Game Day Guide: Boise State welcomes Air Force to The Blue on senior day
More than 35,000 tickets are out for Friday's senior day showdown. Boise State and Air Force are in the same boat in the race to reach the conference title game.
(AP Photo/Steve Conner)
Boise State looks to keep the good times rolling and stay alive in the hunt for a Mountain West title game appearance as it welcomes Air Force to The Blue for a Black Friday affair.
The Broncos responded to adversity in dominant fashion last week, defeating Utah State 45-10 in Logan to earn bowl eligibility for the 26th straight season and give Spencer Danielson his first win as the interim head coach.
Thanks to back-to-back weeks with upsets atop the conference, Boise State has an opportunity to inch closer to the conference championship and claim its third-straight win on Friday at 2 p.m. inside Albertsons Stadium. The Falcons, who are on a three-game skid after an 8-0 start, are in the exact same boat as the Broncos.
Not only is the rivalry bout a must-win for Boise State to stay alive, but it's also a chance to send a memorable senior class out in style. The Broncos will honor the likes of tight end Riley Smith, linebacker DJ Schramm and defensive end Demitri Washington before kickoff, just to name a few.
If Boise State can top Air Force and its high-powered rushing attack, the next step in the complicated journey to make the conference title is a UNLV win over San Jose State on Saturday. The Rebels would earn the right to host the championship game on Dec. 2 with a win over the Spartans this week.
If San Jose State beats UNLV, that would create a three-way tie between Boise State, San Jose State and UNLV, which would be settled by a computer algorithm to pick the top-two teams. The Rebels would likely take the top spot.
Bronco Nation is well aware of just how big the matchup with the Falcons is, with 35,223 tickets out for the game as of Thursday afternoon. Boise State is just over 1,000 away from a sellout crowd, despite it being the day after Thanksgiving and students on holiday break. The contest will be televised on Fox Sports 1.
Just six days after the dismissal of former head coach Andy Avalos, Boise State put together its best all-around performance of the season against the Aggies. The Broncos posted season-highs in points (45), rushing yards (352), sacks (nine) and forced turnovers (four), while holding Utah State to its lowest score this fall (10).
In its first game with its two-headed monster of George Holani and Ashton Jeanty both available, Boise State impressed on offense. Holani rumbled for 178 yards and two touchdowns, while Jeanty posted 85 yards and added a score to go over the 1,000-yard mark on the season.
Quarterback Taylen Green was efficient in limited opportunity, outside of a few overthrows, in his first game back as the starter behind center in Logan. Green finished 8-of-17 for 93 yards passing a pair of touchdowns.
Boise State offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan's group has quietly put together an impressive run, considering the noise of the two-quarterback system, the departure of its leading receiver in Eric McAlister and Avalos' dismissal. The Broncos sit in the top 45 among FBS teams in total offense, scoring offense, rushing offense and red zone percentage.
Friday's regular-season finale will be a tough test, however. The Falcons currently rank fourth in the nation in total defense, allowing just 265.3 per game. Air Force also boasts the No. 6 rushing defense in the country that is giving up less than 90 yards per outing.
On the flip side, Jeanty, Holani and the Broncos average 210.1 yards on the ground each week, which sits at seventh among FBS units. The Falcons' 281.7 rushing yards per game is the second-best of any team this fall, led by fullback Emmanuel Michel's 733 yards and nine touchdowns.
Air Force has six players with more than 200 rushing yards in 2023, including quarterback Zac Larrier. As Bronco Nation is well aware, the triple-option offense presents plenty of challenges and is the reason the Falcons sit at No. 6 nationally with an average time of possession of 33 minutes.
If Boise State can outplay Air Force in the trenches – which won't be easy – it could find itself in a very comfortable position. Air Force ranks last in the nation in passing offense, averaging just 84.5 yards, and Larrier has only attempted 62 passes this year. For comparison, Green and Maddux Madsen have combined for 312 attempts.
The Falcons' defense is led by senior linebacker Alec Mock, who ranks eighth in the Mountain West with 86 total tackles. Senior defensive end Bo Richter has also impressed, leading the team with 15 tackles-for-loss to go along with seven sacks.
Ahmed Hassanein was a force for the Broncos in Logan, grabbing a pair of sacks and 2.5 TFLs, which tied the team-high with linebacker DJ Schramm and true freshman safety Ty Benefield. Hassanein ranks second in the conference with 11 sacks this year, and will be asked to lead Boise State's front against a solid Air Force front.
