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.
Preseason
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Lott TrophyKekoa NawahineSJRBobby Dodd AwardBryan HarsinHCChuck Bednarik AwardTyler HortonCBSRMaxwell AwardBrett RypienQBSRDavey O'Brien AwardBrett RypienQBSRDoak Walker AwardAlexander MattisonRBJRJohn Mackey AwardJohn BatesTERS SOJim Thorpe AwardKekoa NawahineSJRTyler HortonCBSRBronko Nagurski TrophyTyler HortonCBSRDavid MoaDTSROutland TrophyDavid MoaDTSRPaul Hornung AwardAvery WilliamsCB/KRRS SOWuerffel TrophyBrett RypienQBSRWalter Camp AwardBrett RypienQBSRTed Hendricks AwardCurtis WeaverDERS SODurrant MilesDESRJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardBrett RypienQBSRManning AwardBrett RypienQBSR
Mountain West media days 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.
Preseason All-Mountain West Team The Broncos had eight players selected to the preseason all-Mountain West team. 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.
Offense
Brett Rypien – QB
Alexander Mattison – RB
Ezra Cleveland – OL
John Molchon – OL
Defense
David Moa – DL
Curtis Weaver – DL
Tyler Horton – DB
Specialists
Avery Williams – KR/PR
Schedule
Schedule source:
Roster
Game summaries
At Troy
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 20–28, 305 YDS, 4 TD; Kaleb Barker (Troy): 20–29, 211 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 14 CAR, 56 YDS, 1 TD; Jabir Frye (Troy): 7 CAR, 41 YDS, 1 TD. 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. Horton was also named the Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Defensive Player of the Week. Statistics Boise StateTroyTotal yards416379Passing yards305355Rushing yards111124First downs1621Penalties4-273-25Turnovers14Time of possession23:2934:31
UConn
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 21–28, 362 YDS, 3 TD; David Pindell (UCONN): 11–21, 71 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 11 CAR, 115 YDS, 2 TD; Kevin Mensah (UCONN): 82 CAR. Receiving leaders: John Hightower (BSU): 5 REC, 119 YDS, 1 TD; Hergy Mayala (UCONN): 3 REC, 24 YDS
The Broncos set a school record for offensive yards in a game with 818 yards. The previous record was 742 set against Colorado State in 2011. Quarterback Brett Rypien was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week.
Statistics UConnBoise StateTotal yards193818Passing yards71418Rushing yards172400First downs938Penalties7-447-71Turnovers10Time of possession21:5938:01
At Oklahoma State
Uniform CombinationHelmetJerseyPants Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 39–56, 380 YDS, 3 TD; Taylor Cornelius (OKST): 15–26, 243 YDS, 1 TD. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 14 CAR, 53 YDS; Justice Hill (OKST): 15 CAR, 123 YDS, 1 TD. Receiving leaders: A. J. Richardson (BSU): 6 REC, 70 YDS, 1 TD; Tylan Wallace (OKST): 5 REC, 105 YDS. Statistics Boise StateOklahoma StateTotal yards414442Passing yards380246Rushing yards34176First downs2319Penalties5-404-25Turnovers10Time of possession34:3425:26
At Wyoming
Uniform CombinationHelmetJerseyPants Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 28–42, 342 YDS, 2 TD; Tyler Vander Waal (WYO): 15–25, 214 YDS, 1 TD. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 20 CAR, 57 YDS, 1 TD; Nico Evans (WYO): 12 CAR, 141 YDS, 1 TD. Receiving leaders: A.J. Richardson (BSU): 6 REC, 113 YDS, 1 TD; James Price (WYO): 2 REC, 77 YDS, 1 TD.
Statistics Boise StateWyomingTotal yards506295Passing yards345214Rushing yards16181First downs2911Penalties9-716-59Turnovers01Time of possession40:1319:47
San Diego State
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 21–41, 170 YDS, 2 INT; Ryan Agnew (SDSU): 8–15, 113 YDS. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 25 CAR, 66 YDS, 2 TD; Chase Jasmin (SDSU): 26 CAR, 78 YDS, 1 TD. Receiving leaders: Sean Modster (BSU): 4 REC, 44 YDS; Fred Trevillion (SDSU): 3 REC, 57 YDS. Statistics San Diego StateBoise StateTotal yards267229Passing yards113178Rushing yards15451First downs915Penalties8-556-52Turnovers23Time of possession30:5229:08
At Nevada
Uniform CombinationHelmetJerseyPants Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 28–38, 299 YDS, 2 TD, 3 INT; Ty Gangi (NEV): 24–42, 304 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 24 CAR, 69 YDS; Kelton Moore (NEV): 8 CAR, 35 YDS. Receiving leaders: A.J. Richardson (BSU): 4 REC, 79 YDS, 1 TD; McLane Mannix (NEV): 4 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD. Statistics Boise StateNevadaTotal yards506386Passing yards299304Rushing yards20782First downs2423Penalties9-1084-20Turnovers43Time of possession35:0924:51
Colorado State
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypein (BSU): 22–26, 308 YDS, 4 TD; K. J. Carta-Samuels (CSU): 19–30, 244 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 20 CAR, 85 YDS, 1 TD; Izzy Matthews (CSU): 12 CAR, 109 YDS, 1 TD. Receiving leaders: A.J. Richardson (BSU): 6 REC, 137 YDS, 2 TD; Preston Williams (CSU): 9 REC, 154 YDS, 1 TD.
