Now he’s crushed a grand slam – announcing the biggest scheduling news in the history of Boise State football: At Notre Dame, Oct. 4, 2025. One game. For real. Fighting Irish and their national audience. Touchdown Jesus and 77,000 of his closest friends.
Again, why doesn’t Dickey have a new contract yet?

Mike Prater
Let’s save that argument for another day – a day when we’re not talking about a Boise State-Notre Dame football game. Unbelievable.
Dickey, not one for idle time, isn’t waiting around for a new contract. He has an intense passion for grinding, especially in the offseason – so his athletic department has been cranking out headlines the past few weeks, including Tuesday’s details of the Notre Dame game.
Last week, it was the controversial $65 million north end zone project inside Albertsons Stadium and the ho-hum (especially now) nonconference game against App State (one week before Notre Dame).
Let’s talk about all three …
GRAND SLAM: NOTRE DAME
Boise State has stuck its nose into the national headlines with two major announcements this offseason: Five-star USC quarterback Malachi Nelson committed to Boise State on Jan. 6, and now the Notre Dame game.
Instantly, it becomes the biggest nonconference game in school history, for all the obvious reasons. The game is 16 months away and Boise State is already promoting ways for fans to buy tickets – it will be a massively popular road trip.
Two quick thoughts could make the day even better.
The Irish host Northern Illinois and Miami (Ohio) this season – and both 1:30 p.m. games are on big-boy NBC, not just Peacock.
And if you’re a Boise State fan suddenly praying for the big upset, there is a recent precedent. In 2022, Marshall beat No. 8 Notre Dame 26-21 in a 1:30 game on NBC.
Stranger things have happened.
Like Notre Dame landing on Boise State’s schedule in the first place.
SINGLES: NONCON HOME GAMES
Dickey, until the Notre Dame news, struggled with the art of building a football schedule. He’s even said on social media that “scheduling may be the thing I enjoy the least about this job.’’
Not all his fault.
COVID and conference realignment made a difficult job almost impossible, but his response to those obstacles, and his decision-making, at times were curious.
Boise State has lost three high-profile home games since Dickey took over as a first-time AD – Florida State (COVID), Michigan State (“traded for resources”) and Oregon (realignment).
Today, the only known Power Four game on the home schedule is Cincinnati (Big 12) in 2028.
The G5/FCS programs on the known home schedule between 2025-2035: Eastern Washington and App State (2025), Memphis (2026, 2031), South Florida (2027), Georgia Southern (2028), Washington State (2032) and Rice (2035).
The schedule could change, but none of those games will spark a run on season ticket sales, which have been declining or stagnant for 11 straight seasons. TV will show lukewarm interest. There’s very little geographic consideration.
The P4 road picture is significantly better with Notre Dame in 2025 – the rest of the known P4 road schedule between 2025-2035 is a decent list that includes Oregon (2026) and Cincinnati/Washington (2029).
Dickey, in recent tweets, wrote “regional opponents important’’ and “getting games in Texas is being worked on.’’
Right now, most nonconference games aren’t “regional,’’ – and in 2027, as the known schedule stands today, Boise State is scheduled to make trips to North Carolina and West Virginia in a two-week span. The Broncos’ only scheduled game in Texas is against Rice – in 2032.
The days of loading up Boise State’s nonconference schedule with Pac-12 games and BYU are long gone, and it’s time for Dickey to tighten up his scheduling game with more P4 home games, more regional opponents, more games that inspire season tickets, and more games that inspire fans.
Like Notre Dame.
HOME RUN: NORTH END ZONE
The most significant change to Albertsons Stadium in 16 years became real last week when Boise State unveiled its premium seating wait list and sales process, along with significant design details of the project. The renderings are spectacular, a game-changer that will alter Albertsons Stadium for the better, starting with the 2026 season.
The project combines the perfect blend of sexy bling to freshen up the concrete beast, a creative vision for the future of the stadium, critical financial opportunities for all of athletics and a thoughtful approach for fans who can’t afford to sit in the rich seats.
Change – especially expensive change – comes with angst, and not everyone is on board. Longtime north end zone season ticket holders are being ousted, and stadium capacity will drop from 36,363 to approximately 35,500.
This season, Boise State has responded to the rising cost of attending games with price reductions for 12,711 seats – “to provide more accessible options.’’ What happens in the future remains unknown.
The massive project’s ultimate goal is to provide a better game-day atmosphere for fans, a better overall experience for student-athletes … and cash.
Boise State said it makes approximately $330,000 in gross annual revenue by selling tickets in the north end zone. Starting in 2026 and beyond, that number is projected to range between $4 million and $7-plus million.
Game-changing scenery.
Game-changing experience.
Game-changing money.
Eventually, Boise State wants to rework the east and south sides of the stadium, and get capacity to 40,000.
Groundbreaking is expected to happen in January 2025. The first game inside the new Albertsons Stadium is planned for the fall of 2026 – opponent unknown.
A return game from Notre Dame?
Don’t count on it.
Then again, Dickey has been known to turn singles into grand slams.
Mike Prater is the Bronco Nation News columnist who co-hosts Idaho Sports Talk (KTIK 95.3 FM on Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m.) and the Boise State football postgame show (KBOI 670 AM). He is on Twitter @MikeFPrater and can be reached at mikefprater@gmail.com