How it started: Lose coin toss, lose two yards on opening play, personal foul, punt. ESPNU not showing the start because of technical difficulties – probably a good thing.
How it ended: Watch out third-ranked Oregon – Boise State is coming for you.
Welcome to a new season of college football, a sport that has turned so weird, so unpredictable, so unthinkable, that anything can happen – and probably will.
Based on the offseason, the most chaotic of all-time, why would we think actual games would be any different?
Boise State beat Georgia Southern 56-45 in Statesboro, Ga., on Saturday night, a wild night in the humid South that produced the most combined points in the history of Boise State openers.
The Broncos have been playing football since 1933.
Boise State broke a few more records Saturday – and other observations from a season opener that we won’t forget for a long time …
Mike Prater
JEANTYLICIOUS
I’ll swallow a few words, for now, after saying all offseason that Ashton Jeanty has no shot to win the Heisman Trophy, although Boise State is the first team to release a Heisman-hype video for one of its players.
Jeanty is a Group of Five running back. End of debate.
Until Saturday.
Jeanty blew up the Internet with his stunning performance in Statesboro: A school-record 267 yards and six TDs. The first time he touched the ball after that opening two-yard loss, he went for 77 yards, a touchdown and possibly the earliest Heisman Pose. Ever.
Four hours later, everyone in college football was talking about Boise State’s star back. He’d win the Heisman today if college football was a one-game season. It’s not, but who’s doubting Jeanty now?
“It goes without saying but Ashton Jeanty is the best player in the country,” said Spencer Danielson, the first Boise State coach to win his first season opener since Chris Petersen in 2006.
If Jeanty averages 134 yards a game, over the next 13 games, he will reach his goal of 2,000 rushing yards. If he keeps scoring TDs like he did Saturday, Boise State will play in a CFP game.
If those things happen, Jeanty is headed to New York.
For now, even with so many games to play, let’s leave it at that. Enjoy the moment. We may never see another one like it again.
DEFENSE NOT ELITE
Senior captain Ahmed Hassanein couldn’t stop calling Boise State’s defense “elite’ the other day. He said it several times.
Back to work big fella.
The Broncos gave up points on six of seven drives in the middle of the game, couldn’t get off the field on third downs, couldn’t stop a three-legged puppy in the red zone, made too many mistakes/penalties and finished with no interceptions despite a first-time starter flinging the ball 50 times.
Going back to last year’s bowl game against UCLA, the Broncos have allowed 971 yards and 80 points. So much for offseason improvements.
So much for elite.
Maybe Dirk Koetter’s offense will just have to outscore everyone this season. Boise State did crank out 651 yards and 17 explosive plays against Georgia Southern.
That could be fun. And stressful.
Reminder: Oregon is on the clock, waiting to pounce after scoring only 24 points against the Vandals later Saturday night.
“Obviously, a lot of things to clean up,’’ linebacker Andrew Simpson said. “We’re not satisfied so we’ve got a long ways to go. For me, I don’t feel too good about it. … We know we’re a way better defense than that.’’
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Who was more upset after Saturday’s game?
-Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander after a rough day at the office?
-Backup QB Malachi Nelson, who won’t get any garbage time this season if the defense continues to play like garbage?
-Third-string running back Breezy Dubar, the once-projected RB2 behind Jeanty? He didn’t touch the ball, while 17-year-old-true freshman Sire Gaines looked like the second coming of Jeanty (154 total yards, two TDs).
One NFL senior draft analyst on Twitter said: “True freshman Sire Gaines is a NFL guy too.’’
Didn’t have that on my bingo card coming into the season.
MADSEN: SOLID
Sophomore quarterback Maddux Madsen, making only his second career start, played well: 22-of-31, career-high 280 yards, one TD, one interception.
With the five-star, fan-favorite Nelson lurking on the sideline, over his shoulder, Madsen was never in danger of leaving the game. So far, thankfully, no quarterback-palooza.
Madsen’s one interception was a short pass in the middle – three of his four career picks have come on a similar play. Boise State fans, especially those wanting to see Nelson, will stress over every Madsen pick. So far, there’s no reason to stress over his play.
Memo to those fans(?) who have turned into social media haters: Stop waiting/wishing for Madsen to fail. It’s ugly.
MORE RANDOM THOUGHTS
-Offensive line was solid, blowing up holes for Jeanty/Gaines and allowing no sacks. “I wasn’t sacked. That’s a big deal,’’ Madsen said.
-Kicker Jonah Dalmas launched his assault on all record books with six PATs, becoming the Mountain West’s all-time leading scorer with 410 points.
-Oregon beat Idaho 24-14, a close finish that was expected to be a blowout. Not sure what that means for Boise State-Oregon in Eugene next Saturday night.
Expect more weird, unpredictable, unthinkable, wonderful behavior.
That’s what Boise State seems to do best these days.
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
Talk about mental clarity Mike, you’re the standard. How much can I pay you to write a column at least every day every week so I can add another 5 years to my life laughing at your uplifting sarcasm. I saw some tact this time, not sure where, but I’m sure I did because you were as always, accurate in your direct to the point, “I take no prisoners” comments. Excuse me while I sit back and laugh some more. Would someone please clean up the reCAPTCHA verification period by ELIMINATING IT! Worthless and annoying.