Most of the country will be locked onto the heavyweight games Saturday afternoon - Oklahoma at No. 2 Georgia, No.
1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee, No.
18 Michigan against No. 17 Iowa.
But tucked away on ESPN2, another matchup carries the kind of College Football Playoff pressure that can turn a season in one afternoon.
Boise State heads to Kalamazoo to face Western Michigan in a Group of Six showdown that could wipe out the loser’s CFP path.
“We’ve got to win this game to have our shot in the College Football Playoff, just like they do,” Boise State fifth-year quarterback Maddux Madsen told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
That’s the reality for these Broncos. Boise State and Western Michigan both sit in the Group of Six, the collection that includes the Mountain West, Sun Belt, American and Conference USA along with Boise State’s former league home, the Pac-12.
In the 12-team playoff format, only one spot is reserved for the highest-ranked team from that group. The other 11 go to the four Power Four champions and seven at-large selections, which are expected to come from those leagues.
So while six conferences and 69 of the 138 FBS teams are battling for one opening, Boise State and Western Michigan are right in the middle of it.
ESPN’s Football Power Index currently gives Boise State the edge as the top Group of Six contender, with a 19% shot at reaching the playoff. James Madison of the Sun Belt is right behind at 18.7%. Western Michigan sits seventh in that race at 5%, in part because its conference schedule is viewed as lighter than some of the other challengers.
Still, the timing makes this one huge for the Broncos from Kalamazoo. Western Michigan already “lost” what could have been a resume-changing win in its opener, when Michigan survived on a Hail Mary after officials added an extra second. With a MAC schedule ahead, Saturday is Western Michigan’s last real chance to land a statement victory.
Boise State took its only loss to Oregon to open the season, and it also has a win over another Group of Six possibility in Memphis. Even so, the margin for error is slim. A strong finish, even an 11-2 record with a Pac-12 title, might not be enough if a Western Michigan team that repeats as MAC champion can point to a head-to-head win over Boise State.
“There’s a lot of high expectations in this game, and that’s the best part about it,” Madsen said. “It’s a challenge that we’re all really excited for.”
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between the programs.
Boise State enters at 2-1, while Western Michigan is also 2-1. The game will be played at Waldo Stadium, which seats 30,200 and has turf.
Boise State is listed as a 7-point favorite. Kickoff comes with sunny skies expected, a high of 71 and a low of 43, humidity at 60%, and no chance of rain.
Radio coverage is on KBOI 670 AM and KBOI 93.1 FM, with Sirius XM Channel 84. Bob Behler and Michael Callahan will have the call.
In Other News...
Boise State's Backfield Suddenly Carries A Big Question Into Western Michigan
A week after taking on an upper-body injury, Boise State junior running back Sire Gaines has become the biggest uncertainty heading into the Broncos nonconference trip to Western Michigan. Head coach Spencer Danielson and offensive coordinator Nate Potter said Gaines is working with team doctors and could still be available, though his role might be limited if he is able to go.
The timing matters because Boise States backfield has to be ready either way, and the Broncos have other options if Gaines cannot answer the bell. Junior Dylan Riley would likely see a bigger workload, while transfers Juelz Goff and Harry Stewart III could also be asked to handle more carries as Boise State looks to sort out the rotation before kicking off a road game with an unsettled plan at running back. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Must Clean Up 3 Problems Before A Costly Road Test
Boise State heads to Waldo Stadium for a non-conference test against Western Michigan on Saturday, with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. Mountain time on ESPN2. The Broncos enter as a seven-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, but road games like this usually come down to whether the favorite handles the basics cleanly enough to avoid giving the home team extra life.
For Boise State, the spotlight is on three areas that can swing the afternoon: getting the defense right, finding more consistency in the passing game, and making Western Michigans quarterback feel the heat. If the Broncos can tighten up in those spots, they should have the edge theyre expected to have. If not, a game that looks manageable on paper could turn into the kind of early-season road mess Boise State would prefer to avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Heads Into Its First Real Test With Key Uncertainty
Boise States comfort level took a hit in the aftermath of its win over South Dakota, as the Broncos came out of the game with injuries to several important players. Running back Sire Gaines, offensive guard Roger Carreon and edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan all were among the names dinged up, and head coach Spencer Danielson said only that some players are back on the practice field while others remain limited as the Broncos prepare for a much stiffer challenge.
Western Michigan, meanwhile, brings some uncertainty of its own into the matchup, with leading receiver Aveion Chenault and starting safety Micah Davis both possibly unavailable. For Boise State, the bigger concern is how well it can handle its first real test while still sorting out the health of key pieces on both sides of the ball, a task that will say plenty about where this team stands early in the season. [Read more 🡒]