By Ben Shumate | Brown University
It might be hard to believe for some that it’s been ten years since Boise State shocked the world
in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. The game is easily one of the most memorable in the
history of the sport, and the programs meteoric rise leading up to January 2007 seemed liked
something only accomplished on NCAA Football Dynasty Mode.
But I’d argue that what the program has done in the ten years since is even more remarkable.
We’ve seen Group of 5 programs rise to the top on the back of a great recruiting class or coach
(Utah, TCU, Western Michigan, to name a few). But none of these programs have put together
the sustained run that Boise has, through coaching changes, NFL attrition and moves to a more
difficult conference. Boise State has made itself the yardstick by which every G5 program is
measured, and when you take a look at the team over the last decade, it’s not hard to see why.
Since 2007, the Broncos have averaged exactly 11 wins per season. That’s a 110-22 record
(88.3%) over 10 seasons. Only Alabama and Ohio State have higher winning percentages in
that span, and Houston is the next closest G5 program at 66.4%. I’m breaking the rules a little
bit here, but if you extend the timeframe to 14 years, no team has won more games than Boise
State.
From 2008-11, Boise State won 50 games, something that had never been done before and
may never be done again.
The Broncos never missed a step after moving to the Mountain West in 2011, or after losing
Chris Petersen to Washington. The Broncos WORST season was Petersen’s last in 2013, when
the Broncos went 8-5, with two conference losses by a combined four points and a loss to
Oregon State in the Hawaii Bowl. Save for a handful of programs, most G5 fanbases would be
thrilled with a season like that every few years. Bryan Harsin stepped in as head coach in 2014
and won 12 games, including the MWC title.
As far as the Fiesta Bowl, the Broncos have owned University of Phoenix Stadium over the past
decade:
2007: Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42 OT
The Broncos put Boise, Idaho on the college football map with its first-ever undefeated season,
capped off with one of the most memorable games in the history of the sport. Tying the game up
with an improbable hook-and-ladder play was by itself one of the more amazing plays in recent
memory. But a touchdown in overtime and Chris Petersen’s decision to go for the win with a
two-point conversion, a statue of liberty play to Ian Johnson, solidified this game as the most
exciting finish ever in my mind, right next to Vince Young vs. USC in 2006.
Boise started the season unranked, but quickly gained attention as it defeated Oregon State
and Utah on the road before cruising through the WAC. Boise State and Ohio State finished the
year as the only undefeated teams in the country, but the Broncos only reached as high as 9th
in the BCS standings and a Florida team which was clearly superior earned a berth in the
national title game. After Florida embarrassed Ohio State and the Broncos upended Oklahoma,
Boise State was the only undefeated team in the 2006-07 season.
Petersen put himself and his program on the national map with the undefeated run. At the time,
the BCS was less friendly to the G5 programs than the current system, and the Broncos were
just the second team ever to play in a BCS bowl from outside of the “power” conferences.
Petersen was given the Bear Bryant Award as national coach of the year.
2009: Boise State 17, TCU 10
Once again cruising through the WAC unbeaten and surviving a showdown with No. 14 Oregon
to start the season, the Broncos still were on the outside looking in when it came to the National
Championship. Storied programs Texas and Alabama ran the table in much tougher
conferences, leaving no room for debate on whether the Broncos deserved a shot.
Instead, Boise found itself back in Arizona for an unofficial G5 championship game against
unbeaten TCU, out of the Mountain West. The Horned Frogs had spoiled an undefeated year
for Boise the season before, winning narrowly in the Poinsettia Bowl, 17-16.
The game was another instant classic, this time a defensive struggle for the ages. True to its
nature, Boise State kept what would eventually be the game-winning 4th quarter touchdown
drive alive with a fake punt from its own 33 yard-line. Doug Martin later punched it in from 2
yards to give the Broncos a 17-10 lead. Andy Dalton drove TCU down the field with time ticking
down, but a Winston Venable interception with 18 seconds left sealed the win for Boise.
A 14-0 season has only been replicated two other times (2002 Ohio State and 2010 Alabama,
though Alabama has a chance to be 15-0 this year) in college football history. Petersen again
was named Coach of the Year (over Nick Saban), and sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore
was the WAC offensive player of the year. Moore put up video game numbers in the undefeated
season: 277-431 passing, 3536 yards, 39 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
If anyone was good enough to lead Boise’s breakthrough to playing for a national title, it was
Moore. The following season, the Broncos looked poised to run the table again on Moore’s
back, and would have had a serious claim at a spot in the title game after being ranked as high
as No. 3 in the BCS standings. But facing a 19th-ranked, Colin Kaepernick-led Nevada team on
the road proved too much for the Broncos. Kyle Brotzman missed a field goal at the end of
regulation and another in overtime, and Nevada won 34-31. I maintain that this was one of the
craziest finishes to a game I’ve ever seen. Seriously, do yourself a favor and go watch the
highlights from this game.
