College football primer: With first game next week, a Boise State season guide for fans
If you haven’t been paying attention to the Idaho Statesman’s daily coverage from the Boise State football team’s fall camp, never fear, your guide is here.
We’ll give you a quick rundown of some of the top storylines, players and games to watch this season ahead of the Broncos’ 2022 opener at Oregon State on Sept. 3 (8:30 p.m. MT, ESPN) in Corvallis, Oregon.
For starters, the Broncos, 7-5 last season, were picked to win the Mountain West’s Mountain Division for the 10th year in a row. And they’ll start the season outside the preseason Top 25, receiving just five points in The Associated Press poll and 10 in the coaches poll.
STORYLINES TO WATCH
Can the Broncos run the ball?
Boise State went 11 straight seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher in its stable. That streak came to an end with the COVID-shortened 2020 season, when the Broncos ranked last in the Mountain West with 107.1 rushing yards per game as a team. Although Boise State improved last season — ranking ninth in the 12-team conference with 120.4 rushing yards per game — it’s nowhere near where the Broncos want to be.
“There are very few programs in the country that can win without running the ball,” Boise State offensive coordinator Tim Plough said during training camp. “There are even fewer that can win consistently.”
When he’s healthy, redshirt junior running back George Holani is capable of carrying the load. He was the Broncos’ most recent 1,000-yard rusher, racking up 1,014 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019.
Replacing NFL WR Khalil Shakir by committee: Here are 6 Boise State receivers to watch
Who can fill Shakir’s shoes?
OK, it might be unrealistic to expect someone to replicate the impossible acrobatics that Khalil Shakir produced over the past four seasons, but there’s no doubt the Broncos aren’t likely to succeed without having someone step up.
Shakir, who is now with the Buffalo Bills, led Boise State in receiving two of the past three seasons, including a senior year in which he paced the Broncos with 77 catches for 1,117 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He ranks No. 5 at Boise State with 208 career receptions, No. 4 with 2,878 receiving yards and is tied for No. 9 with 20 receiving TDs.
It might be asking too much of one player to fill Shakir’s shoes, but redshirt senior Stefan Cobbs is the leading candidate. Cobbs ranked second on the team last season in receiving yards (421), receptions (34) and touchdown receptions (5). The remaining returning receivers — Billy Bowens, Latrell Caples and Davis Koetter — combined for 30 receptions.
Can the defense keep producing turnovers?
The COVID-shortened 2020 season saw the Broncos produce just three turnovers. But Boise State made a big jump last season in the takeaway battle, collecting 10 fumbles and 13 interceptions.
Although winning the turnover battle doesn’t always equate to wins, it’s certainly a welcome result.
The Broncos should be in good shape in 2022 to match or surpass their defensive turnovers from a year ago. Of Boise State players who had interceptions, only nickel Kekaula Kaniho — who had one pick — isn’t back. And all five players who recovered a fumble last season are back.
Boise State’s 23 takeaways last season ranked tied for fourth in the Mountain West and tied for the 19th-most in the nation. Nevada and Hawaii paced the conference by forcing 27 turnovers each, while Fresno State forced 24.
Senior Bowl director compares this Boise State safety to member of ‘Legion of Boom’
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hank Bachmeier, QB, Sr.: Consistency could give Bachmeier the edge this season, as he’ll have the same offensive coordinator in back-to-back seasons for the first time in his career. And he’s coming off a junior campaign in which he set career highs for completions (252), passing yards (3,079) and passing touchdowns (20). He already ranks in the top 10 in program history in career passing yards (6,108, No. 7) and TD passes (35, No. 10).
Stefan Cobbs, WR, R-Sr.: Despite missing three games because of an ankle injury, the 6-foot, 192-pounder ranked second on the team last season in receiving yards (421), receptions (34) and touchdown receptions (5). Boise State wide receivers coach Matt Miller has previously called Cobbs “lightning in a bottle.”
George Holani, RB, R-Jr.: A healthy Holani is paramount to the Broncos’ offensive success. He has seven career games of 100 yards or more since 2019, and Boise State is 7-0 in those contests. Although he was limited with a hamstring injury the early part of last season, he started seven of the nine games he played and led the team with 569 rushing yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
Tyreque Jones, N, 6-year.: He started at safety the previous two seasons — including starting all 12 games in 2021 — but moves to nickel in 2022. Jones paced the Broncos with six pass breakups last season and totaled 52 tackles, including three for loss, to go with two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Scott Matlock, DT, R-Sr.: He received the most votes from his teammates to be part of the Broncos’ leadership council this year, according to head coach Andy Avalos. But leadership isn’t all the Homedale High product provides. He led the Broncos in tackles for loss last season with 8.5, including seven sacks, and his 41 tackles paced all defensive linemen.
