Broncos Look to Retain Milk Can Saturday at Fresno State

Saturday, November 4

Fresno, Calif.

8 p.m.

Boise State

Fresno State

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Broncos Look to Retain Milk Can Saturday at Fresno State

11/2/2023 3:23:00 PM | Football

Boise State Game Notes Media Central

Boise State to face Bulldogs in California on CBS Sports Network

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State heads to California this weekend for a pivotal battle against Fresno State with more than just a can on the line.

The annual battle for the Milk Can will also be a pivotal conference match-up as both teams enter with identical 3-1 records in Mountain West play. That sets up a three-way tie for second place as Boise State, Fresno State and UNLV all are currently even and sit behind No. 17 Air Force (5-0).

This being the first full year the Mountain West does not have divisions, the top two teams in the conference standings will advance to the MW Championship Game. Fresno State beat UNLV last week but the Broncos do not face the Rebels this season.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT at Valley Children's Stadium in Fresno with Jordan Kent (play-by-play), Donte Whitner (analyst) and Brandon Baylor on the call for CBS Sports Network. Bob Behler (play-by-play) and Pete Cavender (analyst) will carry the action on the Bronco Radio Network and on the Bronco Sports App, simulcast on SiriusXM Channel 382 and on the SiriusXM app.

Opening Kickoff

Got milk? Saturday's game in that other valley is not just a battle to remain in second place in the Mountain West standings, but it is a rivalry battle for the coveted Milk Can. Debuting in 2006, Boise State has claimed the Milk Can in 11 of the 13 meetings (the Milk Can does not change hands when the teams face each other in the conference championship game) and has held the trophy since 2018.
Boise State enters this week's action with an offensive line ranked 11th in the nation in sacks allowed, yielding only 1.00 sacks per game so far this year. That number is the third-best of a Boise State squad since 2012 (when the Broncos ranked sixth) and is just behind the 2022 mark when BSU allowed just 1.00 sacks per game to rank 10th in the nation.
Did you know that since the Mountain West began its Football Championship Game in 2013 that there have only been four occurrences where a team undefeated in conference play as advanced to the championship game? In six of the 10 MW Championship Games, the two teams competing for the league title have had one or more losses on their record.
So far this season Ashton Jeanty leads the nation with 72 broken tackles. That means this particular bucking Bronco is averaging 9.00 broken tackles per game as he refuses to go down to the turf.
Boise State is heading to California this week and the plane ride just added a little extra weight. Both Eric McAlister (Offensive) and Maddux Madsen (Freshman) claimed Mountain West Player of the Week honors following Boise State's 32-7 win over Wyoming. McAlister caught seven passes for 160 yards and a touchdown while Madsen was 12-for-15 for 147 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

What You Need to Know

Evil Genius? Or Just Plain Evil?
Sure, it may be unconventional but the two-quarterback system that Boise State is currently employing is seemingly working for the Boys in Blue. Entering this week's game, the Broncos have an equal sample size of four games each and the numbers tell the story. Just see for yourself.

Pre- and Post-Two Quarterback System Stats

Stat	Pre-2QB System	During 2QB System
First Downs	84	93
Rushing Att - Yds	143 - 684	167 - 879
Avg Rush Yds/Game	171.0	219.8
Rushing TDs	8	10
Passing Comp-Att-Int	70-129-4	66-107-3
Comp Pct	54.2%	61.7%
Passing Yards	899	959
Passing Yards/Game	224.8	239.8
Passing TDs	6	6
Total Off Yards	1,583	1,838
Average Yds/Game	395.8	459.5

Highway 20 Ride
Punter James Ferguson-Reynolds may come from the Land Down Under but his time in America has the native Aussie humming a tune sung by a group from down in the Deep South. Boise State's punter enters this week's action in the top 10 nationally - and leading the Group of 5 - in several other punting categories.

Ferguson-Reynolds in the Rankings

Category	Stat	National Rank	G5 Rank	MW Rank
Punt Average	49.7	1st	1st	1st
Net Average	43.4	7th	1st	1st
Inside the 20	15	T-8th	T-5th	1st
Touchbacks	6	T-3rd	T-2nd	1st
Downed	10	T-12th	T-8th	T-3rd
Longest Punt	71	T-9th	T-6th	2nd

