2016 Boise State Broncos football team explained

Mode:	football
Year:	2016
Team:	Boise State Broncos
Conference:	Mountain West Conference
Division:	Mountain Division
Short Conf:	MW
Record:	10–3
Conf Record:	6–2
Head Coach:	Bryan Harsin
Hc Year:	3rd
Cooff Coach1:	Zak Hill
Cooc1 Year:	1st
Cooff Coach2:	Scott Huff
Cooc2 Year:	1st
Def Coach:	Andy Avalos
Dc Year:	1st
Off Scheme:	Multiple
Def Scheme:	Multiple
Stadium:	Albertsons Stadium
Champion:	MW Mountain Division co-champion
Bowl Result:	L 12–31 vs. Baylor

The 2016 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It marked the Broncos' 80th season overall, sixth as a member of the Mountain West Conference and fourth within the Mountain Division. They played their home games at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. They were led by third-year head coach Bryan Harsin. They finished the season 10–3, 6–2 in Mountain West play to finish in a three-way tie for the Mountain Division title. After tiebreakers, they did not represent the Mountain Division in the Mountain West Championship Game. They were invited to the Cactus Bowl where they lost to Baylor.

This season marked the 30th anniversary season that the Broncos have played on the Blue Turf.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released.

Maxwell Award – So. QB Brett Rypien & Jr. RB Jeremy McNichols^[1]

Mackey Award – Jr. TE Jake Roh^[2]

Lou Groza Award – Sr. K Tyler Rausa^[3]

Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Sr. LB Tanner Vallejo^[4]

Butkus Award – Sr. LB Tanner Vallejo^[5]

Fred Biletnikoff Award – Sr. WR Thomas Sperbeck^[6]

Davey O'Brien Award – So. QB Brett Rypien^[7]

Doak Walker Award – Jr. RB Jeremy McNichols^{[8] [9]}

Walter Camp Award – So. QB Brett Rypien^[10]

Mountain West media days

At the Mountain West media days, held at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Broncos were picked as the overwhelming favorites to win the Mountain Division title, receiving 27 of a possible 29 first place votes. So. QB Brett Rypien, Sr. WR Thomas Sperbeck and Sr. K Tyler Rausa were selected to the all-conference first team.^{[11] [12]}

Media poll

Mountain Division

1. Boise State – 172 (27)
2. Air Force – 126 (2)
3. Utah State – 95
4. Colorado State – 95
5. New Mexico – 74
6. Wyoming – 31

Schedule

Schedule Source:

Game summaries

At Louisiana–Lafayette

See also: 2016 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 22–33, 347 YDS, 2 TD; Anthony Jennings (ULL): 21–33, 186 YDS, 1 TD.
• Rushing leaders: Alexander Mattison (BSU): 11 CAR, 61 YDS, 1 TD; Elijah McGuire (ULL): 14 CAR, 46 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 130 YDS, 1 TD; Ja'Marcus Bradley (ULL): 3 REC, 50 YDS.

Washington State

See also: 2016 Washington State Cougars football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 19–35, 299 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT; Luke Falk (WSU): 55–71, 480 YDS, 4 TD, 1 INT.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 22 CAR, 116 YDS, 2 TD; Jamal Morrow (WSU): 8 CAR, 22 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 7 REC, 133 YDS, 1 TD; Tavares Martin Jr. (WSU): 12 REC, 158 YDS, 1 TD.

At Oregon State

See also: 2016 Oregon State Beavers football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 19–36, 215 YDS, 1 TD; Conor Blount (OSU): 11–18, 138 YDS.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 28 CAR, 208 YDS, 3 TD; Ryan Nall (OSU): 14 CAR, 66 YDS, 2 TD.
• Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 6 REC, 104 YDS; Seth Collins (OSU): 9 REC, 106 YDS.

Utah State

See also: 2016 Utah State Aggies football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 15–24, 163 YDS, 2 TD; Kent Myers (USU): 29–50, 287 YDS, 1 TD.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 30 CAR, 132 YDS; Kent Myers (USU): 12 CAR, 47 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 6 REC, 73 YDS, 1 TD; Andrew Rodriguez (USU): 6 REC, 89 YDS, 1 TD.

At New Mexico

See also: 2016 New Mexico Lobos football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 21–28, 391 YDS, 5 TD; Lamar Jordan (UNM): 4–14, 39 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 21 CAR, 54 YDS, 2 TD; Lamar Jordan (UNM): 21 CAR, 139 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 9 REC, 198 YDS, 2 TD; Matt Quarells (UNM): 1 REC, 13 YDS.

Colorado State

See also: 2016 Colorado State Rams football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 16–24, 207 YDS, 1 TD; Nick Stevens (CSU): 17–31, 184 YDS, 2 TD.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU):, 217 YDS, 2 TD; Dalyn Dawkins (CSU): 14 CAR, 66 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 5 REC, 72 YDS, 1 TD; Michael Gallup (CSU): 4 REC, 91 YDS, 1 TD.

BYU

See also: 2016 BYU Cougars football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 25–39, 442 YDS, 3 TD, 2 INT; Taysom Hill (BYU): 21–42, 187 YDS.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 30 CAR, 140 YDS, 1 TD; Squally Canada (BYU): 21 CAR, 88 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 5 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD and Tyler Sperbeck 9 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD; Mitchell Juergens (BYU): 4 REC, 57 YDS.

At Wyoming

See also: 2016 Wyoming Cowboys football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 22–35, 295 YDS, 1 INT; Josh Allen (WYO): 18–31, 274 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 18 CAR, 143 YDS, 2 TD; Brian Hill (WYO): 28 CAR, 146 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson Jr. (BSU): 4 REC, 84 YDS; Jacob Hollister (WYO): 6 REC, 144 YDS, 2 TD.