Scroll down or use the tabs across the top of this story for more information on Friday's matchup, how to watch and listen to the game, predictions, series history, a stats comparison, a breakdown of KTVB's coverage, a fan guide for those headed to Albertsons Stadium, and more.
Game Information Broncos vs. Falcons
Boise State (6-5, 5-2 MW) vs. Air Force (8-3, 5-2 MW)
- Friday, Nov. 24
- Albertsons Stadium - Boise, Idaho
- Capacity: 36,363
- Kickoff: 2 p.m. MT
- Channel: Fox Sports 1
- Weather: Sunny with high of 42 degrees and light winds
Ways to Watch TV, Radio, Streaming
ON TV
Friday's massive Mountain West bout between Boise State and Air Force will be televised on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), available on the following channels:
- Sparklight: Channel 146 / 1146 HD
- DirecTV: Channel 219
- Dish Network: Channel 150
- Cox: Channel 78
ON THE RADIO
Fans can listen to the game with Bob Behler and Pete Cavender on the Bronco Radio Network, which can be found online or on the stations listed below. The call can also be heard on SiriusXM Channel 386.
- Boise: KBOI 670 AM / 93.1 FM
- Idaho Falls: KSPZ 980 AM / 98.7 FM
- McCall: KDZY 98.3 FM
- Pocatello: KSPZ 94.5 FM
- Salmon: KSRA 960 AM
- St. Maries: KOFE 1240 AM
- Twin Falls: KSNQ 98.3 FM
- Baker City: KBKR 1490 AM
- La Grande: KLBM 1450 AM
STREAMING
Streaming for Saturday's game is available with the FOX SPORTS App. The app is available to subscribers of participating cable and satellite television providers (including Dish Network and DirecTV).
Fox Sports 1 is also available on fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Philo, Sling TV, Vidgo, YouTube TV and AT&T TV Now's PLUS package. For more information on streaming FS1, click here.
Bronco Roundup KTVB Coverage Plan
BRONCO ROUNDUP GAME DAY
Gear up for Boise State's critical contest at Albertsons Stadium with KTVB Sports Director Jay Tust and Sports Reporter Brady Frederick on the official TV station for Bronco Nation!
The Bronco Roundup Game Day Show airs from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Friday on KTVB Channel 7, KTVB.COM, KTVB+ on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, and the KTVB mobile app. The pre-game show takes fans right up to kickoff and will provide an in-depth preview of the Broncos-Falcons battle.
Tust and Frederick will be live on the sidelines of The Blue, with an exclusive look at Boise State players warming up and last-minute injury updates. Bronco Roundup will also break down what's at stake for the Mountain West title game, players to watch Friday, statistics and matchup storylines, and more.
POST-GAME COVERAGE
KTVB will live stream Boise State's post-game press conference on KTVB.COM, the KTVB YouTube channel, KTVB+ and the KTVB mobile app immediately following the game. Fans will hear from interim head coach Spencer Danielson and select Bronco players.
Post-game interviews will also be posted online shortly after the press conference ends, so Bronco Nation can watch whenever and wherever they want. Stay tuned to KTVB.COM Friday night for a game recap, extended highlights, a photo gallery and comments from the Broncos' final game of the regular season.
Odds and Predictions Home Favorites
ESPN's Matchup Predictor, created using its Football Power Index, gives Boise State a 68.6% chance of closing out the regular season with a win over Air Force at Albertsons Stadium. The Broncos are favored by 6.5 (-115) on ESPN Bet, which launched in 17 U.S. states last week.
The spread for Friday's contest is also 6.5 in favor of Boise State across most major sportsbook as of Tuesday afternoon, per VegasInsider. The likes of FanDuel, Caesars, DraftKings and others are giving Air Force 6.5 on the road, with odds hovering between -105 and -115.
While most outlets have an over/under of 46.5, the lowest total available Tuesday is 46 on DraftKings, with odds at -110. If picking the Broncos' moneyline, odds range from -240 (FanDuel) to -260 (bet365).
Roughly 75% of people have picked Boise State to cover 6.5 on DraftKings, while 71% are taking the Broncos over the Falcons straight up. Using numbers from DraftKings, Boise State is 5-6 against the spread this year and Air Force is 3-7.
History Broncos-Falcons Series
The Black Friday battle on The Blue marks the 12th all-time meeting between Boise State and Air Force, all coming as conference opponents. The Broncos have won seven of the 11 matchups, including five of the last six contests in the series.
Prior to a 24-17 loss at home in 2021, Boise State defeated Air Force four-straight times. The Broncos are 4-2 in games against the Falcons in the City of Trees, with a 3-2 all-time record on the road. Their biggest margin of victory came in 2017, when the blue and orange rolled to a 44-19 victory.
Boise State's closest win came last year at the U.S. Air Force Academy amid its run to the conference title game. The Broncos beat the Falcons 19-14 in a defensive battle inside Falcon Stadium, with Ezekiel Noa, George Tarlas and DJ Schramm each posting seven total tackles.
While Air Force out-rushed Boise State with 175 yards on the ground, it was limited to just 96 yards of passing in the loss. Quarterback Taylen Green went 16-of-24 for 227 passing yards in the Broncos' win and Ashton Jeanty turned 15 carries into 53 yards and a touchdown.
Idaho native Jonah Dalmas carried Boise State's scoring effort, drilling all four field goal attempts, including a 51-yard boot early in the second quarter to put the Broncos up 16-0. Boise State went scoreless in the second half after leading 19-7 at the break, but it held Air Force to a single touchdown with nine minutes remaining to win 19-14.
Boise State's all-time record against Air Force:
- Oct. 22, 2022: Win - 19-14 (USAFA)
- Oct. 16, 2021: Loss - 24-17 (Boise)
- Oct. 31, 2020: Win - 49-30 (USAFA)
- Sept. 20, 2019: Win - 30-19 (Boise)
- Oct. 27, 2018: Win - 48-38 (USAFA)
- Nov. 18, 2017: Win - 44-19 (Boise)
- Nov. 25, 2016: Loss - 27-20 (USAFA)
- Nov. 20, 2015: Loss - 37-30 (Boise)
- Sept. 27, 2014: Loss - 28-14 (Colorado Springs)
- Sept. 13, 2013: Win - 42-20 (Boise)
- Oct. 22, 2011: Win - 37-26 (Boise)
Team Stats FBS Ranks
Team: Stat Per Game | FBS Rank:
TOTAL OFFENSE
- Boise State: 439.8 YPG | No. 26
- Air Force: 366.2 YPG | No. 81
SCORING OFFENSE
- Boise State: 32.5 PPG | No. 34
- Air Force: 28.4 PPG | No. 60
RUSHING OFFENSE
- Air Force: 281.7 YPG | No. 2
- Boise State: 210.1 YPG | No. 7
PASSING OFFENSE
- Boise State: 229.7 YPG | No. 61
- Air Force: 84.5 YPG | No. 130
RED ZONE OFFENSE %
- Boise State: .878 | No. 42
- Air Force: .805 | No. 84
TOTAL DEFENSE
- Air Force: 265.3 YPG | No. 4
- Boise State: 386.1 YPG | No. 78
SCORING DEFENSE
- Air Force: 17.09 PPG | No. 13
- Boise State: 25.27 PPG | No. 61
RUSHING DEFENSE
- Air Force: 88.5 YPG | No. 6
- Boise State: 120.0 YPG | No. 30
PASSING YARDS ALLOWED
- Air Force: 176.7 YPG | No. 11
- Boise State: 266.1 YPG | No. 123
RED ZONE DEFENSE %
- Boise State: .821 | No. 64
- Air Force: .870 | No. 99
Individual Stats Top Players
PASSING
- Taylen Green: 96-of-180 (53.33%), 1,298 yards, 8 TDs, 6 INTs
- Zac Larrier: 37-of-62 (59.68%) 744 yards, 6 INTs, 2 INTs
RUSHING
- Ashton Jeanty: 169 carries, 1,006 yards (6.0 YPC), 12 TDs
- Emmanuel Michel: 163 carries, 733 yards (4.5 YPC), 9 TDs
RECEIVING
- Ashton Jeanty: 32 receptions, 419 yards (13.09 YPC), 4 TDs
- Jared Roznos: 11 receptions, 332 yards (30.18 YPC), 2 TDs
Note: Eric McAlister's stats excluded
TACKLES
- Andrew Simpson: 55 total tackles (33 solo, 22 assisted)
- Alec Mock: 86 total tackles (49 solo, 37 assisted)
TACKLES-FOR-LOSS
- Ahmed Hassanein: 14.5 TFLs (88 yards)
- Bo Richter: 15 TFLs (83 yards)
SACKS
- Ahmed Hassanein: 11 sacks (83 yards)
- PJ Ramsey: 7.5 sacks (37 yards)
INTERCEPTIONS
- A'Marion McCoy: 2 INTs
- Trey Taylor: 3 INTs
Fan Color Scheme Blue Out
For the third and final time this year, Bronco Nation is asked to "blue out" Albertsons Stadium on Friday for senior day and the 2023 regular-season finale. Boise State on Wednesday revealed it will wear its classic all-blue uniform combination when it hosts Air Force.
