Boise State Football: 5 reasons why Broncos will struggle in 2017

3. The Broncos have a bad habit of always squandering a conference game

If there is one tradition that Harsin has managed to carry on from his predecessor and former boss, it is the annual inexplicable loss to a conference foe that knocks Boise State out of contention for a major bowl game. Back in 2010, an overtime loss against Colin Kaepernick and Nevada in Reno killed the Broncos’ BCS dreams. Two years later, San Diego State burned the Broncos for a 21-19 upset in Boise.

The past two years have followed a similar if somewhat more painful path. Following up on their 2014 Fiesta Bowl victory, the Broncos lost three conference games in 2015. Even then, they would have won the Mountain division and played for the MWC title had they managed to knock off Air Force at home. Instead they lost 37-30 after taking an early lead.

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Last year the Broncos had an even more painful exit, their 30-28 loss to Wyoming in Laramie once again keeping them from playing for the conference championship. For good measure, they lost the regular-season finale at Air Force.

That means the Falcons could win a third straight against Boise State when the teams square off at Albertsons Stadium on November 18. Other candidates to serve as this year’s stinker of a loss for the Broncos include New Mexico at home on September 14, at San Diego State on October 14, and against Wyoming the following weekend at home.