Pac-12 football, in-state rivalries: Boise State AD answers fans’ questions
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Boise State explores in-state football rivalries, aims to keep schedule local.
- Lack of clarity on Pac-12's playoff status raises concern over auto qualification.
- Athletic Director says discontinuing baseball program was "short-sighted."
Boise State Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey took to social media over the weekend to take questions from fans about the current state of Boise State Athletics and its future.
It was the second time this year that Dickey fielded questions on the social media site X, with the fifth-year athletic director providing answers for the ridiculous queries, such as his favorite Will Ferrell movie, as well as the serious ones, like sources of nontraditional revenue and accessibility seating at Albertsons Stadium.
There were over 140 replies to Dickey’s post, including his answers, so here are some highlights.
In-state rivalry football games
The last time Boise State football faced Idaho State was in September 2015. It’s been even longer since the Broncos played the Idaho Vandals: November 2010 at the Kibbie Dome.
Dickey is keen to bring those rivalries back.
“Yes. And ISU. Working on future scheduling. No guarantees,” Dickey wrote when asked about scheduling Idaho.
“Our scheduling model includes an FCS opponent for now. Would rather keep money in state,” he continued. “I know the history and I believe it is important to our state and will help us in other conversations. Every decision is strategic.”
Pac-12 auto berth in College Football Playoff
The old Pac-12, before it splintered in 2024, was long considered a Power Five conference, alongside the SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and ACC. However, shortly after the Pac-12 disbanded, the 12-team College Football Playoff was created, with automatic qualification to conference winners of the remaining Power Four.
Conversations around seeding and auto-bids continue to bubble, but one thing remains unclear in Dickey’s eyes: whether the new Pac-12 will be considered a power conference and earn an automatic bid, or whether it will be lumped in with the others, who get one bid, to the highest-ranked league champ.
Boise State grabbed that bid last season after winning the Mountain West; the new Pac-12 will largely be made up of former Mountain West teams.
“Not sure yet. Would like a defined process,” Dickey wrote. “Teams have been grandfathered in & those added are based off of subjective reasons. Not downplaying anyone’s worth and understand it is conference/TV driven. Path for success goes through A4 … they make the rules. I disagree.”
The CFP governors voted last month to change how seeding works, using a straight-seed method where the rankings match the seeds. Boise State earned a first-round bye and the No. 3 seed in 2024 as an automatic qualifier, even though it was No. 9 in the rankings, causing Dickey to call the rule change the “Boise State Policy.”
Albertsons Stadium accessibility seating
Accessibility seating is available on all three available sides of Albertsons Stadium, primarily on the balcony and mezzanine levels. Each seat designated for ADA also features room for two guests.
However, one X user pointed out that the non-wheelchair seating isn’t very comfortable, having moved into ADA seating with their parents last season.
Dickey said he’d “look into it” about replacing or making the current folding chairs in ADA sections more comfortable.
Nontraditional revenue streams
As Dickey and head coach Spencer Danielson often like to point out, Boise State does “more with less.” It’s no secret that the school can’t compete financially with the Ohio States and Texases of the world, but Dickey said he’s still finding ways to squeeze money into the program.
“PE, special events, facilities (NEZ will produce more revenue, EMA premium space … not really non traditional), PAC Enterprises, etc.” Dickey wrote. “We have so much more we are working on. Collaboration with (The Horseshoe Collective) on a few things.”
Dickey pointed out that Albertson Stadium’s North End Zone project and premium seating at ExtraMile Arena, where Boise State basketball teams play, will provide a more traditional income.
Dickey also told Front Office Sports earlier this week that Boise State is looking into private-equity opportunities and expects to have a deal in place “within the next six months.”
Boise State baseball?
Dickey has answered countless questions about baseball at Boise State since arriving in January 2021. The program was discontinued in July 2020 after budget cuts surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. It had just been resurrected for that season, thanks largely to former school President Bob Kustra, who had made it a priority.
Dickey jokingly said he’d mute anyone who asked about adding sports teams, but still provided one answer about the baseball program.
“We aren’t in a position to add any programs right now,” Dickey wrote. “Never say never. Wish I would have arrived 9 months earlier. Decision was short-sighted. Baseball would be awesome.”
Dickey also answered fans about the baseball program earlier this year, saying it would “not be in our best interest right now” to re-establish the team.
He noted that bringing baseball back would require an investment of at least $2 million, and as things stand, Boise State doesn’t have “enough resources” for the 18 athletic programs it has now.
