ESPN's 2026 college football SP+ rankings have dropped, and they're stirring up some excitement, especially for Boise State fans. This metric, which evaluates teams based on returning production, recent performance, incoming talent, and coaching changes, offers a glimpse into potential team strength without factoring in schedule difficulty or predicting final standings.
Boise State has plenty of reasons to feel optimistic. The Broncos are sitting at No. 39 nationally in the SP+ rankings, making them the top-ranked team among the Group of Six conferences, which includes the American, Sun Belt, MAC, Conference USA, Mountain West, and Pac-12. This summer, Boise State transitions from the Mountain West to the revamped Pac-12.
Why does this matter? The College Football Playoff guarantees automatic bids to champions of the four Power Conferences-SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC.
The highest-ranked team from the Group of Six also secures an autobid. Boise State leveraged this rule to enter the 2024 CFP as a No. 3 seed.
Looking at the Pac-12, Boise State appears poised to lead the pack. Their closest competitor in the rankings is San Diego State at No.
- Here's a quick look at the Pac-12 standings according to SP+:
- 39th - Boise State
- 71st - San Diego State
- 78th - Fresno State
- 85th - Washington State
- 89th - Texas State
- 91st - Oregon State
- 97th - Utah State
- 99th - Colorado State
Conference averages paint a clear picture of the landscape. The SEC and Big Ten stand out as the "Power Two," while the Pac-12 finds itself in a unique middle ground, ahead of other Group of Six conferences:
- SEC: 14.5
- Big Ten: 11.0
- Big 12: 7.4
- ACC: 6.4
- Pac-12: -3.7
- Mountain West: -8.2
- American: -8.2
- Sun Belt: -12.2
- Conference USA: -13.7
- MAC: -15.9
Nationally, Boise State's closest Group of Six competitor is UNLV, ranked 59th. The Broncos have bested the Rebels in the last three Mountain West championships.
Here's how the top 10 Group of Six teams stack up:
- 39th - Boise State (Pac-12)
- 59th - UNLV (Mountain West)
- 63rd - Navy (American)
- 68th - New Mexico (Mountain West)
- 70th - Memphis (American)
- 71st - San Diego State (Pac-12)
- 72nd - North Dakota State (Mountain West)
- 73rd - UTSA (American)
- 76th - East Carolina (American)
- 77th - James Madison (Sun Belt)
Despite only two Pac-12 teams in this top 10, the conference remains strong compared to others. Colorado State, the lowest-ranked Pac-12 team at 99th, would still rank higher than several Mountain West teams, showcasing the depth and competitiveness Boise State will face in their new conference home.