Boise State showed up as the lone new Pac-12 team to land votes in the preseason AP Poll, but the Broncos still had to settle for a spot outside the top 25.
The AP released its preseason rankings on Monday, and like the preseason Coaches Poll earlier this month, it left every Group of Six team out of the top 25. Boise State was the best-supported non-power conference program in the AP voting, collecting 43 votes for No. 28 overall. That was the third-most votes among teams outside the ranked field.
The Broncos were one of 10 Group of Six teams to receive votes. Navy led that group with 10, while Louisiana, New Mexico and UNLV each got 4.
James Madison picked up 3, Memphis 2, and Liberty, Western Michigan and Tulane each earned 1. Boise State stood alone from the new Pac-12 in that mix.
The Coaches Poll told a similar story earlier in the month. Boise State led the Group of Six there as well with 24 votes, which placed the Broncos No. 36 overall. San Diego State, another new Pac-12 member, was among nine other Group of Six programs to receive votes in that poll.
At the top of the AP rankings, Ohio State and Oregon claimed the first two spots. Oregon, sitting at No. 2, will host Boise State on Saturday, Sept. 5.
The rest of the top tier was dominated by the SEC and Big Ten. The SEC placed nine teams in the preseason top 25, including five in the top 10.
The Big Ten followed with eight teams, the Big 12 had four and the ACC had three. Notre Dame came in at No. 4 behind Ohio State, Oregon and Georgia.
Boise State’s schedule after the Oregon trip includes a home game against Memphis on Saturday, Sept. 12, followed by a road game at Western Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The path for a Group of Six team is still clear in the playoff picture: the highest-ranked conference champion from that group in the final College Football Playoff rankings will earn an automatic bid.
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