Boise State’s home opener in doubt due to whooping cough outbreak among Portland State

Boise State’s football home opener against Portland State next weekend is in jeopardy following a whooping cough outbreak among the Portland State team.

Portland State canceled its game against South Dakota on Saturday, as many team members reportedly contracted the bacterial disease.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious illness affecting the respiratory system; as its name indicates, it causes heavy, sometimes painful coughing.

Whooping cough symptoms can last for several weeks and up to months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, putting Boise State’s game against Portland State in doubt. The Broncos are scheduled to kickoff against the Vikings on Saturday at 7:45 p.m.

“We are aware of Portland State’s decision to cancel their game against South Dakota due to health and safety protocols,” Boise State’s athletics department wrote in a statement.

“We are in communication with Portland State’s administration and will remain so as we continue to monitor the situation as it pertains to next Saturday’s game,” the statement continued. “Our utmost priority and concern are for the health and safety of everyone involved.”

If the game between Boise State and Portland State is canceled or postponed, the Broncos would have to move ultra-quickly to try to find a replacement. There are multiple teams on a bye next week that the Broncos could try to schedule, but that would also likely mean whatever team the Broncos play has to postpone a future game. And even getting something scheduled would be a long shot.

If the game is not played, it would mean two straight bye weeks for Boise State, essentially. The home opener would become the Sept. 28 game against Washington State. A kickoff time has not been set for that contest.