next week, winter workouts will start in January and spring ball and summer conditioning will follow. The Broncos return a number of key pieces and with the right additions in the transfer portal could be among the Group of Five favorites next season – which now means a possible shot at making the expanded College Football Playoff.
A season to forget became one to remember. And it’s led to plenty of hope for 2024.
“I’m very excited,” Danielson said. “I believe the best is yet to come.”
