Boise State enters top 10 of AP Top 25 rankings for first time since 2011
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Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman
BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — Boise State has entered the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since 2011.
The Broncos were ranked No. 10 in the latest rankings released on Sunday, rising from No. 11 last week. Boise State defeated Oregon State 34-18 on Friday to end the regular season with a record of 11-1.
The Broncos will next face No. 19 UNLV in the Mountain West Championship game on Friday at Albertsons Stadium. The winner of that matchup will likely earn an automatic berth to the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Boise State jumped over No. 14 Miami, which fell to then-unranked Syracuse 42-38. The victory helped Syracuse jump back into the rankings at No. 23. Aside from now-No. 7 Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to unranked Michigan, there were no other upsets among the top 10 that would’ve allowed the Broncos to move much higher in the rankings.
Bronco fans will be keen to keep an eye on the next CFP committee rankings, which will be released on Tuesday. The CFP rankings matter at the end of the season in terms of the playoffs and bowl games, and they have often closely followed the AP rankings.
This past week, Boise State was ranked No. 11 in the CFP rankings. Because the rankings mirror each other closely, Boise State fans will want to keep an eye on No. 12 Arizona State and No. 16 Iowa State of the Big 12.
The two teams face off in the Big 12 Championship game on Dec. 7. The five highest-ranked conference champions earn automatic berths in the playoffs, but only the top four of those teams earn byes through the first round.
Depending on the results of conference championship games, it may be a tight race between the Mountain West and Big 12 winners for the final bye spot.
Of course, it’s also possible that another team from the Group of Five conferences — the Mountain West, AAC, Conference USA, MAC and Sun Belt — could pip out the Mountain West champion. But it’s unlikely that’ll happen, with the best candidate being No. 24 Army of the AAC.
Boise State received 1,036 points in the latest poll, behind No. 9 Indiana (1,059 points) and ahead of No. 11 Alabama (840 points). The Broncos also ranked No. 10 in the Coaches Poll. Boise State picked up 840 points, ranking behind No. Indiana (895 points) and ahead of No. 11 Alabama (733 points).
AP TOP 25
l: 1. Oregon
2. Texas
3. Penn State
4. Notre Dame
5. Georgia
6. Tennessee
7. Ohio State
8. SMU
9. Indiana
10. Boise State
11. Alabama
12. Arizona State
13. South Carolina
14. Miami
15. Ole Miss
16. Iowa State
17. BYU
18. Clemson
19. UNLV
20. Colorado
21. Illinois
22. Missouri
23. Syracuse
24. Army
25. Memphis