The Broncos have an impressive 111-7 all-time record in this week's look, but they have lost back-to-back games in the combination. Boise State wore the all-blue swag in its 18-16 loss to UCF earlier this year and when it lost the Mountain West title game 28-16 to Fresno State in December 2022.
Regardless, it's only right to go with the look that gives opponents fits on The Blue and has been worn during 111 wins and just seven losses. Air Force also revealed its uniform combination on Wednesday, going with the all-white look as it heads west.
35,223 tickets are out for Friday's game as of Thursday afternoon. Boise State is just over 1,000 away from a sellout crowd, despite it being the day after Thanksgiving and students on holiday break.
Boise State Director of Athletics Jeramiah Dickey earlier this offseason reintroduced "Bronco Fan Friday," a long-time tradition encouraging fans to wear Bronco gear or fly a blue and orange flag every Friday. Those who post a picture and tag @BroncoSports on social media may win prizes.
A full schedule of fan color schemes for the 2023 season is shown below:
Tailgating Pre-game Info
FORD FAN ZONE
Prior to kickoff, Bronco Nation can enjoy activities and live music in the upgraded Ford Fan Zone. The fan space is free to enter and includes food trucks, concession stands, a Bronco Kids Club booth with inflatables and sports gardens with alcohol sales.
Located along Bronco Lane between DeChevrieux Field and the Larry and Marianne Williams Plaza, the Ford Fan Zone opens four hours before each home game, or 10 a.m. Friday. The area gives fans a front-row seat to the Bronco Walk.
A rotating list of bands provide pre-game concerts three hours before action gets underway on The Blue each time the Broncos play at home. Also going live at 11 a.m. Friday is the two-hour Bronco Tailgate Show on the Hall of Fame Plaza, hosted by Richie Brockel and Nate Shelman alongside Daryn Colledge.
BRONCO ALLEY
Also opening four hours prior to kickoff each week is Bronco Alley, located on the east side of Albertsons Stadium. The pre-game area consists of food trucks, extra beverage stands and additional restrooms.
Serving food at Bronco Alley this week is Bolton Brothers, Big Easy Bites and Meltz. The area opens at 10 a.m. Friday and runs through halftime.
BRONCO WALK
The Bronco Walk – a tradition outside Albertsons Stadium prior to Boise State home games – is scheduled to begin two hours and 40 minutes ahead of kickoff each week. Friday's stroll will begin at approximately 11:20 a.m. The Bronco Walk goes from the Student Union Building, along Bronco Lane, and through the Larry and Marianne Williams Plaza to the Allen Noble Hall of Fame.
Get hyped for kickoff and help the Blue Thunder Marching Band and Boise State's cheer team send Bronco players and coaches into game preparation in style!
10 TO 10 ZONE
According to the Boise Police Department, the 10 to 10 Zone remains in place for home games this season. It specifies off-campus areas where people over the age of 21 may consume alcoholic beverages from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Boise State home football game days only.
Alcoholic beverages are allowed in opaque plastic cups within the zone. Glass containers, beer cans and types of liquor bottle and cups with alcoholic labeling are not allowed.
The 10 to 10 Zone begins at Broadway Avenue and Myrtle Street, extends south down Broadway to Beacon, turns west along Beacon, north up Oakland Avenue, west on Potter Drive, north again up South Joyce Street, and then west along University Drive all the way to Capitol Boulevard.
The boundary extends north along Capitol and turns east onto Cesar Chavez Lane, crosses Friendship Bridge north, and leads into Julia Davis Park. In the park, the 10 to 10 Zone boundary is the area east of Zoo Boise to Broadway Avenue, and south of the Julia Davis pond.
A map of the 10 to 10 Zone is shown below. For more "2023 Bronco Game Day Reminders" from Boise Police, click here.
Transportation Parking, Traffic Shuttles
Expect increased traffic on all roads surrounding Boise State before and after the game. University Drive, from Capitol Boulevard to Broadway Avenue, will be congested throughout Friday morning and afternoon. Due to limited public parking on-campus, fans are encouraged to park off-campus and walk/bike or use a shuttle to get to the game.
