Boise State earns AP Top 25 football ranking for first time in four years

For the first time since 2020, Boise State football is ranked in the AP Top 25.

The Broncos were voted No. 25 in the week 5 rankings, released Sunday, after a dominant 56-14 victory over FCS Portland State at Albertsons Stadium on Saturday night.

It’s the first time the Broncos have been ranked since week 8 of the 2020 season, which was truncated because of the COVID pandemic. On that occasion, Boise State was ranked No. 21 before losing 51-17 at home to No. 9 BYU and dropping out of the rankings.

Boise State (2-1) received 69 votes, behind No. 24 Texas A&M (77 points) and narrowly ahead of next week’s opponent, Washington State. The Cougars just missed out on the Top 25, receiving 67 votes.

The Broncos’ loss this season came at Oregon, which was ranked No. 8 this week. Boise State is one of 10 teams in the latest poll with a loss.

The Broncos put on another offensive show in their latest game. On a season-low 12 drives Saturday night, they still racked up 609 yards of offense and a season-high 27 first downs. Eight of those drives produced touchdowns, including four drives in a row in the second half.

“We know who we are offensively,” coach Spencer Danielson said after the game. “We’re going to run the ball. We’re going to use our explosive run attack to set up our pass game. That’s who we are, that’s how we’re going to attack defenses, and we’re going to be very efficient with it.”

Efficiency has been the name of the game through three contests for Boise State, which is averaging 48.7 points and 543 total yards per game. The Broncos have made 15 red zone trips this season, scoring a touchdown on 13 of those and a field goal on the other two.

What’s more, of their 41 drives all season, 20 have ended in touchdowns and two in field goals — meaning scores on 53.7% of possessions.