Boise State football: 3 bold predictions for the New Mexico game

1. Montell Cozart will start for Boise State on Thursday night

Brett Rypien was knocked out of the Week 2 loss against Washington State with an apparent concussion. Even before then, there were questions about whether he was the right quarterback to start for the Broncos. Despite entering his third season as the Boise State starter under center, some quarters were calling for Rypien to be supplanted by Kansas graduate transfer Montell Cozart.

In the season opener, Rypien went 13-of-23 for 160 yards and an interception against Troy. Once Cozart entered the game, the backup completed six of his nine attempts for 50 yards and a touchdown. Cozart also ran eight times for 36 yards, offering a dynamic dual-threat element that Rypien doesn’t bring to the table. He came into the game in the second quarter, and led two touchdown drives.

But Bryan Harsin and the offensive staff stuck with Rypien, and he looked amazing to start the game against the Cougars. The veteran completed seven of his first eight passes for 76 yards, but a hard hit in the first quarter left him incapable of remaining in the game. Cozart came in and impressed once again, throwing for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He added 72 yards and another score on the ground.

Harsin has been coy about the status of Rypien heading into the New Mexico game. Even if he is healthy, Boise State will turn to Cozart to start against the Lobos on Thursday night. There is a reason why the Broncos brought the Kansas graduate to Idaho, and it wasn’t to spend one year riding the pine.