Boise State got a perfect show of confidence from ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday morning.
With the sun out after a rainy, windy night at DeChevrieux Field, every panelist on the set backed No. 24 Boise State to beat Oregon State, including guest picker Ian Johnson. The Broncos entered the day at 8-1 overall and 5-0 in Pac-12 play, while the Beavers were 5-4 and 3-2.
Nick Saban put it plainly: “Boise, watch out. Oregon State can score lots of points. But you will outscore them today.”
Kirk Herbstreit leaned into the setting and the matchup on the blue turf: “When it comes down to playing on that blue turf and the physicality, how do you ever pick against Boise State?”
Pat McAfee also went with the Broncos, even while nodding to Oregon State’s top weapon: “Jesse Legree might be the best receiver in all of football … but give me Boise State.”
The broadcast drew a huge crowd and marked College GameDay’s first trip to Boise since 2010.
The morning also came with the full GameDay pageantry. There was a flyover, McAfee’s horseback entrance, and Leighton Vander Esch drilling a second-chance field goal that sent $1 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said having the show in town was “it’s huge for our program.”
“And that’s the both sides that we’re living in this week,” Danielson said on Thursday. “For our players and our coaches, it is ‘How can we play our best on Saturday at 4 o’clock?’ But when you think program-wide-now, for the future, for the future of college football for Boise State-these are pillars in the college football world … for a long time.
“And they’re going to have a great experience. I have no doubt that the College GameDay set, our students and our fan base will be there.
I’ve told all of them: ‘This will be the best place you’ve been to all season.’ I believe that much in our community and our team showing up that they’ll leave here … really impressed with this community, Bronco Nation and just Boise as a whole.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Mountain time Saturday at Albertsons Stadium, with the game set to air nationally on USA Network.
Oregon State’s arrival in Boise was delayed by Friday’s Federal Aviation Administration ground stop, and the Beavers did not get into town until about 9:45 p.m. Mountain time Friday night.
McAfee’s ride onto the set was a direct nod to that travel mess.
“Don’t you worry about an aeroplane! Don’t you worry about an automobile! I’m riding a rodeo!,” McAfee yelled as he came in on horseback.
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Boise State Fans Have One Big GameDay Concern This Weekend
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For Boise State, the concern is less about reputation and more about matchup. Oregon States passing game has been productive enough to stress defenses, and if that part of the Beavers offense travels, the Broncos may have to win a game that looks a lot tighter than their standing would suggest. It is the kind of November test that can either reinforce a playoff case or expose how thin the margin can be when a contender has a weakness an opponent is built to attack. [Read more 🡒]
Boise States Biggest Game Suddenly Has A Very Unusual Problem
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For the Broncos, the concern is less about the scoreboard than the logistics, since an opponent that cannot get to town on time changes the rhythm of an entire game week. Oregon State is still trying to sort out how it will make the trip, and the broader shutdown has already affected a long list of other matchups around college football, turning what should have been a routine travel day into a scramble. [Read more 🡒]