Boise State’s performance against Oregon paid off in the Week 2 Coaches Poll, even if the result still went in the loss column.
After opening the season with 24 votes in the preseason Coaches Poll, the Broncos nearly doubled that total Tuesday, jumping to 43 votes following their 34-27 near-upset of the Ducks at Autzen Stadium. That moved Boise State up to No. 3 among teams in the “others receiving votes” group, behind Louisville with 125 and Illinois with 45.
Boise State is 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the Pac-12, but the early bump keeps the Broncos in the conversation after pushing Oregon hard on the road. Memphis, which visits Boise State on Saturday, sits second among Group of Six teams with 24 votes. Western Michigan and New Mexico each have seven, followed by North Dakota State with six, Navy with five, UNLV with three and San Diego State with two.
The top Group of Six conference champion earns an automatic berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff, and Boise State already knows what that path looks like. The Broncos made the CFP in 2024 after a 12-1 regular season.
At the top of the poll, Ohio State stayed No. 1, with Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame and Indiana rounding out the top five. Those six teams all picked up at least one first-place vote.
The biggest movement came from Oregon, which slid from No. 2 to No. 6 after the tight call against Boise State. Michigan also tumbled, falling eight spots to No. 24 after a controversial 13-12 win over Western Michigan. Clemson dropped out entirely after a 51-10 loss to LSU on Saturday night.
The full Week 2 Coaches Poll placed Boise State among a crowded group of teams still trying to break into the top 25, but the Broncos’ stock is clearly on the rise after the trip to Eugene.
In Other News...
Boise State Home Opener Just Became A Serious Playoff Test
The 2026 home opener in Boise already looks like more than a standard early-season tune-up. Memphis arrives with the kind of start that gets attention nationally, opening 2-0 behind a balanced offense and a defense that has been getting into the backfield, while Boise State is trying to reset after a close loss to Oregon and use its own opener to get back on the right track.
For the Broncos, the matchup is the kind that can tell them a lot about where they stand in the College Football Playoff race. Memphis brings explosive play ability, a strong run game and steady pressure up front, which means Boise State will have to be sharp on both sides of the ball in a game that already feels like a measuring stick long before September really settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Is Right On The Verge Of A Rankings Breakthrough
Boise States opening loss to Oregon did not knock the Broncos out of the national conversation. Even in defeat, the AP Top 25 voters kept them in the mix with 86 points, good for 26th place and the highest ranking among the Group of Six teams. The Broncos also stayed on the fringe of the USA Today Coaches Poll, a sign that the broader college football audience still sees plenty to like about Spencer Danielsons team.
Memphis is next, and it brings its own share of respectability after drawing votes in both polls as well. That makes the matchup a little more meaningful than a typical September nonconference game, because Boise State is already hovering near a rankings breakthrough and another solid showing could help turn fringe attention into something sturdier. Whether the Broncos can make that move is still the story hanging over the next week. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon's Opener May Have Changed The Ducks Depth Chart Fast
Autzen Stadium had the kind of opening-night energy that can reshuffle a depth chart before September really gets going, and Oregons 34-27 win over Boise State felt that way from the start. The Ducks got standout work from junior wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan, junior kicker Gage Hurych and a defense that had timely contributions from players like safety Koi Perich and edge rusher Teitum Tuioti, enough to survive a tight game against a Boise State team that kept the pressure on.
For Oregon, the bigger takeaway may be how quickly roles are beginning to sort themselves out after one game. McClellans emergence gave the Ducks another reliable target, Hurych supplied points when they mattered most, and the overall performance left plenty for the staff to evaluate as it looks for the right combinations moving forward. In a game that was close well into the fourth quarter, those early impressions can carry a lot of weight. [Read more 🡒]