The 2018 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This season was the Broncos' 82nd season overall, fifth under head coach Bryan Harsin, eighth as a member of the Mountain West Conference and sixth within the Mountain Division. The Broncos played their home games at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. They finished the season 10–3, 7–1 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for first place in the Mountain Division with Utah State. Due to their head-to-head win over Utah State, they were champions of the Mountain Division. They represented the Mountain Division in the Mountain West Championship Game where they lost to West Division champion Fresno State. They were invited to the First Responder Bowl against Boston College. With 5:08 left in the 1st quarter, the bowl game was delayed and ultimately canceled and ruled a no contest.
During the Mountain West media days held July 24–25 at the Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip, the Broncos were unanimously predicted as favorites to win the Mountain Division title.[17]
Media poll
Mountain Division
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Boise State
132 (22)
2
Wyoming
95
3
Colorado State
82
4
Utah State
78
5
Air Force
52
6
New Mexico
23
Preseason All-Mountain West Team
The Broncos had eight players selected to the preseason all-Mountain West team.[18] Quarterback Brett Rypien was selected as preseason offensive player of the year and kick/punt returner Avery Williams was selected as preseason special teams player of the year.
Receiving leaders: Sean Modster (BSU): 7 REC, 167 YDS 2 TD; Deondre Douglas (Troy): 7 REC, 102 YDS, 1 TD.
Senior cornerback Tyler Horton, who finished the game with four tackles and two fumble recoveries which were both returned for touchdowns, was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week.[21] Horton was also named the Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Defensive Player of the Week.[22]
The Broncos set a school record for offensive yards in a game with 818 yards.[24] The previous record was 742 set against Colorado State in 2011. Quarterback Brett Rypien was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week.[25]
Quarterback Brett Rypien broke the Mountain West record for passing yards in a career, which now stands at 12,924 yards. The previous record was 12,690 set by Ryan Lindley of San Diego State in 2011.[34] He also broke the Mountain West career completions record, also previously held by Lindley, and now has 981 career completions.
Running back Alexander Mattison was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week following rushing for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns on a career high 37 carries.[37] He also added 3 catches for 12 yards.
With Boston College leading 7–0 with 5:08 remaining in the 1st quarter, the game was delayed due to inclement weather. After an hour and a half delay, the game was canceled and ruled a no contest.[40]
Rankings
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes
^"2018 Watch List | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Honoring College Football's Defensive Best". lottimpacttrophy.org. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
^"The Dodd Trophy Releases 2018 Preseason Watch List". July 11, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
^"2018 Bednarik Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
^"2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
^"Davey O'Brien Award Watch List includes 26 players". July 17, 2018. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
^"2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^"2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
^"Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Names 2018 Preseason Watchlist". July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
^"2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
^"2018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
^"43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
^"Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
^Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List"". Retrieved July 30, 2018.
^"Preseason Watch List - 2018 edition of the Ted Hendricks Award" (PDF). August 14, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
^"Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
^"Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018". August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
^"Boise State, Fresno State Picked to Win 2018 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles".
^"2018 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team".
^First Responder Bowl: Boise State vs. Boston College canceled, ruled no contest due to inclement weather
^"2018 Mountain West Football Players of the Week - Sept. 3".
^"Boise State's Tyler Horton Named Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Defensive Player of the Week".
^"Boise State vs. Troy - Team Statistics - September 1, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
^"Record-Setting Night as No. 20/19 Broncos Beat UConn, 62-7".
^"2018 Mountain West Football Players of the Week - Sept. 10".
^"UConn vs. Boise State - Team Statistics - September 8, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
^"Boise State vs. Oklahoma State - Team Statistics - September 15, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
^"Boise State vs. Wyoming - Team Statistics - September 29, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
^"San Diego State vs. Boise State - Team Statistics - October 6, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
^"Boise State vs. Nevada - Team Statistics - October 13, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
^"Boise State vs. Colorado State - Team Statistics - October 19, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
^"Boise State vs. Air Force - Team Statistics - October 27, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
^"BYU vs. Boise State - Team Statistics - November 3, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
^"Brett Rypien breaks Mountain West career passing record in win over Fresno State | National | thereporteronline.com". www.thereporteronline.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2018.
^"Fresno State vs. Boise State - Team Statistics - November 9, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
^"Boise State vs. New Mexico - Team Statistics - October 16, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
^"Mountain West Football Players of the Week - Nov. 26".
^"Utah State vs. Boise State - Team Statistics - November 24, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
^"Fresno State vs. Boise State - Team Statistics - December 1, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
^"First Responder Bowl: Boise State vs. Boston College canceled, ruled no contest due to inclement weather".
^MW. "MOUNTAIN WEST ANNOUNCES 2018 FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL HONORS". Themwc.com. Retrieved November 28, 2018.