Boise State Broncos vs Air Force Falcons Football Preview

The Boise State Broncos are entering a new world of sorts – they’re not playing in a different part of the country, but they are playing in new stadiums as they go through the Mountain West Conference for the first time.

The Broncos played in the Western Athletic Conference in previous seasons, as this Division I-A (now Football Bowl Subdivision) program worked its way up from the lower divisions. Boise State has been playing FBS ball for under two decades. The program is still in its formative stages, but you’d never know it by the way the Broncos are carrying themselves on the field. Boise State rolled up 732 yards in its Mountain West debut on October 8 against Colorado State. After playing nonconference games throughout the month of September, BSU waltzed into a Mountain West ballyard and exhibited no tangible sign of anxiety or distress.

Boise jumped to a 35-0 lead, allowed 13 points before halftime, and then unleashed a 28-0 third quarter to dismiss Colorado State by “half a hundred” points, 63-13. Boise quarterback Kellen Moore might not have been staring down a truly threatening defense, but he was still close to flawless, operating in the same zip code as perfection even if he never knocked on perfection’s house door. Moore guided his offense with top-level efficiency. He completed 26 of 30 passes – 86.67 percent of them – for 338 yards with four touchdowns and no picks. The Broncos also outrushed Colorado State by 309 yards, 393 to 84. Boise State delivered a comprehensive beatdown against a lower-tier conference opponent, serving notice that it’s not going to idly coast through its first autumn in Mountain West locales. Boise State might spring to the Big East or Big 12 Conference if the dominoes of realignment arrange themselves in a certain way, but for now, BSU can merely play and win the games it has been asked to play, and so far, the Broncos are living up to their reputation by clobbering each gameday foe they meet.

The team in Boise State’s way this Saturday is the Air Force Falcons. Coach Troy Calhoun’s team was flying high after beating Navy a few weeks ago, but that win did not sustain any degree of momentum in Colorado Springs. Navy suffered a decisive loss to Notre Dame (59-33) and then crumbled on defense in a 41-27 home-field loss to Mountain West competitor San Diego State. Air Force’s option offense isn’t easy to defend, and that’s why Boise State might not be able to immediately impose its will on the Falcons. However, Air Force quarterback Tim Jefferson – a veteran who has been around the block a few times – can’t replicate his two-interception performance last Thursday against San Diego State. Air Force is in the midst of its toughest stretch of the season. The Falcons need to be at their best, and yet they’ve displayed a diminishing degree of conviction over the past two games. If Air Force doesn’t summon all its strength on Saturday on Smurf Turf, it’s going to have a very long afternoon.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer