Boise State Faces Top-10 Opponent as No. 7/6 Ducks Await Broncos Saturday

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State completes its trek from coast-to-coast to open the 2024 season on Saturday as the Broncos will head to Eugene, Oregon to face the No. 7/6 Ducks at Autzen Stadium.

Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT with Andrew Siciliano (play-by-play), Michael Robinson (analyst) and Laura Britt (sideline) calling the action. On the Bronco Radio Network (Flagship: KBOI 93.1 FM/670 AM) and on SiriusXM Channel 390, Bronco Nation can tune in to hear Bob Behler (play-by-play) and Pete Cavender call the action.

OPENING KICKOFF

He may wear No. 2 but the No. 1 running back in the country is an indisputable fact at this point. Ashton Jeanty broke records as he ran across southern Georgia on Aug. 31. The #HEI2MAN hopeful ran for 267 yards and six touchdowns, both new school records.
Boise State continues its 2024 road tour on Saturday when the Broncos will head west to face the No. 7/6-ranked Ducks of Oregon. UO, no stranger to their neighbors to the east, will face a Gem State-based team for the second straight week after opening the season with the Vandals in a throwback to their Pacific Coast Conference days.
Good things come in threes, but could we extend that to four? Boise State enters this week's game with a 3-0 all-time record against the Ducks but don't let that record fool you - this Oregon team is the highest-ranked Ducks team Boise State has ever faced.
Bronco fans everywhere are excited for the return of football and to see what Ashton Jeanty can do in his junior season. The Heisman candidate wowed the nation with video game numbers in 2023, setting the stage for a HEI2MAN-worthy year in 2024. Find out more about Ashton Jeanty's record-setting performances at HEI2MAN.com.
We saved No. 5 for the appropriate Group of 5 note. The 2024 season marks the first of the expanded College Football Playoff era with a 12-team bracket. The highest-rated conference champion of the Group of 5 will automatically earn a berth into the CFP postseason this year and several national pundits have prognosticated the Broncos could be one of the top teams vying for that spot.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Broncos vs. Ranked Teams
Saturday's game marks the 41st time Boise State will face a ranked opponent since the Broncos made the move up to Division I-A/FBS beginning with the 1996 season. Since that time, the Blue and Orange have gone 17-23 (.425) against those ranked opponents but even more impressive is that in tha time, Boise State has compiled a 6-4 (.600) record against Top 10 opponents, including going 2-2 (.500) in such games on the road. Since moving to four-year status in 1968, Boise State has gone 47-55 (.461) against ranked opponents.
Twice is Nice
Boise State running backs Ashton Jeanty (Offensive Player of the Week) and Sire Gaines (Freshman of the Week) were honored by the Mountain West for their efforts in the Broncos' 56-45 win at Georgia Southern. The two backs totaled 377 rushing yards against the Eagles, the most a pair of Boise State players have ever recorded in a single game. Jeanty set school records for rushing yards (267) and rushing touchdowns (6) while Gaines ran for 110 yards and totaled 44 receiving yards, making them the only pair of teammates in the FBS this year to notch over 150 yards from scrimmage.
Bucking Bronco
How impressive was Ashton Jeanty's performance on Saturday? Of his school-record 267 yards, 161 yards came after contact. That number leads the country by over 20 yards, with Jeanty averaging over 8 yards after contact per carry. Only six players in the country have more than 161 total rushing yards, including three who have played multiple games. The HEI2MAN hopeful forced 13 missed tackles, tied for second in the nation.
Familiar Faces
If you look across the sideline, there will be some familiar faces wearing green on Saturday. Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel is no stranger to Boise State as he faced the Blue and Orange in 2021 while at UCF, completing 25 of 37 throws for 318 yards and four touchdowns and ran 12 times for 64 yards in 36-31 season-opening win over the Broncos. Defensive back Jabbar Muhammad was a member of the Washington Huskies last season, where he earned All-Pac-12 honors. He was credited with one solo tackle and one pass break-up in the season opener against the Broncos.
Familiar Faces – Part II
Co-Offensive Coordinator and wide receivers coach Junior Adams was an assistant coach at Boise State from 2014-16. Meanwhile a few other Ducks coaches are familiar with the Broncos. Joe Lorig, coaching Special Teams Coordinator and Nickels, served on the defensive staff at Utah State from 2014-15 coaching safeties and linebackers. Drew Mehringer, coaching tight ends, faced the Broncos while serving as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at New Mexico in 2021. Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti spent eight total seasons on Hawaii's staff, first from 2008-13 and also from 2001-02. He also played for Hawai'i, graduating in 2000.
