Boise State is starting life in the rebuilt Pac-12 the same way it spent years approaching the Mountain West: at the top of the preseason conversation.
The Broncos were chosen to win the league in the Pac-12 preseason media poll, collecting 14 of 16 first-place votes from a 16-member panel of media members who cover the conference’s eight football-playing schools. Tyler King of The Denver Gazette organized the poll.
That kind of support fits Boise State’s recent track record. During its 15 seasons in the Mountain West, the Broncos were picked first in the preseason media poll every single year. They went on to win the MWC title seven times, including in 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019 and from 2023-25.
Boise State is coming off a run that included a 2024 season in which it finished 12-2 overall and earned the program’s first College Football Playoff berth. The Broncos also arrived at that point after a 9-5 season and an LA Bowl loss to Washington. In the regular season, they ended up in a four-way tie for first in the Mountain West with New Mexico, San Diego State and UNLV, then got into the conference title game with UNLV thanks to computer rankings tiebreakers.
Once there, Boise State beat UNLV for the third straight year in the MWC championship game.
The preseason honors also reflected Boise State’s defensive strength. Senior edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the panel.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound senior has piled up 120 total tackles, including 31 for loss, along with 16 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three pass breakups in his Boise State career. He has appeared in 45 games and made 34 starts.
Spencer Danielson was selected as Preseason Coach of the Year, while Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson took Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Fresno State and San Diego State each received one first-place vote. Both teams won nine games last season and are expected to be in the mix for the Pac-12 title in 2026.
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Boise States move into the Pac-12 just got a lot cleaner off the field. The Pac-12, Mountain West Conference and five schools that left the MWC for the Pac-12 have reached a settlement to end their multi-year legal fight, closing a messy chapter that had hung over the realignment process for months.
The Mountain West had been pursuing $55 million in poaching penalties and roughly $100 million in exit fees, but the agreements terms were not disclosed. Even without the details, the resolution clears away a major obstacle for the leagues and their schools, giving them a chance to move ahead without ongoing litigation and perhaps making future scheduling cooperation easier. [Read more 🡒]
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The real intrigue is in the mix for the next spot, where two incoming freshmen are still pushing to earn a role. Cash Herrera and Jackson Taylor give Boise State options to evaluate, and Danielsons comments suggest neither is simply along for the ride this summer. For a program that has leaned on quarterback stability in recent years, the backup battle may end up being one of the quiet but important stories to watch as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]