Parking in Boise Parks:
Parking is allowed in designated parking spots within Julia Davis Park, Ann Morrison Park, Idaho Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park and Kristin Armstrong Municipal Park. Parking for Boise State home games is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Towing will be delayed at all city parks until 9 a.m. the day after each home game, regardless of kickoff time.
Officers will be on the lookout for parked vehicles blocking sidewalks, crosswalks and fire hydrants, as well as those parked too close to intersections or stop signs. Most parking tickets for vehicles, motorcycles and scooters have a fine of roughly $60. Your vehicle may be towed if it is blocking a driveway, access way, fire hydrant or parked illegally in an alleyway.
Game Day Shuttle:
Valley Regional Transit introduced a new resource for Boise State football game days – a free to ride service which will operate for the six home games and stop seven times on its way to Albertsons Stadium.
The Game Day Shuttle will go through Main Street Station, downtown parking garages and other areas, VRT said in a press release prior to the home opener. The shuttle will run two hours before the game and one hour after the game, with stops every 10 minutes.
Locations for the shuttle's seven stops on its way to the stadium are listed below, in addition to a route map from VRT. The eighth and final stop is Caesar Chavez and Broadway, taking fans right on campus:
- Idaho & 6th
- River & Pioneer
- Front & 9th
- 11th & Main
- Main & 8th
- Main & Capitol
- 6th & Broad
Stadium Entry Gates and Security
ENTRY PROCEDURES
Tickets for 2023 Bronco sporting events are digital and screenshots no longer work, according to Boise State Athletics. Fans should use the Boise State Broncos Athletics app and their Boise State Ticket Account Manager to have full access to tickets on a smartphone. Tickets can also be saved to the wallet app before arriving to Albertsons Stadium and should be pulled up before the ticket scanner area.
New this year, each digital ticket will provide a recommended entry point and gate (see map below). However, fans outside of the Stueckle Sky Center and student section can enter through any gate. VIP fans will have an expedited entry process by going through gates labeled 'Stueckle Entry.'
Four Entry Plazas:
Entry Plaza 1
- Gates L, M (Main Student Entry)
Entry Plaza 2
- Gates N, P (ADA Accessible Entrance)
Entry Plaza 3
- Gate A (ADA Accessible Entry Only)
- Gate B (Player Pass List Entry Only)
- Gate C (Stueckle Entry Only)
- Gate D
- Lyle Smith Society @ Hall of Fame
Entry Plaza 4
- Gate E
- Gate F (Stueckle Entry Only)
- Gate H
Bronco fans should arrive early. The only bags allowed in Albertsons Stadium are included below with maximum sizes:
- Clear plastic or vinyl bags: 12 x 12 x 6 inches
- Clear plastic freezer bag: One gallon
- Purse, bag or clutch: 4.5 x 6.5 inches
Prior to entry, fans will pass through metal detectors, and any bags carried in will be subject to search. Remember to leave prohibited items behind, including all weapons, alcohol, glass, and coolers. For a breakdown of permitted and prohibited items, click here.
Concessions Stadium Options
Boise State Athletics and Boise State University Dining continue to feature local businesses and products in their concessions menu for the 2023 football season. Designated stands brought back favorites such as Hammer Frys, mini donuts, pizza cones and Blue 32 BBQ sliders, in addition to options from Meraki Greek Street Food and La Tapatia.
Of course, the classics like hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, pretzels, popcorn and candy are offered to Bronco Nation. Boise State Athletics announced Albertsons Stadium will have six Mashgin self-checkout kiosks this year. The locations of the self-checkout kiosks are described below:
- Two adjacent to the west Locals Corner concession area
- Two near the east Locals Corner concession area
- Two at the Double R Ranch concession area on the east side of the stadium
In addition to bottled water, Coca-Cola products and selections from Anheuser-Busch such as beers and seltzers, Boise State also offers options from local vendors. Lost Grove Brewing, Meriwether Cider Co., Payette Brewing, Sockeye Brewing, Woodland Empire and Western Collective will be represented at Friday's game.
Western Collective's Horseshoe Golden Ale will be available at Albertsons Stadium, with a portion of the proceeds going to The Horseshoe Collective, supporting Boise State student-athletes. Fans are required to show proof of identification to receive a wristband to purchase alcoholic beverages.
Albertsons Stadium concession map:
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