Boise State won’t play in a bowl game, ending streak at 18 straight appearances
The Boise State football team has opted out of playing in a bowl game, ending its season, the program announced Sunday afternoon.
The decision was made by players on the team and supported by coaches and administrators, according to a press release from the program, which included a joint statement from wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Riley Whimpey and cornerback Avery Williams.
“This is about a team decision and what the team feels is best for everyone mentally, physically and emotionally,” the trio said in a statement. “The 2020 season has not been easy, dating back to the summer, the postponement and return of our season and then week-to-week ups and downs in dealing with COVID. We gave everything we had this season for each other and for Bronco Nation, and are proud that we made it to a championship game despite all the challenges we faced. Now, it is time for all of us to get healthy and focus on 2021.”
Opting out ends the Broncos’ streak of 18 straight seasons with an appearance in a bowl game. They’re 10-7-1 during that span. The one no contest was the 2018 First Responder Bowl against Boston College, which was canceled after it started because of a severe thunderstorm.
On Saturday, Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said he had no apprehension about taking his team on the road again this year, but his players apparently changed his mind.
“We met with our captains this morning, and after discussions with the rest of the team, we felt it was in the best interest of our program and of the well-being of our student-athletes, both physically and mentally, to forego a bowl game this year,” Harsin said in Sunday’s statement. “These young men have been through a lot this season. COVID protocols required them to be away from their families for most of the season, and they understandably want to go home and be with their families for the holidays. When they return to campus, we will begin preparations for a championship season in 2021.”
Last season, the Broncos made their fifth all-time appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl and lost, 38-7, to Washington in former Boise State coach Chris Petersen’s final game with the Huskies. Petersen coached the Broncos from 2001 to 2013, beginning as the offensive coordinator and taking over as head coach in 2006.
The Broncos are coming off a 34-20 loss to San Jose State on Saturday in the Mountain West championship game. It was Boise State’s fourth straight appearance in the title game and its first loss to a conference opponent since the 2018 title game against Fresno State.
The decision to skip a bowl game ends the Broncos’ streak of four straight seasons with at least 10 wins. Boise State finishes a strange 2020 season 5-2.
Mountain West programs Fresno State, Air Force and San Diego State also opted out of consideration for bowl games this year.
Three conference teams have accepted bowl bids. San Jose State will face MAC champion Ball State in the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 31, Hawaii will take on Houston in the New Mexico Bowl in Frisco, Texas, on Dec. 24 and Nevada will face Tulane in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22.
The Broncos’ streak of seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher also came to an end. Junior Andrew Van Buren led the team with 382 yards, and his eight rushing touchdowns led the conference. His snaps increased when returning 1,000-yard rusher George Holani suffered an apparent knee injury Oct. 31 at Air Force. Holani tried to made a comeback in the regular-season finale at Wyoming, but it was short-lived, and he didn’t play in the conference championship game.
The bad news for Boise State is its season ends on a sour note for the third year in a row.
In 2018, the Broncos lost in overtime in the Mountain West championship against Fresno State and the First Responder Bowl was canceled. Last season, they were thoroughly outplayed by Washington in the Las Vegas Bowl. Now they head into the offseason on the heels of a disappointing performance in the conference title game.
The good news for the Broncos is they may return the bulk of the roster next year thanks to the NCAA offering fall athletes an extra year of eligibility. Even without it, Holani and quarterback Hank Bachmeier — both sophomores — and Shakir, who is a junior, are all expected back.
The defense may have some holes to fill at linebacker and in the secondary, depending on what happens with the extra year. Williams and fellow starting cornerback Jalen Walker, Whimpey and nickel Kekaula Kaniho are all seniors, but the entirety of the defensive line should be back, as should linebacker Ezekiel Noa, who is third on the team with 40 tackles, and sophomore safety JL Skinner.
This story was originally published December 20, 2020 at 2:49 PM.
