Boise State’s first step into the reborn Pac-12 comes with modest expectations attached.
The Broncos were slotted sixth in the league’s preseason media poll, a reflection of both last season’s collapse and the roster reset that followed. Boise State closed its exhibition schedule Thursday with a 104-37 win over NAIA Bismarck State College, but the bigger picture is the one that opened with a disappointing final year in the Mountain West.
Gonzaga took the top spot in the poll, collecting all 17 first-place votes. Utah State followed in second, with San Diego State at No.
3, Colorado State fourth and Oregon State fifth. Boise State came in behind that group, then Texas State, Washington State and Fresno State rounded out the list.
For the Aggies, the support came despite a coaching change. Ben Jacobson is in his first year there, but Utah State still brings back 2025-26 MWC Player of the Year Mason Falslev.
Boise State entered last season with NCAA Tournament hopes, only to fade to a 20-12 mark and exit the MWC Tournament with a first-round loss to San Jose State. Four of the Broncos’ five starters then moved on to Power Four programs, while Dylan Andrews ran out of eligibility, leaving Leon Rice to rebuild almost from scratch.
The early signs in exhibition play were encouraging enough. Boise State beat Idaho 82-72, handled Washington 109-91 and then rolled past Bismarck State College to finish the tune-up slate.
“There were nerves in the first two games for a lot of these new guys,” Boise State head coach Leon Rice told local media after Thursday’s exhibition. “I thought a lot got accomplished tonight. We stopped pressing and really worked on our half-court D, so we’ll get some really good things on tape.
“But the most important thing probably is just getting comfortable in our arena, and getting comfortable on game day with the jerseys on. It kind of alleviates that nervousness that maybe paralyzed some of those guys that hadn’t gotten the opportunity to show much yet.”
Boise State still has two key transfer additions sitting out of the exhibition run. Guards Ty Rodgers and Lamar Washington were both unavailable, with Rodgers recovering from a torn patellar tendon suffered in June and Washington still seeking a fifth year of eligibility after a legal setback on Thursday.
“Everything’s just in flux, all this stuff,” Rice said of Washington’s status. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, I don’t have any answers, it’s just all gray area.
But everybody is working through it the best we can … because that can make a huge difference for us. It’s a great kid, a great player, a great fit for what we have.
My fingers are crossed that the right thing happens.”
The Broncos open the season next Wednesday against West Coast Baptist.
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