All for 2
That's what the Boise State rushing record book is quickly turning into, especially following the Broncos' season opener at Georgia Southern on Aug. 31. Jeanty's 267 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns both set single-game records for Boise State while his six rushing touchdowns tied the Mountain West record set by Stefphon Jefferson (Nevada) in 2012 and matched by Kapri Bibbs (Colorado State) in 2013.
All for 2(00)
That also marks the third career 200-yard rushing performance of Jeanty's career, tying for the second-most in school history alongside Jay Ajayi (2012-14), Jeremy McNichols (2014-16), and Alexander Mattison (2016-18). Cedric Minter (1977-80) holds the school record with four 200-yard rushing games over his career. Jeanty needs one more 200-yard rushing performance in his career to reach the top-five of career 200-yard rushing games in Mountain West history.
6x6=36
Ashton Jeanty's performance at Georgia Southern marked just the 10th time since 2013 that an FBS player has ran for six or more touchdowns in a single game and the first since the 2022 season.
Punting For a Cause
Boise State punter James Ferguson-Reynolds is punting for more than just his teammates this season. The native Australian - the 2023 national statistical champion in punting - has pledged to donate $20 for every punt inside the 20 that he records this season with all donations going to Flock Cancer Idaho, a nonprofit organization based in the Treasure Valley that promotes awareness about breast cancer and focuses on fundraising for breast cancer fighters, survivors, families and programs.
Establishing a Legacy
The Broncos are the second-winningest football program by percentage in the country since 2000 (.806, 250-60), trailing only Ohio State (.832; 248-50).
Better Than Who?
To truly put it into perspective of how dominating Ashton Jeanty's play is, let's take a look at how he stacks up against entire teams. His 267 rushing yards against Georgia Southern so far is more rushing yards than of Arizona, Arizona State, Clemson, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi State, NC State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Tulane, Virginia and Wisconsin. Meanwhile his six rushing touchdowns means Jeanty has currently reached the end zone more than Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Northwestern, South Carolina, Texas A&M and West Virginia.
Quite the Debut
Don't be so awed by Ashton Jeanty that you find yourself thinking he's the only rushing threat for the Broncos. Boise State freshman Sire Gaines, who does not turn 18 years old until Sept. 26, mimicked Jeanty's dominance on the ground at Georgia Southern on Aug. 31 as he ran for 110 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut. He also added three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown as well. That performance ranks Gaines eighth in Mountain West history among the most rushing yards recorded in a career debut.
All-22
Saturday's game in Eugene will mark the 22nd time in program history that the Broncos will play in the state of Oregon, but just the second trip to Autzen Stadium for Boise State. The Blue and Orange are 14-7 (.667) all-time when playing in Oregon and have a 1-0 mark all-time at Autzen Stadium following a 37-32 win in 2008. The Broncos have also previously played games in Ashland, Corvallis, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Ontario and Portland.
We Like It Hot, Hot, Hot!
Boise State isn't afraid of a little heat. Since the program's inception in 1933, the Broncos have gone 31-10 (.756) in games where kickoff temperature registered 85° or higher. Like it even hotter? Okay, then. The Broncos are 12-3 (.800) when kickoff temperature hits 90° or above. That includes a 56-45 win at Georgia Southern on Aug. 31 of this season.
Do Ducks Like Potatoes?
Forgive us for asking, but it's a common question as Oregon opens the 2024 season with a pair of opponents from the state of Idaho. Last weekend the Ducks threw it back to their old Pacific Coast Conference roots and played former conference foe Idaho and now the third-ranked Ducks will host the Broncos on Saturday.
Blue (and Orange) Bloods
Boise State is just one of four programs in the country to have been eligible for three consecutive bowl games and made three consecutive NCAA Men's Basketball tournaments. The other three? That would be Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee. Consider it a quartet of Blue Bloods.
Defenders of the West, Crushin' All Pretenders in the West
Since 2000, Boise State has been leader of the Team with the Broncos registering more wins (250) than any other west coast team by 25 victories with Oregon (225), Southern California (203), Utah (201) and BYU (193) following. That's not a number to quack at.