Brotzman’s meltdown was unfortunate for him, as the loss overshadowed a great career in a
Broncos uniform. His 439 career points is the fifth-most for a kicker in NCAA history and he also
served as a reliable punter over his four years. As you’ll see below, Boise State never saw a
better kicker than Brotzman in its history.
Such is life for #collegekickers.
Following another 12-1 season the next season, Moore broke Colt McCoy’s record for all-time
wins as a quarterback in FBS history. Falling only to TCU again that year, the Broncos won 50
games with Moore at the helm, losing just three.
2014: Boise State 38, Arizona 30
With Bryan Harsin in charge the Broncos returned to the Fiesta Bowl after a six-year hiatus after
a 10-2 regular season. Boise lost to open the year against Ole Miss and then again during the
season to Air Force. But the team earned a berth in the Mountain West championship game,
defeating Fresno State 28-14.
In the first year of the playoff system, the Broncos earned a trip back to the Fiesta Bowl as the
highest-ranked G5 team at 21st, while Arizona came in ranked 11th after losing to Oregon in the
Pac-12 Championship. Jay Ajayi ran for 3 first-half touchdowns and Boise held off a comeback
effort from the Wildcats to complete its third Fiesta Bowl win. The Broncos would finish the
season ranked 16th in final polls.
Despite the remarkable consistency Boise State has shown, there will always be doubters and
naysayers. While the new system giving one G5 team a chance to play in the New Year’s Six
every year has helped the conferences earn some respect, some will still refuse to believe that
a G5 team could be deserving of inclusion among the top-tier programs. To those people, and
to everyone else, I will leave two things. The first, is Boise State’s history against P5 teams
since its Fiesta Bowl triumph over Oklahoma. The second, is an all-decade team, with a note
about where the player ended up in the NFL draft. I have a feeling they both will surprise you.
History against Power 5 teams (2006-16)
2006: Oregon State (W 45-0)
Fiesta Bowl: No. 10 Oklahoma (W 43-42 OT)
2007: at Washington (L 10-24)
2008: at No. 12 Oregon (W 37-32)
2009: No. 14 Oregon (W 19-8)
2010: No. 6 Virginia Tech (W 33-30)
Oregon State (W 37-24)
2011: No. 22 Georgia (W 35-21)
Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona State (W 56-24)
2012: at No. 13 Michigan State (L 13-17)
Las Vegas Bowl: Washington (W 28-26)
2013: at Washington (L 6-38)
Hawaii Bowl: Oregon State (L 23-28)
2014: vs. No 19 Ole Miss (L 13-35)
Fiesta Bowl: No. 11 Arizona (W 38-30)
2015: Washington (W 16-13)
at Virginia (W 56-14)
2016: Washington State (W 31-28)
at Oregon State (W 38-24)
Cactus Bowl: Baylor (L 12-31)
All-Decade team (2006-16)
QB: Kellen Moore (2008-2011)
RB: Jay Ajayi, 2014 5th round (Dolphins)
WR: Titus Young, 2011 2nd round (Lions)
WR: Thomas Sperbeck (2013-2016)
WR: Austin Pettis 2011, 3rd round (Rams)
WR: Matt Miller (2011-14)
T: Ryan Clady, 2008 1st round (Broncos)
G: Rees Odhiambo, 2016 3rd round (Seahawks)
C: Matt Paradis, 2014 6th round (Broncos)
G: Charles Leno Jr., 2014 7th round (Bears)
T: Nate Potter, 2012 7th round (Cardinals)
K: Kyle Brotzman (2007-10)
DE: Shea McClellin, 2012 1st round (Bears)
DT: Billy Winn, 2012 6th round (Browns)
DT: Tyrone Crawford, 2012 3rd round (Cowboys)
DE: Demarcus Lawrence, 2014 2nd round (Cowboys)
LB: Kamalei Correa, 2016 2nd round (Ravens)
LB: Winston Venable (2009-10)
CB: Jamar Taylor, 2013 2nd round (Dolphins)
CB: Kyle Wilson, 2010 1st round (Jets)
CB: Orlando Scandrick, 2008 5th round (Cowboys)
S: Darian Thompson, 2016 3rd round (Giants)
S: George Iloka, 2012 5th round (Bengals)