Statistics Colorado StateBoise StateTotal yards489472Passing yards373322Rushing yards116150First downs2726Penalties7-605-40Turnovers30Time of possession28:4231:18
At Air Force
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 20–34, 399 YDS, 5 TD; Isaiah Sanders (AF): 10–15, 210 YDS, 2 TD. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 22 CAR, 136 YDS, 1 TD; Isaiah Sanders (AF): 28 CAR, 97 YDS, 1 TD. Receiving leaders: John Hightower (BSU): 8 REC, 182 YDS, 3 TD; Joseph Saucier (AF): 2 REC, 77 YDS. Statistics Boise StateAir ForceTotal yards530443Passing yards409242Rushing yards121201First downs2623Penalties1-154-25Turnovers00Time of possession27:0932:51
BYU
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 23–35, 214 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Zach Wilson (BYU): 18–27, 252 YDS. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 25 CAR, 89 YDS, 2 TD; Matt Hadley (BYU): 11 CAR, 39 YDS. Receiving leaders: A.J. Richardson (BSU): 4 REC, 53 YDS, 1 TD; Talon Shumway (BYU): 3 REC, 62 YDS.
Statistics BYUBoise StateTotal yards388327Passing yards292214Rushing yards96113First downs2120Penalties8-587-81Turnovers32Time of possession27:3132:29
Fresno State
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 24–29, 269 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT; Marcus McMaryion (FRES): 24–35, 283 YDS, 1 TD. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 30 CAR, 144 YDS, 2 TD; Jordan Mims (FRES): 8 CAR, 47 YDS. Receiving leaders: A.J. Richardson (BSU): 5 REC, 66 YDS; KeeSean Johnson (FRES): 8 REC, 95 YDS, 1 TD.
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. He also broke the Mountain West career completions record, also previously held by Lindley, and now has 981 career completions. Statistics Fresno StateBoise StateTotal yards390448Passing yards283269Rushing yards107179First downs2224Penalties9-614-45Turnovers01Time of possession25:3434:26
At New Mexico
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 17–27, 222 YDS, 3 TD; Sheriron Jones (UNM): 7–11, 88 YDS, 1 INT. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 20 CAR, 145 YDS, 1 TD; Sheriron Jones (UNM): 12 CAR, 56 YDS. Receiving leaders: Sean Modster (BSU): 9 REC, 129 YDS, 3 TD; Delane Hart-Johnson (UNM): 4 REC, 77 YDS. Statistics Boise StateNew MexicoTotal yards449262Passing yards222103Rushing yards227159First downs3015Penalties5-304-41Turnovers03Time of possession30:5629:04
Utah State
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 23–32, 310 YDS, 1 TD; Jordan Love (USU): 29–47, 363 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 37 CAR, 200 YDS, 3 TD; Darwin Thompson (USU): 11 CAR, 61 YDS. Receiving leaders: CT Thomas (BSU): 6 REC, 89 YDS; Aaren Vaughns (USU): 7 REC, 107 YDS.
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. He also added 3 catches for 12 yards. Statistics Utah StateBoise StateTotal yards425509Passing yards363310Rushing yards62199First downs1820Penalties8-727-69Turnovers20Time of possession17:5542:05
Fresno State (Mountain West Championship game)
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Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 15–31, 125 YDS, 1 TD; Marcus McMaryion (FRES): 21–33, 170 YDS, 1 TD. Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 40 CAR, 200 YDS, 1 TD; Ronnie Rivers (FRES): 17 CAR, 63 YDS, 1 TD. Receiving leaders: Sean Modster (BSU): 4 REC, 45 YDS, 1 TD; Michiah Quick (FRES): 4 REC, 45 YDS, 1 TD. Statistics Fresno StateBoise StateTotal yards288350Passing yards170125Rushing yards118225First downs1422Penalties6-506-50Turnovers21Time of possession23:5836:02
Vs. Boston College (First Responder Bowl)
Uniform CombinationHelmetJerseyPants 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.
Rankings
Post-season awards
Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year
Brett Rypien – Sr. QB
Mountain West first team Offense
Brett Rypien – Sr. QB
Alexander Mattison – Jr. RB
Ezra Cleveland – So. OL
John Molchon – Jr. OL
Defense
Curtis Weaver – So. DL
Jabril Frazier – Sr. DL
Tyler Horton – Sr. DB
Mountain West second team Offense
Sean Modster – Sr. WR
Mountain West honorable mention
Durrant Miles – Sr. DL
Kekoa Nawahine – Jr. DB
Avery Williams – So. DB/RS
Award Reference:
Players drafted into the NFL
3 102 Alexander Mattison RB Minnesota Vikings
References