BOISE, Idaho — Despite dropping the Mountain West Championship and a trip to Los Angeles, the Boise State football team is highly-motivated to close the rollercoaster 2022 season with a win against North Texas in Saturday's Frisco Bowl.
The "standard" and "blue-collar mentality" of the Broncos' program still runs deep amid a changing college football landscape where many big-time players are opting out of post-season games. According to Boise State head coach Andy Avalos, every Bronco that has been able to practice has done so leading up to the showdown in the Lone Star State.
"We got a lot of guys that are gonna get an opportunity to go on and play in the NFL," Avalos said. "In our first three practices and all that stuff, they've been out there getting after it and that's been awesome to see how much these guys care about each other and this team. Again, how we finish together is everything. It's important to them."
With college athletes receiving an extra COVID year of eligibility, it is unclear just yet who is staying in the City of Trees and who plans to move on. Broncos like Ezekiel Noa, Davis Koetter and Tyreque Jones have used all their eligibility.
Seniors such as Scott Matlock and JL Skinner are likely heading to the NFL Draft, while the likes of DJ Schramm, Billy Bowens and Riley Smith are still making a decision about their football future.
Regardless of upcoming decisions, there is a burning desire on the Boise State (9-4, 8-0 MW) roster to send a special senior class off with a win against the Mean Green (7-6, 6-2 C-USA) Saturday.
"I am a firm believer that it's because these guys love playing with the brother to their right and their left," defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson said. "It's easy to get caught up in that, especially when you're a high-profile player that has potential to play in the NFL. It can quickly become all about me, and that's just not this group. That's not these players."
The Frisco Bowl also weighs heavy as it marks the coaching finale for Boise State interim offensive coordinator and NFL great Dirk Koetter, who is hoping to leave rising quarterback Taylen Green with "a win" as a departing gift.
In addition to the thrill of playing in a bowl game on the national stage, the excitement is also building for Boise State players from the Lone Star State. The Broncos' roster currently lists 13 Texas natives, including multiple starters on both sides of the ball, who will get to play in front of family and friends.
Kickoff in the Lone Star State is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. MT Saturday on ESPN. For more information on ways to watch and listen to the game, matchup statistics, odds and predictions, breakout features and more, check out KTVB's Game Day Guide.
As the 'Official Station of Bronco Nation,' fans can follow Saturday's Frisco Bowl bout from anywhere with KTVB's Game Tracker and live blog below. The Game Tracker features a real-time scoreboard and the latest updates from Jay Tust, Brady Frederick and Boise State football.
ESPN's Matchup Predictor gives Boise State a 66.3% chance to hoist its first bowl trophy since 2017. The platform's PickCenter also favors the blue and orange by 10.5, with an over/under of 59.5.
The Frisco Bowl lines in Las Vegas agree with ESPN, as FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, WynnBET and others list the Mean Green as 10.5-point underdogs against Boise State.
Before action gets underway in Texas, tune into the Bronco Roundup Game Day Show from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. MT Saturday for an inside scoop on storylines surrounding the Broncos' battle with the Mean Green.
KTVB Sports Director Jay Tust and sports reporter Brady Frederick will take Bronco Nation right up to kickoff with all things Boise State on KTVB Channel 7, KTVB.COM, KTVB+ on Roku and Amazon Fire TV and the KTVB mobile app.
The exclusive pre-game show will feature interviews, injury updates, players to watch and more, live from the sidelines of Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
Bronco Nation can follow Boise State's bout with North Texas from anywhere with KTVB's Game Tracker and live blog. The Game Tracker features a real-time scoreboard and the latest updates from Tust, Frederick and Boise State football.
KTVB will live stream the post-game press conference on KTVB.COM, the KTVB YouTube channel and the KTVB mobile app.
Interviews with Boise State head coach Andy Avalos and players will be posted online soon after the press conference ends, so Bronco Nation can watch the press conference whenever and wherever they want.
Stay tuned to KTVB.COM after the Frisco Bowl for a recap, highlights and comments from Boise State vs. North Texas.
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