Boise State Football: Broncos ousted from New Year’s Six race by Virginia

Boise State football fans can give up any idea of heading to a New Year’s Six destination this postseason after the blowout loss to Virginia at home.

The Virginia game offered a second chance for Boise State. After falling to Washington State in triple overtime on the road, the Broncos could still make the classic “undefeated in regulation” argument made famous by Les Miles in 2007. With a win over the Cavaliers, Bryan Harsin‘s squad would have been right back in the New Year’s Six race.

Instead, with the nation’s eyes focused on Idaho, Virginia came to Albertsons Stadium and blew out Boise State 42-23 on Friday night. There is no way to spin this defeat into something positive for the Broncos. They could still win the Mountain West after starting the year 1-0 in conference play against New Mexico, but a major bowl game is now out of reach after falling before the weekend.

It wasn’t merely that Boise State lost to Virginia, who is a better team this year than their recent history would indicate. The Cavaliers have a solid squad this season and could make noise in the ACC. Even if both Virginia and Washington State end the year as conference champions alongside Boise State, though, it won’t be enough to get the Broncos into a major bowl.

Prepare for a more modest postseason destination, Broncos fans.

Any dreams of returning to Arizona for another Fiesta Bowl appearance or heading to another New Year’s Six destination can be sidelined. Boise State gave up nearly 500 yards and six touchdowns to the Cavaliers. Kurt Benkert torched Boise State’s secondary for three touchdowns in the air and nearly 300 passing yards. He did it while completing over 65 percent of his passes. Benkert exhibited a deft touch beating the Broncos both short and with some bombs.

It was an eye-opening game for Boise State, and not in a good way. The Cavaliers dominated by land and by air on Friday night, while stifling Boise State’s offense most of the night. Virginia allowed the Broncos to chip away at the lead late in the fourth quarter. A safety and a Montell Cozart touchdown pass brought the Broncos within 20 points, but Virginia still won by 19.

Had the Broncos tumbled in another overtime thriller, they might still have had a case to make among Group of Five contenders. But they can no longer say that they are unbeaten in regulation. Bronco Mendenhall brought his Cavaliers across the country and embarrassed the Broncos on the blue turf.

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Boise State still has plenty to play for, with a conference title in play. But the best they can probably hope for in terms of a postseason appearance is the Las Vegas Bowl. One loss against a Power Five team can be forgiven for a Group of Five hopeful. Suffer a second, though, and there is little hope of eclipsing other Group of Five champions with statement wins on their record. All Broncos fans are left to rue another season where big dreams fell by the wayside earlier than expected.