American college football season
The 2021 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos were led by first–year head coach Andy Avalos and played their home games at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. They completed as members of the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference.
The Broncos completed their regular season with a 7–5 record and accepted a bid to the Arizona Bowl, where they were due to face the Central Michigan Chippewas. On December 27, Barstool Sports (the title sponsor of the bowl) founder David Portnoy announced the withdrawal of the Broncos from the bowl due to COVID-19 issues within the program; organizers stated that they would attempt to secure a replacement team to face the Chippewas.[1] Later in the day, the Arizona Bowl was canceled,[2] and Central Michigan was named as a replacement team for the Sun Bowl.[3]
Schedule
- Source:[4][5]
Roster
Rankings
Game summaries
At UCF
Boise State Broncos at UCF Knights
at Bounce House, Orlando, FL
- Date:
- Game time: 5:00 p.m. MDT (Kicked at 7:46 p.m. – delayed 2 hours and 46 minutes to kickoff due to lightning)
- Game weather: Temperature: 73°F • Wind: W 5 MPH • Weather: Cloudy
- Game attendance: 43,928
- Referee: David Alvarez
- TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
UCF hosted Boise State in the 2021 season opener. It was the first meeting between the two Group of Five front-runners, and the first game for new head coach Gus Malzahn. The kickoff was delayed about 2 hours and 46 minutes due to lightning in the area, but the inclement weather passed and the game played to completion without additional delay. Boise State jumped out to a 21–0 lead, but UCF rallied and held on for a 36–31 victory. UCF won their sixth consecutive season opener, and 14th season opener out of the last 16 years.
On their first drive of the first quarter, quarterback Dillon Gabriel swiftly drove the Knights to the Boise State 8 yard line. However, his pass was intercepted by Tyric LeBeauf at the goal line, who ran it back 100 yards for a Broncos touchdown. Trailing 21–0, the Knights finally got on the board with a 23-yard catch and run touchdown by Alec Holler early in the second quarter. In the final minute of the second quarter, Gabriel drove the Knights down the field and with 6 seconds left in the half, scrambled to find Titus Mokiao-Atimalala just inside the pylon for a touchdown and a 24–14 score at halftime.
UCF received the opening kickoff for the second half, and the Knights scored again. This time a touchdown pass from Gabriel to Brandon Johnson, who caught the ball on the right side of the endzone, his foot just inches from being out-of-bounds. With 56 seconds left in the third quarter, the Knights took the lead for the first time. Gabriel connected with Jaylon Robinson for a 23-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown pass, and a 28–24 lead.
The Knights defense stiffened in the second half, forcing the Broncos into three three-and-outs along with a safety. With UCF leading 30–24, momentum shifted back to the Broncos after Tyric LeBeauf intercepted Gabriel for the second time. The turnover led to a Boise State touchdown, and the Knights trailed by 1 point with 8 minutes left in regulation.
Gabriel drove the Knights 75 yards in ten plays (including a Targeting penalty by the Broncos), capped off with a 9-yard go-ahead touchdown run by Isaiah Bowser. With four minutes to go, the Broncos had one last chance. They drove to the UCF 35, but quarterback Hank Bachmeier was scrambling and threw up an easy interception for Dyllon Lester. The Knights were able to roll the clock down, and held on for a 36–31 victory. It matched the best comeback win in school history (21 points in 1984 & 2013). Gabriel finished the game with 318 passing yards, 64 yards rushing, and four touchdown passes, and Bowser has 32 carries for 170 yards (1 touchdown) in his Knights debut.[6] The Knights extended their streak of scoring both a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown to 50 consecutive games, the longest such active streak in the nation.