ABOUT OREGON

Oregon enters this week with a 1-0 mark after a closer-than-projected 24-14 win over Idaho last Saturday in Eugene.
The Ducks are led by Dan Lanning, who is in his third season in Eugene. He previously was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Georgia. Lanning has a 23-5 record leading UO.
Similar to Boise State's Spencer Danielson, Lanning is one of the younger coaches in the country. At the ripe old age of 38 years old, he ranks as the sixth-youngest coach in the nation.
Don't let Oregon's score against the Vandals deceive you. The Ducks still churned out the offense last week and enter this game leading the nation in red zone offense (1.000), ranked second nationally in completion percentage (.820) and interceptions (2), ninth in first downs (31), sixth in net punting (50.67), 18th in team sacks (4.00), as well as 19th in rushing defense (49.0) and turnover margin (+1.00).
The Duck (signal) caller is Dillon Gabriel, whose performance against the Vandals ranks him as the nation's leader in completions per game (41.00), third nationally in completion percentage (.837). He also ranks eighth in passing yards per game (380.0).
Oregon is not just an offensive threat, don't forget their head coach is a former defensive coordinator (sound familiar?). UO ranks 12th in first downs defense (10), 13th in 3rd down defense (.167), 21st in turnovers gained (2), 31st in Total Defense (217.0) and 34th in team pass efficiency defense (90.41).
The University of Oregon was established in 1872 and opened in 1876 with the name "Oregon State University." We don't recommend calling them by that historic name.
At least 10 movies have been filmed on the campus in Eugene but none more popular than National Lampoon's Animal House (1978). Sadly, the Delta House (which belonged to the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at UO) was demolished in 1986 but the Omega house (belonging to the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity) still stands. The dining facility known as "The Fishbowl" remains on campus and was the site of the famous food-fight scene. We don't recommend the cottage cheese.
Currently known as the Ducks, Oregon's first teams were originally known as the Webfoots, a name originally applied to a group of fishermen from the coast of Massachusetts who had been heroes in the Revolutionary War and whose descendants settled in Oregon in the 19th Century. A naming contest in 1932 made the Webfoots name official but journalists and fans began associating the name Ducks with the UO teams as early as the 1920s.
The mascot of UO is an anthropomorphic duck whose likeness to Donald Duck is no coincidence - an informal agreement to share the likeness was made in 1947 which became more formalized (thanks, lawyers) in 1973.
The Duck mascot officially has no name, although many people believe his name to be Puddles. With a high of 92 anticipated Saturday, do not expect to see any puddles unless someone inadvertently knocks over a Powerade cooler on the sideline.

A WIN WOULD…

Keep the Broncos undefeated all-time against Oregon.
Mark Boise State's first win over a Big Ten program.
Move Boise State to 2-0 for the first time since the 2020 season.
Mark Boise State's first win over a ranked opponent since 2021.
Move Spencer Danielson's record to 5-1 as a head coach.
Bring Boise State's all-time record in the Beaver State to 15-7.
Be better than a loss.

SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are still available and can be purchased online or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 208-426-4737.

THREE GAME MINI-PLANS
Boise State's Athletic Ticket Office has three great options as part of the 2024 football mini-plans. Each option includes three home games for one low price starting at $99. One package includes home games against Oregon State, San Diego State and Portland State, another includes Washington State, Oregon State and San Diego State while a third option includes home games against Washington State, San Diego State and Nevada. Fans wishing to purchase their mini-plans for the 2024 season can do so online by clicking here or by calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 208-426-4737.

SINGLE GAME TICKETS
Haven't found a ticket package that suits your needs yet? Fans can now get their single-game tickets for the highly anticipated 2024 season now for as low as $25. While the season ticket packages, flex passes and mini-plans offer the best seats available, single-game tickets are still a great option to get out to see the Broncos on The Blue this fall. Fans can purchase single-game tickets online at BroncoSports.com over the phone with the Boise State Athletic Ticket Office at (208) 426-4737, or in person at the Boise State Athletic Ticket Office located at the southwest corner of Albertsons Stadium.

Led by Spencer Danielson in his first full season, Boise State looks to become the first Mountain West program to win back-to-back championships since San Diego State did so in 2015-16. Achieving such a feat will put Boise State in the discussion for the new, expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff format beginning this fall. Last year, Danielson became the first coach in college football history to win a conference championship with an interim title.

For complete coverage of Boise State Football, download the Bronco Sports App or follow the team on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter/X.

--BroncoSports.com--

Boise State Faces Top-10 Opponent as No. 7/6 Ducks Await Broncos Saturday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

James Ferguson-Reynolds

Sire Gaines

Ashton Jeanty

Boise State Faces Top-10 Opponent as No. 7/6 Ducks Await Broncos Saturday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

James Ferguson-Reynolds

Sire Gaines

Ashton Jeanty

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