Boise State reaches its highest AP Top 25 spot in over a decade. See full rankings here
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Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman
BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — Boise State football benefited from a chaotic week of college football this weekend, which saw seven Associated Press Top 25 teams lose.
The Broncos were not one of those teams, but only by the skin of their teeth. Boise State defeated Wyoming 17-13 on Saturday night thanks to a fourth-quarter game-winning drive.
Despite the narrow victory, Boise State (10-1, 7-0 Mountain West) rose to No. 11, its highest ranking in the AP Top 25 since it was ranked No. 10 in week 12 of the 2011 season. The Broncos finished No. 8 that year and beat Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The stakes are a little higher this year, with the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff giving the Broncos a chance to compete for more than just a bowl game.
Although the CFP selection committee rankings, released every Tuesday, decide the end-of-season playoffs, the AP rankings are sometimes a good indicator of what will come. The five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, with the top four teams earning a first-round bye.
The Broncos moved into the fourth and final bye spot last week and, thanks to a chaotic week, solidified their spot there this weekend with losses by the top Big 12 teams.
In the latest AP rankings, the Broncos are higher than any Big 12 team — the CFP committee rankings will likely follow suit. The closest Big 12 team to Boise State is No. 14 Arizona State, followed by No. 17 Iowa State.
It was also a good week for Boise State regarding other Group of Five teams.
Previously undefeated Army of the American Athletic Conference fell to No. 25 after suffering a heavy 49-14 defeat to Notre Dame. The closest Group of Five team — the Mountain West, AAC, Conference USA, MAC and Sun Belt — to Boise State is No. 18 Tulane.
Tulane and Army will meet in the AAC championship game on Dec. 6, at the same time Boise State hosts the Mountain West title game against either UNLV or Colorado State. UNLV is ranked No. 21 in the latest poll.
It’s likely that only one team outside of the Power Four conferences — the Big 12, SEC, ACC, and Big 10 — will make the playoffs, making every win even more crucial for the Broncos.
Boise State received 984 points in the latest poll, slotting in behind No. 10 Indiana (998 points) and ahead of No. 12 Clemson (789 points).
The Broncos also rose from No. 13 to No. 11 in the Coaches Poll. Boise State received 838 points, ranking behind No. 10 Indiana (867 points) and ahead of No. 12 Clemson (780 points).
Here are the full rankings for week 14 of the AP poll:
- Oregon
- Ohio State
- Texas
- Penn State
- Notre Dame
- Georgia
- Tennessee
- Miami
- SMU
- Indiana
- Boise State
- Clemson
- Alabama
- Arizona State
- Ole Miss
- South Carolina
- Iowa State
- Tulane
- BYU
- Texas A&M
- UNLV
- Illinois
- Colorado
- Missouri
- Army