UTEP
UTEP Miners at Boise State Broncos
at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
- Date:
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. MDT (Kicked at 7:40 p.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 68°F • Wind: E 4 MPH • Weather: Cloudy
- Game attendance: 35,518
- Referee: Rodney Burnette
- TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boise State Broncos
at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
- Date: September 18, 2021
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. MDT (Kicked at 7:10 p.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 64°F • Wind: NW 21 MPH • Weather: Cloudy
- Game attendance: 36,702
- Referee: Tuta Salaam
- TV announcers (FS1): Aaron Goldsmith (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
At Utah State
Boise State Broncos at Utah State Aggies
at Maverik Stadium, Logan, UT
- Date: September 25, 2021
- Game time: 10:00 a.m. MDT (Kicked at 10:07 a.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 70°F • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 23,715
- Referee: Steve Baron
- TV announcers (CBS): Rich Waltz (play-by-play) and Aaron Taylor (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack at Boise State Broncos
at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
- Date: October 2, 2021
- Game time: 1:30 p.m. MDT (Kicked at 1:36 p.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 69°F • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 37,426
- Referee: Brandon Cruse
- TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
At No. 10 BYU
Boise State Broncos at BYU Cougars
at LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
- Date: October 9, 2021
- Game time: 1:30 p.m. MDT (Kicked at 1:41 p.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 49°F • Wind: SW 6 MPH • Weather: Cloudy
- Game attendance: 63,470
- Referee: Cal McNeill
- TV announcers (ABC): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) and Tom Luginbill (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
Air Force
Air Force Falcons at Boise State Broncos
at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
- Date: October 16, 2021
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. MDT (Kicked at 7:10 p.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 67°F • Wind: SE 15 MPH • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 34,446
- Referee: Kevin Hassell
- TV announcers (FS1): Cory Provus (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
At Colorado State
Boise State Broncos at Colorado State Rams
at Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins, CO
- Date: October 30, 2021
- Game time: 5:00 p.m. MDT (Kicked at 5:08 p.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 57°F • Wind: NE 12 MPH • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 25,221
- Referee: Tuta Salaam
- TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz (play-by-play) and Aaron Taylor (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
At No. 23 Fresno State
Boise State Broncos at Fresno State Bulldogs
at Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, CA
- Date: November 6, 2021
- Game time: 5:00 p.m. MDT (Kicked at 5:07 p.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 70°F • Wind: WNW 6 MPH • Weather: Mostly Sunny
- Game attendance: 41,031
- Referee: Cal McNeill
- TV announcers (CBSSN): John Sadak (play-by-play) and Aaron Murray (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
Wyoming
Wyoming Cowboys at Boise State Broncos
at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
- Date: November 12, 2021
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. MST (Kicked at 7:05 p.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 56°F • Wind: N 5 MPH • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 35,454
- Referee: Scott Campbell
- TV announcers (FS1): Dan Hellie (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
New Mexico
New Mexico Lobos at Boise State Broncos
at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
- Date: November 20, 2021
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. MST (Kicked at 7:15 p.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 39°F • Wind: NE 4 MPH • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 28,542
- Referee: Mike Cuttone
- TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
At No. 21 San Diego State
Boise State Broncos at San Diego State Aztecs
at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA
- Date: November 26, 2021
- Game time: 10:00 a.m. MST (Kicked at 10:06 a.m.)
- Game weather: Temperature: 65°F • Wind: N 4 MPH • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 11,886
- Referee: Steve Baron
- TV announcers (CBS): Rich Waltz (play-by-play) and Aaron Taylor (analyst)
- Pregame Notes, Recap, Postgame Notes, Gamebook
Players drafted into the NFL
References
- ^ Glasspiegel, Ryan (December 27, 2021). "Dave Portnoy announces Boise State out of Barstool Bowl due to COVID-19". New York Post. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ "UPDATE: Arizona Bowl canceled for 2021". KOLD-TV. December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via MSN.com.
- ^ Sallee, Barrett (December 27, 2021). "Central Michigan to play Washington State in Sun Bowl after Miami pulls out due to COVID-19 issues". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Football Schedule". Boise State University Athletics. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Boise State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Boise State vs. UCF Gamecast". September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.