Boise State Football: 2017 Broncos season preview, predictions

2017 schedule

What’s in store for Boise State in 2017?

For Boise State, there are really three levels of seasons. The bottom tier has come in the past few years, as they have gone bowling but failed to win their league. The Broncos win their conference but get snubbed by major bowls in the middle tier. The top-tier, naturally, came those three times they went to the Fiesta Bowl.

The Broncos would do well to focus on merely winning the Mountain West this season. They will have at least one stumble in league play, which will make it harder to land the Group of Five’s spot in a New Year’s Six bowl. But they will have zero shot at gaining that invitation if they can’t seal the deal. The past few years, the Broncos have fallen short of its conference goal.

This year, though, Boise State will have stiff competition from the American Athletic Conference champion for that automatic berth from the selection committee. A few losses could spell the difference between a trip to Glendale and a trip to Las Vegas.

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Prediction: 11-2, 7-1 Mountain West

Unfortunately for Bryan Harsin, this is likely going to be only that middle tier of seasons. The Broncos will probably fall against a tough Washington State team in non-conference play. They will get a Power Five win over woebegone Virginia, but that won’t be enough of a resume builder.

A loss in conference play, likely to Colorado State on the road, will not knock Boise State from the top of the division. But it will be enough to keep the Broncos from playing in a fourth Fiesta Bowl or getting their first-ever berth in another of the New Year’s Six games. Instead, they will likely be headed to Sin City as their postseason destination.