This is the Greatest Show
At least in the Treasure Valley. Boise State enters this week ranked 32nd nationally in attendance (by a percentage of capacity), making the Broncos just one of three Group of 5 programs (along with App State and James Madison) to rank in the top 35. BSU not only is in the top 35 but also leads the Mountain West. Fresno State, the next-best MW team, ranks 38th.
Two Heads Are Better Than One
While unconventional, Boise State is finding success with its two-quarterback system. Entering this week's action, the Broncos are averaging 427.6 yards of offense per game, ranking 42nd nationally and second in the Mountain West. That is the highest offensive output a Boise State team has registered since the 2019 Broncos averaged 429.0 yards per game, ranking 48th nationally and 4th in the MW that season.
Success in the Mountain West
Now in its 13th season in the Mountain West, Boise State has lost just 16 games in conference play, and only five of those losses have come by more than seven points.
Grounded to a Halt
How effective was Boise State's defense in the 32-7 win over Wyoming on Nov. 28? The Cowboys were limited to just 27 rushing yards on 24 attempts, the lowest rushing yardage output for Wyoming in over 13 years. The last time the Cowboys were held to a rushing yardage lower than that, it was … Boise State in 2010. The Broncos limited Wyoming to -21 rushing yards on 28 attempts on Sept. 18, 2010 in Boise. It also marked the first time Wyoming was held to under 30 rushing yards since the Cowboys were held to 28 rushing yards at Utah State on Nov. 30, 2013.
Remember, Remember the Month of November
It appears that as the season gets longer, the Broncos get stronger. Since Boise State moved up to the FBS level in 1996, the Broncos have gone 78-20 (.796) when playing in the month of November, resulting in a total of 21 bowl bids (and bowl eligibility in all 23 years), 14 conference championships (eight in the WAC, four in the MW and two in the Big West) and appearances in six Mountain West Championship Games.
Are You Not Entertained?
You never know what can happen in a Boise State game, especially this year. Of the eight games the Broncos have played so far, four games (50%) have been decided by three points or less while five of the games (63%) have been decided by one possession (eight points or less). That means fans should stay in their seats for the full 60 minutes because this team will keep you entertained.
Close Calls
Entering this week's game, Boise State has played in more close games than almost anyone in the nation. To date, the Broncos have played in the second-most number of games decided by three points or less and the third-most number of games decided by one possession (defined by eight points or less) this season.

Games Decided by 3 Pts or Less			Games Decided by One Possession
Rk	No.	Team	Rk	No.	Team
1.	5	Boston College	1.	7	Old Dominion
2.	4	Boise State	2.	6	Boston College
	4	Akron	3.	5	BOISE STATE
4.	3	App State		5	15 others
	3	Arizona State
	3	Colorado
	3	Houston
	3	Minnesota
	3	Northern Illinois
	3	Old Dominion
	3	UCF
	3	Virginia

Establishing a Legacy
The Broncos are the second-winningest football program by percentage in the country since 2000 (.808, 244-58), trailing only Ohio State (.835; 243-48).
Starting a Youth Movement
Tim Keane deserves a tip of the cap. Entering the Nov. 4 game against Fresno State, Boise State has the third-most number of starts on the offensive line by freshman in the nation this year with two players totaling 15 starts.

Scouting Fresno State

Fresno State enters this week's contest with a 7-1 record (3-1 MW) after rallying for a 31-24 win over UNLV last week.
Jeff Tedford, no stranger to The Golden State, is in his fifth season at Fresno State, amassing a record of 43-19 (.694) with the Bulldogs. This has followed 11 years at California with an 82-57 (.590) record. Overall, Tedford brings a 125-76 (.646221) career head coaching record into this week's game.
Don't expect many turnovers, at least from the Bulldogs. Fresno State leads the nation with no fumbles lost.
But this team knows how to take the ball away and they make it look as easy as taking candy from a baby. Fresno State ranks second in the nation with a 1.38 turnover margin and third nationally with 18 turnovers gained, including 12 passes intercepted which ranks them fifth nationally.
Carlton Johnson leads the team with four interceptions, which leads the Mountain West and ranks him sixth in the country. While that may be exciting for Bulldog fans, it is disappointing for all others when he fails to execute the proper celebratory dance afterwards considering his last name is not Banks. Alfonso Ribeiro looks on disapprovingly, sir.
The nickname Bulldogs came into use in 1921 when the student body president and friends were continually greeted by a white bulldog on campus. We assume they are happy a skunk didn't randomly come across the group on campus.
Fresno State's school colors are red and blue, evolving out of an argument by women from Fresno Normal School and men from Fresno Junior College. The women were seeking blue and white to the men's red and white. A compromise was struck with the school adopting red and blue. But now the athletic teams predominantly wear red, proving male bulldogs continue to be bullheaded and stubborn.
Fresno State has so far put together an impressive season with wins at Purdue and Arizona State. Their only loss to date was to Wyoming in a game played in Laramie proving altitude sickness might really be a thing.
The school's official name is California State University, Fresno, and commonly goes by Fresno State. That makes sense, because it is part of the California State University system. But the school was founded in 1911 as Fresno State Normal School, then became Fresno State College in 1949 before it became a part of the state university system in 1961. So we're really not sure how the name "State" was adopted considering Fresno is not, to the best of our knowledge, the 51st state, unless our American history knowledge is not quite up to buff.
Fresno State will be wearing white helmets with a script "Bulldogs" featuring a feather in honor of Native American Heritage Month. The script font and feather will have the U.S. flag behind it. So speaking of someone's American history knowledge not quite being up to buff...
Fresno and the San Juaquin Valley are especially prideful of their agricultural production. The name "Fresno" is derived from the abundent ash trees that once were in the area and the region is known as the "Raisin Capital of the World." We're concerned the top product is a dried up piece of fruit but to each their own.
It is nearly 950 feet to get from the visitor's sideline to the visitor's locker room at Valley Children's Stadium in Fresno, with a steel hill to navigate. So if the Broncos are a little out of breath to start the second half, just know that they got their steps in and closed a circle from halftime alone.

A Win Would...

Move Boise State to 18-8 all-time in games against the Bulldogs.
Keep the Milk Can in Boise for the fifth consecutive year.
Keep the Broncos above .500 all-time when playing in Fresno.
Advance Boise State's record to 12-2 all-time when the Milk Can is on the line.
Drop Jeff Tedford under .500 all-time against Boise State.
Be better than a loss.

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