JL Skinner, S, Sr.: In addition to his jaw-dropping hits, Skinner led the Broncos in tackles (92), solo tackles (66) and fumble recoveries (three) last season. He also recorded two forced fumbles, seven tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two interceptions. He was named to both the Phil Steele and Athlon preseason All-Mountain West First Team.
GAMES TO WATCH
Oregon State (away, Sept. 3): After a third-place showing in the Pac-12 North Division in 2021, the Beavers were picked to finish fifth in a preseason media poll. Still, a victory over a Power 5 conference program could springboard the Broncos into the Top 25. That’s exactly what happened the last time these teams faced off in Corvallis, with Boise State winning 38-24 behind Jeremy McNichols’ 208 rushing yards in 2016.
Fresno State (home, Oct. 8): This game pits the Mountain West’s preseason division favorites, and the Broncos are looking for revenge. The last time the Bulldogs played on The Blue, they rallied to beat the Broncos 19-16 in overtime to win the Mountain West championship on a snowy night in 2018. It was Fresno State’s first win at Albertsons Stadium and knocked the Broncos out of the Top 25.
Air Force (away, Oct. 22): The Broncos will benefit from a bye week before this game that features the preseason picks for first and second in the Mountain Division. The winner of this matchup is likely in the driver’s seat to earn a spot in the conference championship game. Games in Colorado Springs have never been a cake walk for the Broncos, who are 2-2 at Falcon Stadium. Air Force won last year’s meeting 24-17 at Albertsons Stadium.
BYU (home, Nov. 5): This could be the final matchup between these rivals for the foreseeable future, with BYU’s scheduled move to the Big 12 in 2023. Boise State ended a two-game losing streak to the Cougars with a 26-17 upset of then-No. 10 BYU last season at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Broncos and Cougars have played every year since 2012, with Boise State sporting an 8-4 advantage in the series. BYU has one victory in Boise, rolling to a 51-17 win in 2020.
HOW TO WATCH
All 12 of Boise State’s regular-season games will be televised by either an ESPN, CBS or Fox affiliate. Here’s how to tune in to each channel:
ESPN: channel 133 on Sparklight, 206 on DirecTV and 140 on Dish Network.
CBS: channel 2 on Sparklight and DirecTV and channel 2 or 5251 on Dish Network.
CBS Sports Network: channel 139 on Sparklight, 221 on DirecTV and 158 on Dish Network.
Fox: channel 189 on Sparklight, 248 on DirecTV and 136 on Dish Network.
FS1: channel 146 on Sparklight, 219 on DirecTV and 150 on Dish Network.
FS2: channel 148 on Sparklight, 618 on DirecTV and 149 on Dish Network.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
The Broncos will not be weighed down by COVID-19 protocols as they were the previous two seasons. Players or coaches will be tested only if they become symptomatic, according to a Boise State spokesperson.
If an individual tests positive, they’ll be isolated and the university will follow guidelines set by Central District Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Players or coaches who are potentially exposed to the virus will be asked to wear a mask for five days and be tested if they become symptomatic.
2022 SCHEDULE
Saturday, Sept. 3: at Oregon State, 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)
Friday, Sept. 9: at New Mexico, 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
Saturday, Sept. 17: vs. UT Martin, 2 p.m. (FS1)
Friday, Sept. 23: at UTEP, 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
Friday, Sept. 30: vs. San Diego State, 6 p.m. (FS1)
Saturday, Oct. 8: vs. Fresno State, TBA (Fox/FS1/FS2)
Saturday, Oct. 22: at Air Force, 5 p.m. (CBSSN)
Saturday, Oct. 29: vs. Colorado State, TBA (Fox/FS1/FS2)
Saturday, Nov. 5: vs. BYU, TBA (Fox, FS1, FS2)
Saturday, Nov. 12: at Nevada, 8:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
Saturday, Nov. 19: at Wyoming, 5 p.m. (CBSSN)
Friday, Nov. 25: vs. Utah State, 10 a.m. (CBS)