San Jose State

See also: 2016 San Jose State Spartans football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 16–21, 219 YDS, 3 TD; Kenny Potter (SJSU): 23–36, 278 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 28 CAR, 158 YDS, 2 TD; Malik Roberson (SJSU): 12 CAR, 109 YDS, 1 TD.
• Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson (BSU): 6 REC, 102 YDS, 2 TD; Justin Holmes (SJSU): 6 REC, 106 YDS, 1 TD.

At Hawaii

See also: 2016 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 18–22, 338 YDS, 4 TD; Dru Brown (UH): 16–31, 125 YDS, 1 TD.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 16 CAR, 153 YDS, 2 TD; Paul Harris (UH): 14 CAR, 145 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson (BSU): 7 REC, 141 YDS, 1 TD; Dakota Torres (UH): 3 REC, 35 YDS.

UNLV

See also: 2016 UNLV Rebels football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 10–20, 109 YDS; Kurt Palandech (UNLV): 10–20, 113 YDS, 1 TD.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 31 CAR, 206 YDS, 4 TD; Kurt Palandech (UNLV): 9 CAR, 64 YDS, 2 TD.
• Receiving leaders: Thomas Sperbeck (BSU): 5 REC, 47 YDS; Andrew Price (UNLV): 3 REC, 65 YDS, 1 TD.

At Air Force

See also: 2016 Air Force Falcons football team.

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 9–26, 316 YDS, 1 TD; Arion Worthman (AF): 3–5, 45 YDS.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 22 CAR, 88 YDS, 1 TD; Arion Worthman (AF): 26 CAR, 80 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson (BSU): 4 REC, 193 YDS, 1 TD; Jalen Robinette (AF): 3 REC, 45 YDS.

Air Force became the first team to beat Boise State for three consecutive season since Nevada in 1996–98.

Baylor–Cactus Bowl

See also: 2016 Baylor Bears football team and 2016 Cactus Bowl (December).

• Passing leaders: Brett Rypien (BSU): 32–51, 305 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT; Zach Smith (BAY): 28–39, 375 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT.
• Rushing leaders: Jeremy McNichols (BSU): 19 CAR, 46 YDS; Terence Williams (BAY): 25 CAR, 103 YDS.
• Receiving leaders: Cedrick Wilson (BSU): 6 REC, 88 YDS, 1 TD; K. D. Cannon (BAY): 14 REC, 226 YDS, 2 TD.

Scores by quarter

All opponents

Mountain West opponents

Post-season awards

Mountain West first team

Offense

Brett Rypien – So. QB

Thomas Sperbeck – Sr. WR

Travis Averill – Sr. OL

Mario Yakoo – Sr. OL

Defense

Sam McCaskill – Sr. DL

David Moa – So. DL

Mountain West second team

Offense

Jeremy McNichols – Jr. RB

Defense

Ben Weaver – Sr. LB

Chanceller James – Sr. DB

Jonathan Moxey – Sr. DB

Sean Wale – Sr. P

Mountain West honorable mention

Steven Baggett – Sr. OL

Mason Hampton – Jr. OL

Tanner Vallejo – Sr. LB

Cedrick Wilson Jr. – Jr. WR

Award Reference:^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Maxwell Football Club. College football: Maxwell Award unveils 2016 watch list. NCAA.com. NCAA. July 5, 2016. July 27, 2016.
2. Web site: John Mackey Award. 2016 John Mackey Award preseason watch list announced. NCAA.com. NCAA. July 6, 2016. July 27, 2016.
3. Web site: Lou Groza Award. College football: Lou Groza Award watch list for nation's top kicker. NCAA.com. NCAA. July 7, 2016. July 27, 2016.
4. Web site: FWAA. College football: 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list announced. NCAA.com. NCAA. July 8, 2016. July 27, 2016.
5. Web site: Butkus Award. College football: 2016 Butkus Award preseason watch list announced. NCAA.com. NCAA. July 12, 2016. July 27, 2016.
6. Web site: Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation Release. College football: 2016 Biletnikoff Award releases watch list for top receiver. NCAA.com. NCAA. July 13, 2016. July 27, 2016.
7. Web site: Davey O'Brien Foundation. College football: Davey O’Brien Award announces 30 players on watch list. NCAA.com. NCAA. July 14, 2016. July 27, 2016.
8. Web site: 2016 Doak Walker Award Candidates. SMU.edu. July 14, 2016. July 27, 2016.
9. Web site: Southorn. Dave. Boise State QB Rypien on O’Brien watchlist; McNichols added to Walker list. IdahoStatesman.com. Idaho Statesman. July 14, 2016. July 27, 2016.
10. Web site: Walter Camp Football Foundation. College football: Walter Camp Player of the Year announces watch list. NCAA.com. NCAA. July 15, 2016. July 27, 2016.
11. Web site: 2016 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team. TheMW.com. Mountain West Conference. July 26, 2016. July 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160729084409/http://www.themw.com/news/2016-preseason-all-mwfb. July 29, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
12. Web site: Southorn. Dave. Boise State football tabbed preseason favorite in Mountain Division. IdahoStatesman.com. Idaho Statesman. July 26, 2016. July 27, 2016.
13. Web site: MW . Mountain West Announces 2016 Football All-Conference Teams and . Themwc.com . 2017-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161130190432/http://www.themwc.com/news/mountain%2Dwest%2Dannounces%2D2016%2Dfootball%2Dall%2Dconference%2Dteams%2Dand%2Dindividual%2Dhonors%2D11%2D28%2D2016 . November 30, 2016 . dead . mdy-all .