2018 Boise State Broncos football team


The 2018 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This season was the Broncos' 82nd season overall, fifth under head coach Bryan Harsin, eighth as a member of the Mountain West Conference and sixth within the Mountain Division. The Broncos played their home games at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. They finished the season 10–3, 7–1 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for first place in the Mountain Division with Utah State. Due to their head-to-head win over Utah State, they were champions of the Mountain Division. They represented the Mountain Division in the Mountain West Championship Game where they lost to West Division champion Fresno State. They were invited to the First Responder Bowl against Boston College. With 5:08 left in the 1st quarter, the bowl game was delayed and ultimately cancelled and ruled a no contest.

Previous season

The Broncos finished the 2017 season 11–3, 7–1 in Mountain West play to win the Mountain Division. They defeated West Division champion Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship Game to become Mountain West champions. They were invited to the Las Vegas Bowl where they defeated Oregon.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
Lott TrophyKekoa NawahineSJR
Bobby Dodd AwardBryan HarsinHC
Chuck Bednarik AwardTyler HortonCBSR
Maxwell AwardBrett RypienQBSR
Davey O'Brien AwardBrett RypienQBSR
Doak Walker AwardAlexander MattisonRBJR
John Mackey AwardJohn BatesTERS SO
Jim Thorpe AwardKekoa NawahineSJR
Jim Thorpe AwardTyler HortonCBSR
Bronko Nagurski TrophyTyler HortonCBSR
Bronko Nagurski TrophyDavid MoaDTSR
Outland TrophyDavid MoaDTSR
Paul Hornung AwardAvery WilliamsCB/KRRS SO
Wuerffel TrophyBrett RypienQBSR
Walter Camp AwardBrett RypienQBSR
Ted Hendricks AwardCurtis WeaverDERS SO
Ted Hendricks AwardDurrant MilesDESR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardBrett RypienQBSR
Manning AwardBrett RypienQBSR

Mountain West media days

During the Mountain West media days held July 24–25 at the Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip, the Broncos were unanimously predicted as favorites to win the Mountain Division title.

Media poll

Preseason All-Mountain West Team

The Broncos had eight players selected to the preseason all-Mountain West team. Quarterback Brett Rypien was selected as preseason offensive player of the year and kick/punt returner Avery Williams was selected as preseason special teams player of the year.
Offense
Brett Rypien – QB
Alexander Mattison – RB
Ezra Cleveland – OL
John Molchon – OL
Defense
David Moa – DL
Curtis Weaver – DL
Tyler Horton – DB
Specialists
Avery Williams – KR/PR

Schedule

Game summaries

at Troy

1–02017BSU, 24–13

Senior cornerback Tyler Horton, who finished the game with four tackles and two fumble recoveries which were both returned for touchdowns, was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week. Horton was also named the Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Defensive Player of the Week.
StatisticsBoise StateTroy
Total Yards416379
Passing Yards305355
Rushing Yards111124
First Downs1621
Penalties4-273-25
Turnovers14
Time of Possession23:2934:31

UConn

1–02014BSU, 38–21

The Broncos set a school record for offensive yards in a game with 818 yards. The previous record was 742 set against Colorado State in 2011. Quarterback Brett Rypien was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week.
StatisticsUConnBoise State
Total Yards193818
Passing Yards71418
Rushing Yards172400
First Downs938
Penalties7-447-71
Turnovers10
Time of Possession21:5938:01

at Oklahoma State

StatisticsBoise StateOklahoma State
Total Yards414442
Passing Yards380246
Rushing Yards34176
First Downs2319
Penalties5-404-25
Turnovers10
Time of Possession34:3425:26

at Wyoming

11–12017BSU, 24–14

StatisticsBoise StateWyoming
Total Yards506295
Passing Yards345214
Rushing Yards16181
First Downs2911
Penalties9-716-59
Turnovers01
Time of Possession40:1319:47

San Diego State

3–22017BSU, 31–14

StatisticsSan Diego StateBoise State
Total Yards267229
Passing Yards113178
Rushing Yards15451
First Downs915
Penalties8-556-52
Turnovers23
Time of Possession30:5229:08

at Nevada

29–132017BSU, 41–14

StatisticsBoise StateNevada
Total Yards506386
Passing Yards299304
Rushing Yards20782
First Downs2423
Penalties9-1084-20
Turnovers43
Time of Possession35:0924:51

Colorado State

7–02017BSU, 59–52 OT

StatisticsColorado StateBoise State
Total Yards489472
Passing Yards373322
Rushing Yards116150
First Downs2726
Penalties7-605-40
Turnovers30
Time of Possession28:4231:18

at Air Force

3–32017BSU, 44–19

StatisticsBoise StateAir Force
Total Yards530443
Passing Yards409242
Rushing Yards121201
First Downs2623
Penalties1-154-25
Turnovers00
Time of Possession27:0932:51

BYU

6–22017BSU, 24–7

StatisticsBYUBoise State
Total Yards388327
Passing Yards292214
Rushing Yards96113
First Downs2120
Penalties8-587-81
Turnovers32
Time of Possession27:3132:29

Fresno State

14–62017BSU, 17–14

Quarterback Brett Rypien broke the Mountain West record for passing yards in a career, which now stands at 12,924 yards. The previous record was 12,690 set by Ryan Lindley of San Diego State in 2011. He also broke the Mountain West career completions record, also previously held by Lindley, and now has 981 career completions.
StatisticsFresno StateBoise State
Total Yards390448
Passing Yards283269
Rushing Yards107179
First Downs2224
Penalties9-614-45
Turnovers01
Time of Possession25:3434:26

at New Mexico

8–12017BSU, 28–14

StatisticsBoise StateNew Mexico
Total Yards449262
Passing Yards222103
Rushing Yards227159
First Downs3015
Penalties5-304-41
Turnovers03
Time of Possession30:5629:04

Utah State

17–52017BSU, 41–14

Running back Alexander Mattison was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week following rushing for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns on a career high 37 carries. He also added 3 catches for 12 yards.
StatisticsUtah StateBoise State
Total Yards425509
Passing Yards363310
Rushing Yards62199
First Downs1820
Penalties8-727-69
Turnovers20
Time of Possession17:5542:05

Fresno State (Mountain West Championship Game)

15–611/9/18BSU, 24–17

Uniform Combination--
HelmetJerseyPants

StatisticsFresno StateBoise State
Total Yards288350
Passing Yards170125
Rushing Yards118225
First Downs1422
Penalties6-506-50
Turnovers21
Time of Possession23:5836:02

vs. Boston College (First Responder Bowl)

0–12005BC, 27–21

With Boston College leading 7–0 with 5:08 remaining in the 1st quarter, the game was delayed due to inclement weather. After an hour and a half delay, the game was cancelled and ruled a no contest

Rankings

Post-season awards

Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year

Brett Rypien – Sr. QB

Mountain West first team

Offense
Brett Rypien – Sr. QB
Alexander Mattison – Jr. RB
Ezra Cleveland – So. OL
John Molchon – Jr. OL
Defense
Curtis Weaver – So. DL
Jabril Frazier – Sr. DL
Tyler Horton – Sr. DB

Mountain West second team

Offense
Sean Modster – Sr. WR

Mountain West honorable mention

Durrant Miles – Sr. DL
Kekoa Nawahine – Jr. DB
Avery Williams – So. DB/RS

Personnel

Coaching staff

Roster

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
3102Alexander MattisonRBMinnesota Vikings